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28 October 2024
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Story Zingaphi Mdletshe
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Kovsie ACT volunteers undergo leadership and skills training, preparing them to engage in community service and develop sustainable solutions to societal challenges beyond university life.
The University of the Free State’s (UFS) Kovsie ACT office continues to foster a spirit of humanity among students through a leadership and skills development training initiative that is aimed at not only developing them as volunteers but also as conscientious individuals who understand the value of helping others.
“The leadership and skills development training is a platform that the ACT office utilises to ensure that volunteers are equipped with the necessary skills needed to fulfil their duties as Central ACT Committee members, thereby facilitating a smooth term,” said Teddy Sibiya, Senior Assistant Officer at Kovsie Support Services. “We aim to impart knowledge that will be beneficial during their term and beyond their involvement with the ACT office.”
Touching on how the training aligns with the broader goals of the Kovsie ACT Volunteer Programme for the term 2024/2025, Sibiya emphasised that sustainability has always been at the heart of Kovsie ACT and that their activities provide opportunities for students to engage in community service and participate in environmental initiatives to assist civil society organisations. The programme also encourages students to become active global citizens by addressing transnational issues such as food insecurity and socio-economic challenges.
“I am excited about the opportunity to be part of a movement that influences not just the lives of students but also reaches beyond the university, promoting innovative and sustainable solutions on a larger scale,” said Raylene Bussack, a Central ACT Committee volunteer. “My goal is to inspire and empower others to join us in this vital work to make a lasting difference together.”
In addition to leadership training, Kovsie ACT offers various programmes designed to enhance students' skills in areas such as communication, teamwork and project management. These skills are essential for their roles within Kovsie ACT and for their future careers. By participating in community service projects, students build valuable relationships and gain practical experience that will benefit them upon graduation. The initiative ultimately aims to create a culture of giving back among students while enriching their university experience.
UFS to monitor the use of ARV-drugs on pregnant women and children
2004-12-08
The University of the Free State (UFS) is to establish a Pharmacovigilance Centre that will monitor the effects of Anti-Retroviral (ARV) drugs on HIV positive pregnant women and children starting early in the new year.
The UFS is one of only two institutions chosen by the Minister of Health, Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, to establish such an ARV monitoring centre.
The other centre will be based at Medical University of South Africa (MEDUNSA) and will concentrate mainly on monitoring the effects of the drugs on adults.
“The establishment of the UFS’s Pharmaconvigilance Centre forms part of government’s Comprehensive Plan on HIV and AIDS, often termed the roll-out plan for ARV drugs. The centre’s primary responsibility will be to specifically monitor the use of these drugs in pregnant women, and children under the age of 13,” said Prof Andrew Walubo of the UFS’s Department of Pharmacology.
“Although most of the side effects of ARV drugs have been identified in other countries, it has now become critical to identify the side effects amongst the South African population. This is important because many people will be exposed to the drugs within a short time. Our aim is so identify the most common side effects and make recommendations for the prevention thereof. The centre will help in detecting the risk of using anti-retroviral drugs in pregnancy and children, and prevention of adverse drug reactions,” said Prof Walubo.
According to Prof Walubo 12 drugs will be monitored – these drugs will be selected according to the patient’s profile.
The centre will comprise of two components: A pregnancy registry, which will focus on a new-born child up until two months and a pediatric registry, which will focus on children who are born of mothers who used ARV drugs and children using ARV drugs.
According to Prof Walubo, the Pharmaconvigilance Centre will also be responsible for offering relevant technical advice, training and selected research on ARV drugs in these patients.
The centre will be fully sponsored by the national Department of Health. It will be based in the UFS’s Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Pharmacology, and will be run in collaboration with experts from different departments in the faculty.
Media release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Media Representative
Tel: (051) 401-2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl.stg@mail.uovs.ac.za
8 December 2004