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Medical student’s photo highly commended at international competition

05 November 2020 | Story Andre Damons | Photo Supplied

Heinrich Janse van Vurren_web read more — Heinrich Janse van Rensburg’s is a 5th year medical student from the University of the Free State whose photo was highly commended at the Imperial College London’s Global Creative Competition: Medical Student Responses to COVID-19.

A late-night photo taken through a window at the Pelonomi hospital by a final-year medical student from the University of the Free State (UFS) was highly commended at the first Global Creative Competition: Medical Student Responses to COVID-19.

The competition, held by the Imperial College London, received more than 600 entries from more than 52 countries. The competition was held to bring together the global community of medical students to submit their creative responses to COVID-19 and to provide a platform for them to reflect on their personal and professional experiences during this challenging time.

Medical students from around the world could enter in two categories; visual and literary, and the winners were announced during a Global Awards Ceremony on 14 October.

Meaning behind the photo

Heinrich Janse van Rensburg’s late -night photo highlights the economic inequality that persists in South Africa. The photo was taken from the Pelonomi Hospital which is located in Heidedal, Bloemfontein, and shows the old, forsaken Dutch Reformed church in the foreground, shacks in the background with smoke billowing from the dwellings, where up to six people live in one room trying to stay warm during winter. They are built so close to each other that there can be no talk of effective social distancing.

According to Janse van Rensburg the theme of inequality in the South African milieu is further shown in the striking contrast between light and dark in the picture. “And now, with the COVID-19 pandemic placing a massive burden on an already struggling healthcare system the inequality is even more visible,” says Janse van Rensburg.

Janse van Rensburg’s late-night photo taken from the Pelonomi Hospital in Heidedal, Bloemfontein, shows the economic inequality that persists in South Africa. The photo was highly commended at the Imperial College London’s Global Creative Competition for Medical Student Responses to COVID-19.

A little shocked

He was a little shocked when he heard his photograph was highly commended. Janse van Rensburg says: “Imperial College London is a big institution and being an international competition I did not really expect a lot. There were participants from over 52 countries, and having seen some of the works that were submitted it feels special to be one of the students being noticed.”

Janse van Rensburg, who has never considered doing art, heard about the competition through the Faculty of Health Sciences platforms during lockdown level 5. He saw it as an opportunity to reflect, which has become even more imperative in times like these.

He says he does not go searching for art, but “notices” it from being conscious – something he thinks is important in medicine and life.

Value of creativity in promoting mental well-being

Dr Lynette van der Merwe, undergraduate medical programme director, School of Clinical Medicine, congratulated Janse van Rensburg, saying this commendation in an international competition underscores his talent and the value of creativity in promoting mental well-being.

“Heinrich’s artwork and showcase precisely what we aspire to develop in our exceptional UFS doctors-in-training: a professional with self-awareness, empathy and humanity.

“We initiated a Mental Health Awareness initiative and art competition in the School of Clinical Medicine in 2018 to promote creative expression as a means of supporting students’ mental health. Heinrich has won awards with his creative contributions every year, exhibiting his imaginative ability.”

Surgery and photography

Janse van Rensburg says he has always loved beautiful things and the meaning people attach to art is a good way to communicate that. He has applied for an internship at the Mitchells Plain hospital for when he completes his studies at the end of this year and is thinking of specialising in reconstructive or pediatrics surgery. Besides that, he would like to tap into his creative side and continue with the photography.

Watch the video of the winners here

News Archive

Letter to students from Prof Jonathan Jansen about student protest action at the UFS

2015-10-21

Dear Students

Student protest action at the University of the Free State

I wish to make clear that the senior leadership of the University of the Free State understands and supports the demands from students and their leaders that higher education be accessible to all students, especially the poor. For the past six years we have done everything in our power to meet that commitment to students who are academically talented, but simply cannot afford to pay; that is why our tuition fees remain among the lowest in the country. Our efforts to raise private funding have enabled thousands more students to study at the UFS than would have been possible on the government subsidy only. Whether it is the Staff Fund contributions (yes, our staff empty their pockets to support student fees) or the No Student Hungry (NSH) bursary programme (yes, we raise funds for food bursaries), we will continue our drive to fund students who cannot afford higher education. Let me repeat, no student with a solid academic record will be denied access to studies simply because they cannot pay.

Now, to the matter at hand. There is a national demand from students for a 0% fee increment for 2016. The Minister’s response, after consultation with stakeholders, was that universities should cap their 2016 fee increases at 6%. Despite this initiative from government, the protests continue on virtually all campuses across South Africa for the ‘no fee’ increase.

Our response, as the UFS leadership, is to continue engaging the SRC as the chosen leadership of our students in trying to negotiate a settlement on the matter. We have worked around the clock to be available to student leaders to find some resolution on 2016 fees. While we understand the demands of students, as university leaders, we can only work with the government subsidy we receive. Any agreement reached, cannot and must not place the university at academic and financial risk in its ability to deliver public higher education to the country - if that happens, everybody loses. Still, no matter what happens in terms of the response from government, the leadership door at the UFS remains open to finding a mutually acceptable solution to all parties in these deliberations.

Students, we are deeply concerned by the violence, intimidation and threats from the small group of protesting students. These dangerous and demeaning behaviours, like disrupting classes and verbally abusing students and staff, undermine the legitimate quest of students for relief concerning tuition fees. Such behaviour is completely unacceptable and the university will take action where required. We must also remember that we have an obligation to all 30 000 students whose right to learn without fear of violence and intimidation must be respected.

In conclusion, over the past few years we have worked hard to build a culture of mutual respect and embrace as we worked through some very difficult challenges on campus. You would have noticed that the university leadership responded quickly and sympathetically to reason and respect in difficult situations of rage and demonstration. A minority of students, with some outsiders, have come onto the campus to break down that culture in which, while we might disagree, we continue to work on the basis of mutual respect. I urge all students that, as we engage of this important problem of enabling greater access to higher education, we continue to remain true to the core values of our Human Project.

Best Regards

Prof Jonathan Jansen
Vice-Chancellor and Rector
University of the Free State

Letter to students from Prof Jonathan Jansen about student protest actions at the UFS (Pdf format)

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