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UFS donates 500 masks to protect primary school learners

22 October 2021 | Story Dr Nitha Ramnath | Photo Rhona Klopper

Donating masks_web read more — Donating masks to Rekopane Primary School, were from the left: Alfi Moolman (UFS Directorate: Community Engagement), Sonja Venter-Botes (Bloemshelter), Tina Moleko (Rankwe Primary School), and Michelle Engelbrecht (UFS Centre for Health Systems Research and Development).

The Centre for Health Systems Research and Development (CHSR&D) at the University of the Free State (UFS) recently donated 500 masks to Rekopane Primary School in Botshabelo. This initiative was part of its pledge to donate 100 cloth masks to a previously disadvantaged primary school for every 1 000 of the first 5 000 completed questionnaires that formed part of a study survey examining people’s understanding of information about COVID-19 vaccines. The results of the study will be shared with stakeholders who are responsible for providing information about COVID-19 vaccinations.

It is known that a large number of people globally and in South Africa prefer not to be vaccinated. “There are many reasons for this, and we would like to find out where people are getting information about the COVID-19 vaccination, and whether they are able to understand this information, so that they can make an informed choice about getting vaccinated. We did this by asking people about their own health and COVID-19, where they have heard about the vaccine, if they understood this information, and whether they have had/would have the vaccine or not, as well as the reasons for this,” said Prof Michelle Engelbrecht, Director of CHSR&D.

While following guidelines such as wearing masks, sanitising hands, and social distancing are important to prevent the spread of COVID-19, a large percentage of the population will need to be vaccinated if we want to control the pandemic in the long term and prevent hospitalisation and severe illness.

All persons in South Africa aged 18 and older were invited to complete an online survey regarding their perceptions of COVID-19 vaccines. The survey, which was available in the seven most spoken languages in the country, was advertised on social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter, and on the Moya app. The survey was open from 1 to 31 September 2021, and the CHSR&D received 10 554 completed questionnaires. No data was required to complete the survey.

The Department of Basic Education partners decided on the school that would benefit, and the study provided an opportunity to support Bloemshelter, a UFS flagship programme. Alfi Moolman of the Directorate: Community Engagement said that “NGOs are really struggling to make ends meet, and we are delighted that Bloemshelter could provide the masks as one of their income-generating projects. So many lives are touched for the good. The university is indeed a caring organisation.”

News Archive

Mure, 10-12 June 2009

2009-06-05

Production: Mure
Language: Afrikaans
Text: Prof. Marcelle Pieterse
Director: DeBeer Cloete
Venue: Scaena Theatre
Date: 10 – 12 June 2009
Time: 19h30
Age Restriction: PG 16 (LVS)

Tickets:
R 30.00 Adults
R 25.00 Pensioners, scholars & students
R 25.00 Block bookings 10+
R 15.00 Club Theatron members

Tickets available at Computicket (Mimosa Mall & any Checkers) or at the door.

When reality and context can no longer be bounded by walls, the psyche of man not only starts moving beyond its own limits, but the person, once trapped inside the self, looses perspective and even identity. “Mure” is ‘n brand new script by the Nagtegaal-prize finalist, Marcelle Pieterse. Die script is unique in the South African theatre style seeing that it is completely devoid of context, time and even reality. Pieterse is currently an honours student in Drama- and Theatre Arts at the UFS and her fresh new take on the changing South Africa, anchored in its own history, is not only poignant, but even shocking.

“Mure” is an experimental, avant-garde South African drama incorporating styles such as theatre of cruelty, theatre of the absurd and even aspects of futurism, all coming together in a narrative of a nurse in a hospital for mentally ill patients. Pieterse dedicates this script to her third year drama lecturer, Stephanie Brink, who exposed here to the new and changing face of contemporary drama. This production is a third year module production and DeBeer Cloete directs. Tickets are available from Computicket.

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