Kwethulwe Uhlelo Lwezifundo Zonyaka Wokugcina Zabafundi Bezokwelapha
.jpg "Kwethulwe Uhlelo Lwezifundo Zonyaka Wokugcina Zabafundi Bezokwelapha")
uSolwazi Richard Hift ufisela abafundi bonyaka wokugcina okuhle osukwini lokubamukela.Click here for English version
Inhloso yeSikole SezokweLapha sase-UKZN ukukhiqiza odokotela abasezingeni eliphezulu eNingizimu Afrika, kusho iDini EyiNhloko Yesikole SezokweLapha uSolwazi Richard Hift.
UHift ubekhuluma ngenkathi isikole sinosuku lokwamukela abafundi bonyaka wokugcina okwethulwe ngalo uhlelo lwezifundo zabo zonyaka wokugcina.
Ikilasi lezi-2015 lizotshalwa ezibhedlela ezifundisayo esifundazweni saKwaZulu-Natali njengodokotela abasaqeqeshwa lapho ukuhlolwa kwabo kuzophathwa yithimba longcweti ababuya emikhakheni ehlukene yezempilo.
UHift uthe ubungcweti nokwenza izinto ngendlela elungileyo kuyisisekelo sezokwelapha futhi ubuye wagqugquzela abafundi ukuthi benze umsebenzi wabo ngokuzimisela nenkuthalo.
Abafundi bazohlolwa kuleminxa ukuba abelaphi abanekhono, ukuxhumana, ukubambisana, ukufunda kanye nobungcweti unyaka wonke. Uthe la makhono abaluleke wonke futhi ahambisana nokwethembeka emphakathini.
UDkt Paula Diab noDkt Mosa Moshabela woMnyango wezeMpilo YaseMaphandleni utshele abafundi mayelana nomsebenzi wabo wasemaphandleni lapho egcizelele khona ukuthi kusekuningi okumele kufundwe ngezempilo emakhaya emiphakathini entulayo esifundazweni.
Abafundi bathulwe kubasebenzi base-UKZN nabasebenzi boMnyango WezeMpilo abazobasiza ngezinto ezinhlobonhlobo ngokuhamba konyaka.
Umphathi WezeNsizakusebenza Zabafundi eKolishi Lezifundo ZezeMpilo uNkk Ranitha Ramdeyal ugcizelele ukubaluleka kokuthi abafundi babhalise noMkhandlu Wezabaqeqeshelwe Ezempilo waseNingizimu Afrika uma sebethole iziqu zabo kuMbasa wezi-2016.
Enkulumweni yakhe yokugqugquzela, owayengumfundi osengumelaphi, uDkt Sifiso Ngcobo ukhulume ngezinselelo nokugqamile enyakeni wakhe wokugcina ohlelweni lwezifundo zakhe ze-MBChB.
Umfundi wonyaka wokugcina uNkz Penny Ndukuya uthe: ‘Akukholakali. Kusabukeka sengathi kuseyizolo sifika esikoleni sezokwelapha kodwa manje sesizondele kakhulu ephusheni lethu.’
UNdukuya ubebambe iqhaza emsebenzini waminyaka yonke wokusiza umphakathi iProject Hope futhi eyilungu lekomidi le-Rutral Development Club yase-UKZN.
uLunga Memela
author : .author email : .Of Bacterial Predators and Biofilms
Ms Zikhona Jojozi and Ms Lorika Beukes at the 52nd Annual Conference of the Microscopy Society of Southern Africa.Postgraduate students from the Discipline of Microbiology on the Pietermaritzburg campus, Ms Zikhona Jojozi and Ms Lorika Beukes, presented their research at the Microscopy Society of Southern Africa’s 52nd annual conference in Stellenbosch.
Jojozi, who is currently working towards her MSc in Microbiology, gave an oral presentation on the microscopic analysis of a bacterial isolate from KwaZulu-Natal that is feeding on other bacteria. Using light and electron microscopy, she showed that the tiny Bdellovibrio-like predator attacks its prey - other bacterial cells - to gain a source of carbon and energy.
Jojozi and her supervisor, Professor Stefan Schmidt, are convinced that the microscopic predators they handle in the laboratory are underestimated, as most non-microbiologists are not even aware of their existence. Although tiny in comparison to a lion or a leopard, they are mighty predators which effectively eliminate their prey, says Schmidt. ‘Such bacterial predators are therefore termed “living antibiotics” as they might be able to eliminate antibiotic resistant pathogens that are not responding to conventional treatment.’
PhD candidate Beukes - also supervised by Schmidt – delivered an oral presentation on the ability of representative bacterial pathogens and hygiene indicators from pit latrines to form biofilms. The development of such biofilms over time was analysed in the laboratory using scanning electron microscopy.
Beukes explained that such biofilms were a serious hygiene problem especially when containing potentially pathogenic bacteria that can cause infections.
