Latest News Archive

Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items

UFS launches two public health programmes

31 October 2024 | Story André Damons | Photo André Damons

What started seven years ago as a dream, came to fruition in October 2024, when the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of the Free State (UFS) officially launched two new programmes, the Master of Public Health and PhD Public Health in the Division of Public Health (DPH).

In his welcome address, Prof Gert van Zyl, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, said it is a significant milestone launching these particularly important programmes in the faculty. The launch took place on 24 October 2024 at the James Moroka Building on the Bloemfontein Campus. These programmes are dedicated to recognising and responding to complex national and global public health challenges through high-quality research, teaching and learning, and engaged scholarship.

Prof Bonang Mohale, UFS Chancellor, and Dr BE Mzangwa, Acting Deputy Director General of the Free State Department of Health and CEO of the Universitas Academic Hospital, were also in attendance, while Mr Ramphelane Morewane, Deputy Director General of HIV/AIDS, TB, Maternal and Child Health, in the National Department of Health, delivered a congratulatory message virtually.

Said Prof Van Zyl: “The vision of the public health dream in the faculty started with a small group of us having a discussion on taking public health forward. At that first meeting we already agreed on an action plan. We knew then if we kept true to this dream, we would have success, but this success would not be for us. It would be for the influence of the lives of many postgraduate students that will enrol in the programmes in this division and uplift themselves by getting a quality and relevant qualification. Ready to serve the bigger community.

“For those who are part of the vision of the public health dream, remember the dream and vision, continue with the collaborative efforts and spirit, remain committed to the dream and do everything that is needed to allow it to excel, and never forget the core values we embraced at the beginning when we started this dream,” said Prof Van Zyl.

Addressing public health challenges

Prof Anthea Rhoda, Acting UFS Vice-Chancellor and Principal, said in a video message that the launch marks a significant milestone symbolising the beginning of an academic endeavour aligned with Vision 130, which emphasises academic excellence, quality and impact.

“Today’s launch represents a crucial step in the Faculty of Health Sciences’ commitment to address public health challenges within our communities, nationally, as well as globally. It also represents a crucial step in the University of the Free State’s dedication to tackling public health challenges that are prevalent in our communities.

“The Division of Public Health aspires to be engaging, diversifying public health through innovative, global responsive research. Public health, as is common knowledge, is the study and practice of safeguarding and improving the well-being of individuals and community. It includes the promotion of healthy lifestyles, the prevention of diseases and efforts to control infectious illnesses,” said Prof Rhoda.

She said it should be remembered that public health encompasses more than a simple field of study, it’s a commitment to service, and a promise to make a positive impact in the world. She is confident that this new programme will contribute significantly to the academic prestige of the UFS and will be a source of innovative solutions to the complex health challenges of the times.

Programmes in high demand

According to Prof Joyce Tsoka-Gwegweni, Vice-Dean: Research, Transformation, and Marketing and Head of the DPH, they only enrolled the first cohort of students in the second semester of 2023.

“During that time, we enrolled six Master of Public Health students and 14 PhDs. This year we enrolled 26 students, 13 in each programme. Currently we have 46 students. 19 Masters’ of Public Health and 27 PhD students, of which 90% are black female students. We also have international students from Lesotho, Namibia and Kenya. The quality of our students is very high. They are already working in health-related institutions and most of them are in leadership positions.

“For the coming year, 2025, we have already received 224 applications for the Master of Public Health programme and 30 for the PhD. We can only accommodate 30. Our programmes are already in high demand nationally and on the continent. They address a range of public health topics of national and international importance,” said the Vice-Dean.

Prof Tsoka-Gwegweni said because of the quality of staff and the quality and relevance of the programmes, their multidisciplinary nature, sustainability, and responsiveness to local, national and global public health challenges, these programmes are contributing to the UFS vision of achieving academic excellence, quality and impact; maximum societal impact with sustainable relationships; and of achieving a diverse, inclusive equitable university.

Health and prevention are primary

Prof Geoffrey Setswe, the Managing Director of the Aurum Research Institute, delivered the keynote address, saying public health, unlike medicine and nursing is not about treating individual patients, but focuses on the maintenance of promotion of health at a population level. Health and prevention are primary. He also talked about the public health pathways and career options in this field.

The best-known elements of public health, he said, are health promotion, environmental health, surveillance, communicable disease prevention, communication, health equity, emergency preparedness, harm reduction and home visiting programmes.

“The South African public health system is rebuilding itself and working to enhance health and well-being by implementing the NHI that will enable access to high quality, people-centred and integrated health care for all South Africans. Public health training must have multisectoral applications for public health careers, specialisation and advanced education providing life experiences and related expertise for people with diverse origins and ethical motivations,” he said.

