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UFS strengthens campus health leadership at annual SA Association of Campus Health Services Conference

05 February 2025 | Story Vuyelwa Mbebe | Photo Supplied

Regional Committee SAACHS — The Kovsie Health staff members who also serve on the SAACHS regional committee: Shibashiba Moabelo, Riana Johnson, Sarien de Necker, Theresa de Vries, and Emmerencia Sibanda.

The University of the Free State (UFS) took centre stage at the annual South African Association of Campus Health Services (SAACHS) Conference, held at the Windmill Casino Conference Centre in Bloemfontein from 8 to 10 January 2025.

The conference was themed ‘Student Centredness’ and brought together representatives from 22 higher education institutions to explore critical issues related to student health and wellness.

SAACHS is a national association comprising tertiary institutions that offer primary and occupational healthcare services on campuses across South Africa. This year’s conference covered a range of pressing topics, including HIV support for students, strategies to assist pregnant students, telehealth collaborations, caregiver self-care, student health-seeking behaviours, food insecurity, and best practices in campus health emergency medical services.

Sr Riana Johnson, Deputy Director of Kovsie Health and regional chair of the Free State and Northern Cape SAACHS committee, emphasised the impact of the UFS’s involvement. “The strong representation of UFS speakers highlighted the strides we have made in campus health services and the invaluable contributions our institution brings to these crucial discussions,” she said.

As key organisers, Johnson and her team – including Sr Sarien de Necker and colleagues from the UFS and the Central University of Technology (CUT) – were instrumental in securing speakers, selecting relevant topics, and managing conference logistics. Their efforts ensured the smooth running of an event that encouraged knowledge-sharing and collaboration among campus health professionals.

“The conference provided a vital platform for networking and exchanging ideas,” Johnson said. “UFS’s active participation helped strengthen partnerships with institutions such as the Department of Health and promoted shared solutions to student wellness challenges.”

She added that hosting the event underscored the UFS’s leadership in campus health and allowed other institutions to learn from its initiatives. Discussions and collaborations at the conference enhanced awareness campaigns and reinforced a collective commitment to student well-being.

Looking ahead, Johnson believes the insights gained will shape the future of Kovsie Health. “Exploring new health technologies and expanding student-centred health initiatives are among our top priorities,” she concluded. “The knowledge shared at this conference will undoubtedly influence how we evolve our services to meet the needs of our students more effectively.”

News Archive

Brazil: Wayde’s dream destination since childhood

2015-12-15

Wayde van Niekerk knows he has to work even harder in 2016 if he wants to achieve success at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Photo: Charl Devenish

When he was still in primary school, Wayde’s dream destination was Brazil. Even his dog’s name is Rio.

So it almost seems written in the stars for Wayde van Niekerk to take part in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janerio.

According to the 400m athlete of the University of the Free State (UFS), the Olympics has been something he has been dreaming about for years.

Van Niekerk, who studies BA Marketing at the UFS, has had a phenomenal 2015 season, and the whole of South Africa hopes he can repeat his outstanding form in Rio. The Olympics will be held from 5-21 August 2016.

Funny story

“It actually is a funny story. You know when you are in primary school, and the teacher says you have to write down your dream destination. Mine was Brazil,” Van Niekerk revealed.

“In 2012 at the closing ceremony of the London Olympics, I saw they introduced Rio as the next hosting country, and I thought Wow! That is where I want to be, and what I want to do.

“That opened my eyes and I knew God has a plan for me. I have to put in the hard work and achieve something with my life. Luckily from there on, there was pure growth in my life and I am grateful for that.”

His dream is also carried by his dog, Rio, a husky he got about two years ago.

Preparation in 2016

Van Niekerk will follow a specific programme leading up to Rio 2016.

In February next year, he will still be taking things easy, but will probably compete for the UFS in the Varsity Sports athletics.

“You have to build up slowly to peak at the right time,” he said.

In June 2016, he will start competing internationally in Jamaica, then New York, the All-Africa Games in Durban, and then, some Diamond League events before the Olympics in August.

In the archive:

KovsieSport star

NBC tells waydes story

Wayde nominated as SAs best

Wayde Adidas face

Wayde’s hat trick of awards

Congratulate wayde and other achievers

Wayde wins gold

Kovsie trailblazing track runner

Kovsie gold medalist

Kovsie Campion sprinter

Wayde sets African record

Kovsies keep winning, this time in athletics

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