She used simultaneous staining with two different dyes and analysis of samples by confocal laser scanning microscopy to compare the efficacy of well-established biocides and common household cleaning formulations to inactivate cells present in biofilms formed on representative kitchen surfaces. Her results show that mature biofilms generated on household surfaces are not easily inactivated by common household cleaning formulations but instead require biocides that are not appropriate for use in households due to their considerable toxicity.
Stefan Schmidt
author : .author email : .Spotlight on Health Care Graduates From Rural Areas
Dr Andrew Ross.A study aimed at understanding the educational experiences of health care graduates from rural areas has been completed by Dr Andrew Ross of UKZN’s Department of Family Medicine in the School of Nursing and Public Health.
Ross believes such students deserve special support, training and development.
The study titled: “The Learning Experiences of Rural Origin Health Care Professionals at Institutions of Higher Learning”, examined significant events in the lives of pharmacists, doctors, physiotherapists and clinical psychologists.
Said Ross: ‘The crisis in formal school education in South Africa has meant that rural students with the capacity to pursue a career in healthcare are the least likely to access the necessary training at institutes of higher learning (IHL). Throughput is relatively low in South African IHL and is determined by a range of learning experiences.’
According to Ross, insight into the lives of rural origin health care professionals (HCPs) has the potential to inform the training of those of rural origin.
During the study, graduates shared challenging experiences they faced such as lack of funding at home, poorly motivated teachers, inadequate preparation for going to university, and how they took responsibility for their own learning, making use of available resources.
Ross said motivation to return to work in rural areas included a commitment to go back, wanting to improve services, being close to home and being able to provide support to their families.
He said the research highlighted the potential of rural origin students and the importance of ensuring they were able to participate in postgraduate training.
‘Rural students have potential and should have opportunities to participate in post graduate training programmes. Innovative means need to be considered as to how to recruit rural students and how to encourage social and academic engagement so that rural origin students succeed.’
Research was done through interviews with six rural origin health care professionals and using a range of arts-based methods to create a reconstructed story of a HCP currently working in a rural context.
Ross believes that more rural origin students will lead to more rural based health care professionals which will impact on health care in rural areas.
Ross is currently writing two papers and finishing his thesis. He is also working with his registrars on the profile of patients admitted to Ngwelelzana Hospital following parasuicide attempts as well as the profile and outcome of patients admitted to the high care unit at Northdale Hospital, and sexual dysfunction in HIV positive men undergoing antiretroviral therapy.
Nombuso Dlamini
author : .author email : .UKZN Health Expert Joins High Level International Panel
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author : .author email : .UKZN Students Excel at SKA Bursary Conference
From left: Miss Kenda Knowles, Miss Brenda Namumba and Miss Heather Prince.Students from the Astrophysics and Cosmology Research Unit (ACRU) excelled at the Square Kilometre Array South Africa (SKA SA) postgraduate bursary conference held in Stellenbosch.
Miss Kenda Knowles won first prize in the PhD Presentation category while Miss Brenda Namumba was placed first and Miss Heather Prince second in the Masters Presentation category.
The Conference, which provides an opportunity for SKA SA-supported PhD and MSc students as well as Postdoctoral Fellows to present their work, has grown from an attendance of 15 students at the first gathering in 2006 to more than 120 postgraduate students and Postdoctoral Fellows. The Conference was also attended by several local and international astronomy researchers.
Knowles’s talk was titled: “Radio Halos in ACT Galaxy Clusters”, while Namumba spoke on the “evolution of cold gas in active galaxies”. Both students have worked with data from the KAT-7 instrument and are looking forward to working with MeerKAT data.
Prince presented her research on “cosmic microwave background lensing”.
SKA SA funds engineering and science students in order to build local capacity for the SKA project. It focuses on supporting students who have a record of academic excellence and a strong interest in working on the SKA project.
‘We are very proud of the accomplishments of our students. It is interesting to note that the three winners were all female - an indication that the demographics in this field are changing,’ said Professor Sunil Maharaj, Director of ACRU, which is based in UKZN’s School of Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science, and UKZN’s School of Physics and Chemistry.
Strini Rajgopaul
author : .author email : .OBE for Former HEARD Director
Professor Alan Whiteside.UKZN’s Emeritus Professor Former Executive Director of the Health Economics and HIV/AIDS Research Division (HEARD), Professor Alan Whiteside has been awarded an Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the United Kingdom’s New Year 2015 Honours list in recognition of his services and strategic interventions to curb HIV and AIDS.
The prestigious award (which is an order of chivalry) recognises distinguished service to the arts and sciences, public services outside the Civil Service and work with charitable and welfare organisations of all kinds.
As a prolific researcher and academic, Whiteside has authored numerous peer reviewed articles, books and papers relating to HIV and AIDS. Feeling the need to share his passion for quality research, Whiteside founded HEARD in 1988. and the unique division’s interdisciplinary applied research continues to make a valuable contribution in producing knowledge and interventions as a proactive effort to overcoming health inequalities in Africa.
