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UFS and stakeholders bringing COVID-19 vaccination closer to communities

28 June 2021 | Story Lunga Luthuli | Photo Lunga Luthuli

South Campus vaccination centre copy — South Campus: Social Responsibility Project team with Free State Department of Health nurses during the lunch of the campus’ COVID-19 pop-up vaccination site.

On Monday 27 September 2021, the University of the Free State, Provincial Department of Health and Department of Education launched a pop-up vaccination site at the South Campus bringing much-needed services closer to communities in the fight to end the COVID-19 pandemic.

Thandeka Mosholi, Head of Social Responsibility, Enterprise and Community Engagement, South Campus says, “We are next to the Mangaung community and bringing these services we encourage not only UFS staff and students but the surrounding communities to vaccinate for COVID-19. The institution and stakeholders are saying it is everyone’s responsibility for their health.”

She says, “If vaccination is recommended and we are told that it is safe, we encourage everyone including the youth to preserve our health and vaccinate.”

Representing the Department of Health, Papi Mokhele, Professional Pharmacist, says, “The initiative is aimed at reaching out to as many people to be vaccinated.”

He says, “At the moment the facility administers only the Pfizer vaccination and, as recommended by the National Government, we want to reach herd immunity – about 70% of the population – so that businesses, sporting facilities and many others can open and get our life back to normal.”

Other facilities the Department of Health has recently opened include the SABC Hoffman Square, Majakathata Taxi Rank, MUCCPP Health Centre in Phelindaba, Puma Garage in Bergman and Mangaung Outdoor Centre.

On partnering with the UFS, Mokhele says, “The COVID-19 vaccines have been put through clinical processes and quality assurance tests. They have also been approved by the South African Medicine Control Council and we call on the UFS community, especially students, to register and vaccinate.”

Coretha van den Heever, Teacher Trainer in the Social Responsibility Project, was recently vaccinated for the pandemic and says, “Let us protect ourselves and other people and not be the spreaders of the virus.”

She says, “People must make use of the facility; the UFS and government have brought the solution closer so that communities will not have to spend a lot of money travelling to get help.”

The vaccination centre will operate from Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 16:00.

News Archive

Lots of inspiration at Autumn Graduation Ceremony

2013-04-18

Graduates celebrate the results of years of study at the graduation ceremony on the Bloemfontein Campus.
Photo: Hannes Pieterse
17 April 2013

Live streaming of ceremonies available from 16 April - 19 April 2013: http://www.ufs.ac.za/ufslivestreaming/

Joshua Johnson YouTube video

The university’s Autumn Graduation Ceremony got off to a vibrant start with energetic performances and inspiring messages for graduates.

Joshua Johnson, an American student who uses his talent for tap-dancing to fund his tertiary education, mesmerised the audience on the first of the four-day graduation ceremony with his story of hope and perseverance. The student from Penn State University travels five hours by bus to New York every weekend where he tap-dances on the subway trains to earn money for his tuition fees.

Delivering a keynote address, Joshua told graduates that, in order to achieve their goals, they have to understand and work diligently with the 24 hours they get to live daily. “Start with a bang and end with a bang,” he said, encouraging the audience in the nearly-packed Callie Human Centre to join him in a rhythmic tap-dancing beat.

“Don’t follow in the footsteps of someone else. Take the beat of life, but add your rhythm to it," his wise words resonating with the exhilarated graduates.

Joshua will be the guest speaker at the ceremonies on 16, 17 and 19 April 2013 and will deliver a dance item during each occasion.

Dr Khotso Mokhele, Chancellor of the University, echoed Joshua‘s message, telling graduates not to be discouraged by life’s difficulties.

“Take what you have learned over the last three or four years and use that knowledge to reach your goal,” he advised.

Prof Jonathan Jansen, Rector and Vice-Chancellor, encouraged them to continue to study. “To break the cycle of poverty, get an education, get a degree.” He told them that as graduates they are ten times more likely to get a job, with the odds rising as they continue their postgraduate studies.

Well-known radio host and Idols South Africa judge, Gareth Cliff, will be the guest speaker at two ceremonies on 18 April 2013. He will be joined by Vicus Visser, the South African YouTube singing sensation. Dubbed Bloemfontein’s Justin Bieber, Vicus and his brother Vincent will perform during these two ceremonies.

The programme for the respective ceremonies is:

Wednesday 17 April

09:30 Diplomas and certificates up to and including honours degrees in the Faculty of Education.
14:30 Diplomas and certificates up to and including honours degrees in the Faculties of Health Sciences, Law and Theology.

Thursday 18 April

09:30 Diplomas and certificates up to and including honours degrees in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences: only Agricultural Sciences and Architecture.
14:30 Diplomas and certificates up to and including honours degrees in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences: only Natural Sciences.

Friday 19 April

09:30 Diplomas and certificates up to and including honours degrees in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences: all diplomas and degrees in the Faculty, except BCom and BComHons.
14:30 Diplomas and certificates up to and including honours degrees in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences: only BCom and BComHons.

The Qwaqwa Campus’ graduation ceremony will take place on 8 June 2013. Diplomas/certificates up to and including doctorates will be awarded at this ceremony.

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