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01 April 2025 | Story Andre Damons | Photo Supplied
Health care
Those who took part in the community engagements are: From left Dr Kamo Mothibi from the UFS, Irene Mokgadi from CUT, Dr Mosebi Thejane (UFS), Ahlume Nkumbesi (UFS), Dr Lebogang Mogongoa (CUT), Minnie Mbokazi (UFS), Dr Happy Phage (CUT), Dr Phindile Shangase (UFS) and Teboho Mhlanga from the Free State Department of Health. Seated in from are Meshack Mothupi, driver from CUT, and Sipho Zulu (UFS).

The Division of Public Health at the University of the Free State (UFS) together with the Central University of Technology (CUT), and the Free State Department of Health’s Disability Unit, held community engagements recently by visiting rehabilitation services in Bloemfontein. 

These engagements were part of the co-funded project: Capacity building for the use of implementation science in various typologies in low- and middle-income countries for the prevention and/or management of the quadruple burden of disease. This was phase two in this project with the last phase including a symposium that is expected to take place on 1 April on the UFS Bloemfontein Campus.

Qhomane Mhlanga, a representative from the Free State Department of Health who is actively involved in this project, and her team, identified rehabilitation services for a case study. They also identified stakeholders to be visited during this community engagement in order to gather information on their engagement with Mangaung University of the Free State Community Partnership Programme (MUCPP). The team also visited stakeholders at the Phelang Disability Home, Carel du Toit Special School, and the Department of Education (Inclusive Education). 

 

Research to improve health care service

Dr Phindile Shangase from the Division of Public Health, and Principal Investigator at UFS, says the purpose of community visits was to engage service providers on the implementation strategies. This includes analysing alignment of implementation strategies with the policy (National Rehabilitation Policy 2000, Free State Rehabilitation Policy Guidelines, Framework and Strategy for Disability and Rehabilitation Service in South Africa 2015-2020) as well as identifying facilitators and barriers to implementation.

“It is the intention of the Division of Public Health, UFS to continue collaborations with stakeholders in implementation science research to improve health care service delivery and outcomes. The Division of Public Health also intends to add postgraduate research studies on implementation science in the near future.

“The visit to the clinic sought to establish the services provided by the rehabilitation unit, the referral system, and how the unit collaborates with external stakeholders to enhance the service. We gained knowledge of categories of healthcare professionals in rehabilitation services, e.g., occupational therapists, physiotherapists, speech and language therapists, audiologists, orthotists and prosthetists, rehabilitation doctors, optometrists, community rehabilitation workers. Some of these professionals are not available in the facilities visited,” says Dr Shangase. 

It was identified that, she continues, early hearing screening services for children are not available at healthcare facilities. Early hearing screening helps identify hearing defects which could be managed early to avoid complications that lead to hampered education and poor quality of life.


Outcome of engagements

Before the community outreach began, the UFS/CUT team, in collaboration with the Department of Health, convened to discuss strategies for navigating the Implementation Science project. The meeting focused on identifying key stakeholders and developing approaches essential for the project's success, drawing insights from the Department of Health's Mangaung Metro implementation science case study. 

The team identified five primary approaches for the project: Health, Education, Livelihood, Social, and Empowerment. Additionally, the discussion highlighted both the barriers and enablers related to each approach, which are crucial for ensuring effective project implementation and sustainable outcomes. Free State rehabilitation policy guidelines document was also applied to evaluate the case study.

According to Dr Shangase, the outreach will help with drafting of an intervention plan to address policy implementation gaps identified. The information gathered will assist in commissioning further research to improve health outcomes. “The intention is to collaborate with the Department of Health to work on past research outputs, presented during research day conferences, for implementation in healthcare facilities. Newly identified research areas will also prompt projects in healthcare facilities, led by the academic partners, UFS, Division of Public Health as well as the Department of Health Sciences, CUT.”

News Archive

Medical student stars in local movie
2015-10-15


Sung-Hoon as the on-screen character Operator 2

Sung-Hoon Kim’s dream of starring in a movie became a reality with the release of Reconnect on 16 October 2015 in Nu Metro cinemas across the country.

The second-year medical student at the University of the Free State transitioned into a professional actor in December 2013, when he made the leap from his high school drama stage to shooting for the big screen.

“I did plays in high school where I had roles like Simba in The Lion King,” said the first-time movie star. 

The film is a purely South African creation. It is set in Potchefstroom and Klerksdorp, Sung-Hoon’s former and current hometowns. Sung-Hoon plays two major roles: XJ-1- a robot, and the on-screen role of artificial intelligence Operator 2 at SKY CORP - an international intelligence company that protects top secret information from around the world.

Reconnect was directed by the late Marius Swanepoel, who Sung-Hoon described as “a great blessing to all those privileged enough to have known him.” The movie explores the relationship between human beings and artificial intelligence.

Eric Scott discovers XJ-1 at an abandoned warehouse, and transfers him to SKY CORP where he becomes destructive. Eric and his friend, Jason, are then faced with the challenge of containing the situation, and saving the company which XJ-1 has infected with a dangerous virus. As the science-fiction action unfolds, viewers catch a glimpse into the life of XJ-1.

Shooting the movie was an exciting experience for Sung-Hoon. “It was quite fun because I like imitating voices,” he said.

 

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