Whiteside attributed this award to the active support he received from UKZN and every staff member who contributed to the work he has done.
‘The award is recognition of the importance of the work I did at the University and the team I built. In 1997 the then Dean Professor Lumby saw the potential for the work and helped me create HEARD. With the help of a range of administrative and academic staff I was able to grow a largely, independent unit,’ he said.
In his mission to curb HIV and AIDS, Whiteside shared his knowledge and expertise by mentoring and supervising students as well as working with academics and researchers in this field. He also contributed to international policy on HIV/AIDS through engagement with governments, the United Nations, system and donors.
For Whiteside, his work is driven by the his compassion for people who are dying due to the AIDS pandemic, the fact that the disease is preventable and the need to empower people with education so that they have a fighting chance to beat HIV and AIDS.
‘My passion to research this field was inspired by the fact that the epidemic was preventable. We could see it coming and somehow failed to stop it. I saw people I knew and cared for being affected and dying. It broke my heart. It was on a huge scale,’ he said.
‘The highlight of my career is seeing the importance of treatment which reduces infectivity. The lowlight has to be our nation’s failure to grapple with gender issues, Personally I get huge pleasure from seeing people who have been through the HEARD experience in positions of leadership and influence.’
Whiteside is currently a Professor at the Balsillie School of International Affairs in Canada where he is teaching Health Policy and working on publishing two major books.
Thandiwe Jumo
author : .author email : .New Book on Public Administration and Management in SA
.Two senior Public Governance academics at UKZN, Professor Purshottama Reddy and Dr Maurice Oscar Dassah, have contributed chapters in a new public administration book titled: Public Administration and Management In South Africa: A Developmental Perspective.
The book, jointly edited by Professor Chris Thornhill, Professor Gerda Van Dyk and Professor Isioma Ile and published by Oxford University Press, Southern Africa, consists of 17 chapters and addresses key topics including public decision-making; service delivery; policy implementation; leadership and control; human resources management; public financial management and ethics in the public sector.
Some of the critical issues covered in the chapter by Dassah, titled: “The Role of Technology in the Functioning of the State”, are theories of information technology and public administration; information and communication technologies (ICTs) and South Africa’s pursuit of a developmental state, which discusses access of South Africans to various forms of ICTs (cellular phones, landlines, personal computers and the Internet) on a provincial basis.
The chapter also provides good examples of how cellular phones are innovatively used in various countries on the mobile government (m-Government) platform.
According to Dassah, it is becoming clear that the new frontier for public service delivery in developing countries seems to lie in m-government.
In the chapter, Africa’s and South Africa’s e-readiness as well as the digital divide are examined. Other key issues covered include why African public sector ICT projects fail; technology as a mechanism to enhance extensive service delivery; complexity of societal expectations; education and training; advantages and disadvantages of technology in service delivery securing technological mechanisms, and controlling technology.
Reddy wrote his chapter titled: “Policy Management for Effective and Efficient Public Administration”, jointly with Dr J Govender, a UKZN doctoral graduate and currently Senior Lecturer at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in Port Elizabeth. It interrogates critical issues, including the origins of policy; strengthening public administration through public policy; policy management as a tool for efficient public administration and the policy making process and role players. This chapter is particularly important bearing in mind that South Africa has put in place many good policies since 1994 but has not effectively implemented them.
About 1 700 copies of the book were sold in the first week of printing and the second print run is underway to meet the demand.
The book is viewed as ‘an engaging text presented in a real, applied and visual manner, making it the essential introduction for all (undergraduate) students…in public administration and management’.
Maurice Dassah and Purshottama Reddy
author : .author email : .UKZN Steals the Show at SA National Dance Championships
From left: Karabo Mlenzana, Sisekelo Magudulela, Kwazi Makhathini, Thobekile Mthembu, Bongiwe Biyase, Lubanzi Dlungwane, Mbali Maseko and Russell Mnguni.The UKZN Dance Club waltzed off with 10 trophies and 14 certificates at the 2014 SA National Dance Championships competition held at the Swartklip Hall in Cape Town.
Among the gold medals winners were Thabo Khoza and Tina Dolwane, who recently represented South Africa in the 2014 World Standard Ballroom Championship in China; Karabo Mlenzana and Sisekelo Magudulela, and Thabiso Mkhize and Nomvelo Linda.
Silver medal winners were Kwazi Makhathini, Thobekile Mthembu, Mbali Maseko and Russell Mnguni.
The UKZN Dance team excelled in 2014 winning the Uthungulu Championships, the Umgungundlovu Championships, the Youth Day Celebration, South Coast Championships, Ilembe Championships, KZN World Trials, Gauteng World Trial, Samba by the Sea, and did well in USSA Dance Tournaments.
The team has competitive couples from entry level 1 to the professional section. The mix in experience brings an excellent environment for learning and faster growth.
Dance Sport teaches a person discipline and respect and also exercises every muscle in the body.
The UKZN Dance Team thanked all their sponsors who made it possible for them to compete in competitions around South Africa.