According to Prof Setswe, this model will help in the training of public health professionals to deal with the quadruple burden of communicable diseases (HIV, TB, sepsis), non-communicable diseases (cancers, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases), injuries from crime and violence (including GBV), and mental health (including depression, para-suicide, risk behaviour, harmful substance abuse) and maternal and child health.

Click to view document Click and watch the official launch below:

Prof Bonang Mohale, UFS Chancellor, also attended the launched the new Division of Public Health programmes.

Prof Geoffrey Setswe, the managing director of the Aurum Research Institute delivered the keynote address.

Prof Joyce Tsoka-Gwegweni, Vice-Dean: Research, Transformation, and Marketing and Head of the DPH, gave a short history of the DPH.

News Archive

UFS responds on the outcome of the court case in the alleged attack by Cobus Muller and Charl Blom on Gwebu

2014-09-09

The management of the University of the Free State (UFS) acknowledges the finding issued on 4 September 2014 by the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) that it was “unable to find any corroborating evidence to make a conclusive finding of racism and violation of human rights” in the Muzi Gwebu case.

The university management also takes cognisance of the ruling in the Bloemfontein Regional Court by Regional Magistrate Rasheed Matthews today (9 September 2014) that both Cobus Muller and Charl Blom are found not guilty on all the charges which included reckless driving, crimen injuria, attempted murder and assault (Muller), and a charge of assault (Blom). We note the Magistrate’s concerns about “inconsistencies in the evidence and exaggerations”, that the complainant “displayed hostility throughout the trial” and that he was “not a reliable witness and is prejudiced.” And therefore, in the words of the Magistrate to the defendants, “I’ve decided to give you the benefit of the doubt.”

Both Muller and Blom were suspended from all campuses of the UFS on 19 February 2014 based on the evidence available at the time of reckless driving, assault and other charges. This evidence was further borne out by an internal investigation into the incident of 17 February 2014 on the Bloemfontein Campus. In the light of the evidence available to us at the time, and the volatile situation on campus in the days following the attack, the UFS management believes that it was the correct decision to suspend the students, given the serious nature of the charges, and pending a decision of the courts.

In the light of both the SAHRC ruling as the Regional Court ruling, the university management has decided to take the following steps:

1.   The suspensions of both Muller and Blom from all campuses of the university are lifted with immediate effect.

2.   Muller may attend a forthcoming graduation ceremony during which the degree BSc Construction Management will be officially conferred upon him. He completed all the requirements for the degree in 2013, but was not allowed to attend the graduation ceremony of 11 April 2014 due to his suspension and the fact that the criminal charges were still pending.

3.   Blom may return to the university to complete his studies.

4.   The UFS is in discussion with the parents of one of the students and, if required, would also meet with legal counsel of the university, as well as those of students Muller and Blom to discuss any further steps given the outcome of the court case.

5.   In short, on grounds of the ruling by die SAHRC, as well as the Bloemfontein Regional Court, the university will not continue with its disciplinary action against Muller and Blom.

Prof Jonathan Jansen, Vice-Chancellor and Rector of the UFS said: “This has been a very difficult time for the university and I am pleased to record that throughout the crisis, the student body on the Bloemfontein Campus showed remarkable restraint and discipline, confirming also the broad, non-racial character of the peaceful protests that followed. Our student body has matured and our campus cultures are much more inclusive and transformed as a result of the quality and depth of student leadership over the past few years. The new Student Representative Council (SRC) is a splendid example of this – with the first black woman President (Mosa Leteane) and the first blind woman SRC student leader (Louzanne Coetzee).”

“I am pleased that the matter is now behind us and, again, we rest with the decisions of the Commission and the Courts as final,” he said.

Prof Jansen also apologised on behalf of the UFS to Cobus Muller and Charl Blom, their parents, and their families, for the disruption that the suspension brought in their lives and for the stress they had to bear during this difficult period. “For that, I am truly sorry,” he said.

Issued by: Lacea Loader (Director: Communication and Brand Management)
Tel: +27 (0) 51 401 2584 | +27 (0) 83 645 2454
E-mail: news@ufs.ac.za

Back

Economic and Management Sciences

Education

Health Sciences

The Humanities

Law

Natural and Agricultural Sciences

Theology and Religion

Open Distance Learning

Business School

We use cookies to make interactions with our websites and services easy and meaningful. To better understand how they are used, read more about the UFS cookie policy. By continuing to use this site you are giving us your consent to do this.

Accept