Sanele Gumede
author : .author email : .Young UKZN Health Scientist Presents Research at High Level Meeting
.jpg "Young UKZN Health Scientist Presents Research at High Level Meeting")
Ms Olayide Arodola.UKZN student, Ms Olayide Arodola, ended 2014 on a high note when she presented her award-winning Masters research at a meeting of the Centre for High Performance Computing (CHPC) at the Kruger National Park in Mpumalanga.
Supervised by the new Dean of Health Sciences, Professor Mahmoud Soliman, who heads UKZN’s Molecular Modeling and Drug Design Laboratory, Arodola’s study was titled: “Could the FDA-Approved Anti-HIV PR Inhibitors be Promising Anticancer Agents? An Answer from Enhanced Docking and Molecular Dynamics Analyses”.
Researchers have noted the anticancer activity of Nelfinavir – an FDA-approved HIV-1 protease inhibitor – based on experimental data from a previous report. However, Nelfinavir’s mechanism of action has yet to be verified and this led to Arodola’s study as a first account of investigating the anti-cancer activity of all currently FDA-approved HIV PR inhibitors using cutting-edge molecular modelling and drug design approaches at Soliman’s laboratory.
Results from the study showed that Nelfinavir had better binding affinity when compared to other protease inhibitors and this was in a great accordance with the experimental data.
‘Indinavir, saquinavir and ritonavir have close binding affinity to nelfinavir (?G = -9.0, -8.6 and -8.5 kcal/mol, respectively),’ Arodola explained.
It is believed that the research will provide a platform towards the design and optimisation of dual anti-HIV/anti-cancer drugs.
‘Information gained from this study should also provide a route map towards the design, optimisation and further experimental investigation of potential derivatives of HIV PIs to treat cancer,’ said Arodola.
Arodola said she presented at the CHPC National Meeting in order to receive feedback and ideas from senior researchers who had achieved academic qualifications in the same field.
‘Prior to the Conference, I had won the CHPC user satisfaction survey which was posted online on the CHPC website (http://www.chpc.ac.za/index.php/news2/186-winner-chpc-user-satisfaction-survey. When my name was called up, it was almost like everyone knew who I was. Other students and delegates wanted to know which university I came from.’
‘The Director of CHPC/CSIR (Dr Happy Sithole) asked who my supervisor was. I told him Professor Soliman from UKZN and his comment to the audience was: “I am not surprised Soliman is your supervisor, I know him well and I will expect him to graduate such an excellent student”.’
Professor Mahmoud Soliman’s laboratory covers a wide range of computational and molecular modeling research areas with the main focus on biological systems and drug design approaches (http://soliman.ukzn.ac.za).
Arodola said: ‘Besides publication in an international journal, the study will be expanding to include experimental investigations with international collaborators.’
Originally from Nigeria and passionate about acquiring more knowledge in her field, Arodola, graduated with a Master of Medical Science (Pharmaceutical Chemistry) degree in 2014.
She has published papers in peer-reviewed journals during her undergraduate and postgraduate studies and aspires towards completing her PhD which will lead her to excel and generate new knowledge in research-based organisations within the Pharmacy sector.
Lunga Memela
author : .author email : .UKZN Study Examines Antenatal Care
Ms Edith Kibiribiri.Challenges women, including refugees, face when accessing antenatal care in Government clinics in KwaZulu-Natal was the subject of a UKZN study.
The study titled: “Challenges Facing Refugee Women Accessing Antenatal Care In KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa”, was conducted by Ms Edith Kibiribiri of the School of Clinical Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology under the supervision of Professor Daya Moodley of the Women’s Health and HIV Research Unit.
The research examined compliance to national maternity care guidelines and women’s experiences in accessing antenatal care.
It was conducted using questionnaires, maternity chart audits and in-depth interviews with refugees and South African women who had given birth in the past six months and were receiving antenatal care in Durban.
The study found that among women sequentially enrolled, 39% (78/200) were refugees and 61% (122/200) South Africans. The majority (73%) of refugees did not understand the local language (isiZulu) and basic antenatal care generally was less than adequate for all women irrespective of their nationality.
‘In contrast to South African women, refugees were not advised about maintaining their general health, the purpose of laboratory investigations and indications for treatment with accompanying dosing instructions,’ said Kibiribiri.
She said the study showed that refugees were uninformed about the expected labour process or identifying labour and were not advised on infant feeding options and contraception.
‘Refugees elaborated on the language-barrier, expressed client dissatisfaction and perceived intimidation when accessing antenatal care.’
The study concluded that there were disparities in antenatal care when procedures involved verbal communication between pregnant refugees and the Health Care Workers.
Kibiribiri is currently a research assistant at K-RITH and plans to extend her research into pregnancy outcomes among refugees compared to local women.
Born in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Kibiribiri fled to South Africa in 1997 when war broke out in her country. ‘I had no idea how to communicate in English or any other local languages. I spent all the time I could in the library teaching myself English because I could not afford to enrol at a language school.’
She later completed a course at an AIDS training and counselling centre in Pretoria and was appointed as an HIV and AIDS counsellor at an HIV and AIDS Helpline.
Kibiribiri, who had completed a nursing degree in the DRC, went on to earn an honours degree through UNISA.
‘While I was working as a facility supervisor at the Women’s Health and HIV Research Unit, I noticed that refugees were having problems communicating with health care workers. I was motivated to address the issue since I had encountered similar problems when I arrived in this country.’
Kibiribiri has recommended that trained interpreters be appointed in the Health Care field in South Africa to assist with history taking, education and provision of information to patients who do not understand local languages.
She also recommended that pamphlets on health care services be written in a variety of African languages.
Nombuso Dlamini
author : .author email : .Top 2014 Matric Achievers Join UKZN
Mr Gareth Mogambery and Ms Rashmika Deeplal.South Africa’s top and second placed 2014 matric achievers – Mr Gareth Mogambery and Ms Rashmika Deeplal - have chosen UKZN’s College of Health Sciences to study for their MBChB degrees.
Seventeen-year-old Mogambery was the top matric student in KwaZulu-Natal as well as in quintile five schools nationally obtaining nine distinctions. Deeplal,17, was second but first in quintile four schools.
Mogambery, who completed his matric at New West Secondary in Newlands West, is looking forward to studying medicine at UKZN, following in the footsteps of his two older sisters.
Describing himself as a highly competitive person, he learned to read with the help of his mother when he was just five years old while his father assisted him to excel in arithmetic.
Mogambery enjoys playing the piano and guitar; ‘I also read, watch a lot of animation and occasionally run on the beach.
‘My parents are more excited than I am. They have never really directed me on what to study but they are happy. Thank God I have been able to get into the study field of my choice.’
Deeplal, who completed her matric at Isipingo High School scoring seven distinctions, is also excited at having been accepted to do medicine at UKZN. ‘Studying medicine at UKZN has always been my dream and I plan to specialise in Oncology.’
The youngest in a family of five, Deeplal enjoys cooking and swimming.
Nombuso Dlamini
author : .author email : .Study Identifies Novel Changes in Mycobacterium Tuberculosis
Ms Lynne de Welzen.A study to identify novel transcriptional changes in Mycobacterium Tuberculosis that could lead to drug resistance or compensate for loss of fitness or function due to a drug resistance conferring mutation, has been completed by Ms Lynne de Welzen of UKZN’s School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Sciences.
Based at K-RITH, de Welzen said her study titled: “Whole Transcriptome Analysis of Drug Susceptible and Drug Resistant Isolates of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis using RNA-Seq”, examined whether there were additional methods of drug resistance in M. tuberculosis by looking at the genetic level, ie the level of RNA.
According to de Welzen, drug resistance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb) has become an epidemic of global proportions. While drug resistance can be attributed to known mechanisms, some resistance remains unexplained. Investigation of transcriptional adaptations among clinical isolates of drug resistant M.tb may shed light on additional mechanisms of drug resistance.
She said 14 clinical isolates of M.tb that had previously undergone whole genome sequencing, from either Beijing or KZN lineages, with varying drug susceptibilities, were selected for RNA-Seq. RNA was extracted using the TriZol based method, on mid-log phase cultures, and libraries were prepared for sequencing. Prepared libraries underwent RNA sequencing on an Illumina HiSeq 2000.
De Welzen said sequenced reads were aligned to the M.tb reference genome H37Rv, and fold changes of gene transcripts were calculated using DNASTAR. Pairwise comparisons were conducted using statistical tests and identified fold change differences between isolates as well as between lineages.
Transcriptional profiling revealed differential gene expression between drug susceptible and drug resistant isolates as well as between lineages. These data identified genes that were significantly up or down-regulated which could provide novel insight into mycobacterial resistance and compensatory evolution, upon further investigation.
‘My study is based on the huge problem we have with tuberculosis and drug resistance. Instead of looking at the DNA, we want to look at the RNA which will tell us which genes are being expressed and which are not. For this we use the technique of RNA sequencing (RNA-seq).
‘We have taken clinical isolates found in patients and are hoping to find novel mechanisms of drug resistance. We have included drug susceptible clinical isolates so that we can compare a susceptible phenotype to that of a resistant phenotype. The idea would be that certain genes will be identified as being significantly up or down-regulated. These genes could have the potential to be validated as targets to develop new drugs, which are desperately needed,’ de Welzen said.
‘There have been very few studies done on RNA sequencing in M.tuberculosis in the world, let alone South Africa. The opportunity to utilise such a novel technique (RNA-seq) especially in KwaZulu-Natal, where Tuberculosis is a serious problem, could really help us understand this bacterium and why it is so deadly.’
She said unlike other microorgansims, M. tuberculosis could take up to four weeks to grow/culture, before an experiment could be conducted. ‘It therefore takes much more time to generate data.
‘We also need to respect the bacterium for what it is and need to follow strict safety guidelines when working with it.’
De Welzen said she was very fortunate to be sent to Oslo, Norway, to study the intensive technique of RNA-seq library preparations which allowed her to generate her own RNA-seq libraries before sending them off to be sequenced, as well as learning some simple bioinformatics to assist in her data analysis.
According to de Welzen, South Africa is one of the countries with the highest burden of TB, with an estimated incidence of 500 000 cases of active TB in 2011.
She said of those cases, 66% of individuals had both HIV and TB. For individuals who were infected with drug resistant strains of TB, there were fewer treatment options available.
‘The drug treatment regime is also much more intense and longer making patient non-adherence more common, especially in resource-limited and low-income countries. We are clearly facing an epidemic which needs to be addressed.
‘My research will hopefully identify new mechanisms that are making TB resistant to our current drugs. By doing this we could hopefully identify new drug targets and therefore develop new drugs which will reduce the treatment time.’
De Welzen is currently applying to take her study through to a PhD so that she can validate the genes that they have found as potential contributing factors to drug resistance.
She believes education is the key to understanding health and disease and the impact on an individual as well as those around them. ‘I believe we are given the opportunity to learn for the purpose of teaching those who do not have the same opportunities.’
De Welzen completed a BSc cum laude majoring in Cellular Biology and Microbiology at UKZN in 2009 and went on to do her BMedSci (Hons) summa cum laude in Medical Microbiology in 2012. This gave her an introduction to the field of tuberculosis and she completed a Masters degree in Medical Science at K-RITH and is now busy with her PhD.
Nombuso Dlamini
author : .author email : .Student Wins Second Prize at Research Symposium
Mr Saiyur Ramsugit.A study conducted by a UKZN student, Mr Saiyur Ramsugit, won second prize at the College of Health Sciences’ Research Symposium.
The study titled: “Mycobacterium Tuberculosis pili (MTP) Promote Adhesion to and Invasion of THP-1 Macrophages”, aimed to determine whether MTP contributes to the pathogen’s colonization of host macrophages.
‘Winning this prize was a surprise, especially after also placing third at last year’s symposium,’ said Ramsugit. ‘It is a wonderful feeling having research recognised and praised by senior researchers in the College.’
Ramsugit was thankful to the College for providing a platform to present the research findings. ‘Being able to present at internal symposia enable young researchers, like myself, to learn the skills of presentation, to generate new research questions, provide the opportunity for potential collaboration, learn to handle scientific critique and defend one’s research.’
According to Ramsugit, more than a third of the world’s population are infected with TB, a disease responsible for 1.5 million deaths in 2013. He believes that reducing the global burden of TB requires the development of more effective treatment, diagnostic, and preventative strategies. This in-turn is dependent on a greater understanding of the mechanisms by which the etiological agent, M. tuberculosis, is able to cause disease.
‘Pili are hair-like structures that are present on the surface of several bacterial species,’ said Ramsugit. ‘In 2005, researchers at the University of Arizona showed that M. tuberculosis produces pili. However, their role in this organism was not previously reported. This is currently the focus of our research team.
‘As part of my PhD project, we knocked out the gene that is responsible for producing pili, to create a mutant TB strain that lacks pili. We also complemented the mutation, creating a TB strain that produced excessive amounts of pili. We, thereafter, compared the phenotype of the pili-proficient and pili-deficient strains and our results showed that the strains that produced pili were better able to form a biofilm (i.e. a community of bacteria). Living as a community allows bacteria to become tolerant to antibiotics and, therefore, influence the way we treat infections.’
The study also found that the strains expressing pili were better able to infect human cells, than the strain lacking pili. ‘Pili, therefore, play a role in these important aspects of TB pathogenesis. These results lead us to believe that developing drugs and vaccines targeting M. tuberculosis pili may hinder the ability of this organism to infect humans,’ said Ramsugit.
He said the field explored in his research was new and related to several novel aspects of TB research. He said initially M. tuberculosis was regarded as an organism that did not produce pili. ‘Prior to this research, there were only two published journal papers reporting that M. tuberculosis produces pili. The ability of M. tuberculosis to form biofilms has only recently been documented. Another relatively unexplored area of TB research is the role of adhesins (i.e. bacterial surface molecules that enable attachment of the bacterium to surfaces or other cells).’
He published four research papers in scientific peer-reviewed journals last year. The first paper, originally published in the Antonie van Leeuwenhoek Journal of Microbiology, was chosen to be featured in World Biomedical Frontiers (http://biomedfrontiers.org/infection-2014-4-15/) because of its ‘innovation and potential for significant impact’. World Biomedical Frontiers is an online publication that focuses on ‘cutting-edge biomedical research from around the globe’.
Based at the Medical Microbiology and Infection Control Academic Unit in the School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Sciences, Ramsugit is currently in the process of finalising his thesis.
He joined this Unit in 2011 as an honours student, completing the degree summa cum laude. Between 2012 and 2013, he completed his masters degree also summa cum laude, under the supervision of Dr Manormoney Pillay, and was granted a conversion of his masters to a PhD.
He has previously received the Dean’s commendation and 22 certificates of merit/pass with distinctions during his undergraduate and honours degree. He is a member of the International Golden Key Honours Society and was awarded the MERCK Young Scientist Award for being the top final year Biochemistry student at UKZN’s Westville campus in 2010.
Nombuso Dlamini
author : .author email : .Professor Michael Savage Receives Distinguished Teachers’ Award
Professor Michael Savage.Veteran UKZN academic Professor Michael Savage’s commitment to teaching has earned him a 2014 Distinguished Teachers’ Award, which rewards excellence in Teaching and Learning.
The award requires candidates to not only be outstanding teachers who demonstrate successful and effective learning outcomes but to have also made a sustained contribution to Teaching and Learning.
Savage, a UKZN Fellow, is a Senior Professor in Agrometeorology in the School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences on the Pietermaritzburg campus.
He has lectured Science and Agriculture students for the past 38 years in the areas of agrometeorology, atmospheric science, bioresources, irrigation, meteorology and soil physics and has been involved in the development of all agrometeorology courses at UKZN since 1977.
As part of his recent teaching and learning activities, he developed over several years the Agrometeorology Instrumentation Mast (AIM) system used extensively by undergraduates, postgraduates and staff. Much of the success and use of the AIM system, also used for research in teaching and learning, is due to the undergraduate and postgraduate students involved, including post-doctoral students, and also support staff.
‘Teaching is the one part of my overall range of activities which has never received formal recognition,’ said Savage. ‘Now, besides the research and administration contributions, there is also recognition for teaching and this can only bode well for the future of the Discipline. Hopefully, the award will stimulate others in the School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences to also work towards research on teaching and learning in their disciplines.’
According to Savage, his approach to education entails understanding students’ learning difficulties but at the same time reminding them of their everyday experiences in the agro-environment while developing the basic concepts.
‘This approach is an empathetic one, for teaching without empathy means that it is done as a job, with little emotion. Also, what may be different is my direct engagement with the students, especially during lectures, practicals and small-group sessions. Even in large second year classes of more than 100, this entails walking around even to the back of the class to ask questions to elicit responses. This method of engagement includes trying to relate complex subject matter in a way that is much more easily understood,’ he said.
Savage said the use of continual engagement and reliance on visual teaching materials ‘results in it not being a case of me trying to get the students to my level but of me getting to their level at the same time as trying to impart knowledge gained by both the student and myself in a way that they can relate to’.
Savage says the success of teaching his discipline is when students master the skills required, and it brings them joy and a great sense of empowerment.
‘With this success follows the step of challenging the student to strive for this level of success. It is hard work on the part of the student and hard work from my side as well. Agrometeorology is difficult for most students – even in second year. They have never encountered it before and many of the things we speak about are invisible - usually, we cannot directly see evaporation, infrared radiation, greenhouse gases, wind (other than its effects), atmospheric pressure, and so on. Also many of the English technological terms that are used in the Agrometeorology modules do not exist in the home language of the student.’
Savage said the teaching and learning of mathematics and computer literacy remains a challenge.
‘The greatest gaps are in mathematics, physics and computer literacy. Most of my students, when they start off, say they are computer literate. However, give them a large set of data from our AIM system to interrogate and they do not know what to do.
‘Even plotting graphs to demonstrate something is beyond the capability of many. My experience, over the years at many different institutions, both locally and internationally, has been that students are not adequately exposed to information and data that directly reflects the state of the environment around them, and they may therefore leave university with a degree that has not sufficiently equipped them with a first-hand understanding of the environment. They are therefore unable to easily relate to the problems of our uncertain agricultural and environmental future,’ said Savage.
Distinguished Teachers’ Awards will be formally presented at Graduation ceremonies later this year.
Mongezi Mhlongo
author : .author email : .UKZN Medical Researcher Appointed to the Editorial Board of the NEJM
Professor Salim Abdool Karim.UKZN Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research), Professor Salim Abdool Karim, has been appointed from January 2015 to serve a three-year term on the Editorial Board of the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), which is the ‘most widely read, cited and influential general medical periodical in the world’.
Abdool Karim, world-renowned for his research on HIV prevention and treatment, is the first scientist from Africa to be appointed on the 16-member NEJM board. The NEJM was first published over 200 years ago in 1812 and is the oldest medical journal in the world. The NEJM, which is published weekly, has an impact factor of 54.4 – a reflection of how often articles in the journal are cited on average.
Abdool Karim, who is Director of the Centre for the AIDS Program of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), is no stranger to medical journals. He has published over 300 journal articles, including several in the NEJM. He is a member of the Editorial Board of HIV and Infectious Diseases, AIDS Reviews as well as AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses. He is a member of the International Advisory Board of The Lancet – HIV. He has previously served as Associate Editor of AIDS Clinical Care, Reviewing Editor of eLife and Corresponding Editor of the International Journal of Infectious Diseases. He is a reviewer for more than 40 medical journals.
Commenting on his appointment, Abdool Karim said, ‘I feel honoured to be invited to join the Editorial Board of the NEJM. As a medical researcher, I am aware of its high standards and its high stature as a journal that has a huge impact on clinical medicine and health care. Now, I am looking forward to learning more about the journal and to contributing in any way I can to the journal.’
He is also Professor of Clinical Epidemiology at Columbia University, Adjunct Professor of Medicine at Cornell University and Associate Member of The Ragon Institute of Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard University. He currently chairs the UNAIDS Scientific Expert Panel and serves on the Scientific Advisory Board for Global Health of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the World Health Organization’s Expert Advisory Panel on Sexually Transmitted Infections and HIV.
Smita Maharaj
author : .author email : .Mathematician Receives UKZN 2014 Distinguished Teachers’ Award
Dr Anesh Maharaj.Mathematician Dr Anesh Maharaj is the recipient of a UKZN 2014 Distinguished Teachers’ Award, presented to academics who have demonstrated excellence in Teaching and Learning.
Maharaj, who was recently promoted to Senior Lecturer, currently heads the Mathematics Education Research Group in the School of Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science.
‘I feel honoured,’ said the award winner. ‘The feedback I received from my students over the years with regards to my teaching has been very positive. To me that was good enough as my main aim was to be a good lecturer to my students, who come with varying abilities and from different backgrounds. It feels good to be recognised by our University.’
The Distinguished Teachers’ Award requires candidates to not only be outstanding teachers who demonstrate successful and effective learning outcomes, but to have also made a sustained contribution to Teaching and Learning.
Maharaj said the award reaffirmed he was proceeding in the right direction, adding he would continue to improve the teaching and learning of mathematics for his students.
Maharaj served as an associate member of the Multiversity Consortium linked to the HP Global Catalyst Initiative from 2010 to 2013.
In 2010 he obtained a grant from the International Society for Technology Education (ISTE) for the project: Mathematics e-learning and Assessment: A South African Context.
Maharaj also manages grants from 2010 onwards of the Tertiary Education Support Programme (TESP) of ESKOM for the UKZN-ESKOM Mathematics Projects. He heads the NRF-funded (2014-2016) collaborative project: Online Diagnostics for Undergraduate Mathematics, and mentors successful applicants for NRF internships from 2013 onwards to help with web-based diagnostics and research.
Maharaj urged teachers to make optimal use of their contact sessions to promote teaching and learning.
‘There are many underprepared or under qualified mathematics teachers at school level who are expected to teach their pupils mathematics. This results in a large number of students enrolling at universities who are not really equipped to study further.
‘At the University the lecturing-staff has certain expectations from first year students,’ said Maharaj.
‘It is a problem that those students do not know what our expectations and assumptions are. These need to be made known to students during the university orientation programmes, both at College and School levels. It is crucial that first year students make the necessary adjustments in regard to their lecturer’s expectations and the work rate at university during the first few days of the semester. For many students this happens too late and contributes to their lack of success.’
Maharaj added that students needed to be guided to study with understanding and to think constructively.
‘A crucial part of the learning process is to ask and also be exposed to appropriate questions at the right time. If one knows what one does not know then this could be the starting point towards an exciting journey from the perspective of a pupil or student. For those involved in teaching it is very important to determine what those you are expected to teach know or don’t know. It is in this context that effective teaching could be planned for and implemented. Reflection is also important for all concerned in the teaching and learning process,’ he said.
Maharaj enjoys reading, walking and a good game of sport. His research interests include promoting effective teaching and learning in mathematics, advanced mathematical thinking, the use of APOS Theory to carryout studies in undergraduate mathematics, e-learning, diagnostics and assessment.
The Distinguished Teachers’ Awards will be formally presented at the Graduation ceremonies later this year.
Mongezi Mhlongo
author : .author email : .UKZN Represented at Crime Prevention Conference
Professor Shanta Balgobind Singh with Mayor, Mr James Nxumalo, at the Urban Safety and Crime Prevention Conference.The safety of South African citizens is a critical issue and a matter of high priority for officials at the eThekwini Municipality, says Mayor, Mr James Nxumalo.
Speaking at the recent Urban Safety and Crime Prevention Conference in Durban, the Mayor said he was highly concerned about the growing threat of crime and violence and the serious danger they posed for South Africa.
‘The safety and security of our communities and citizens is not an issue of government alone, but rather an issue that begs for a collective effort and involvement of all social role players.’
UKZN’s Professor Shanta Singh said tertiary institutions needed to collaborate more intensely with criminal justice stakeholders in order to develop, evaluate and monitor policies.
Singh is currently involved in an IDRC project, titled: “People, Places and Infrastructure: Countering Urban Violence and Strengthening Peace in Mumbai, Rio and Durban” with Professor Brij Maharaj and Professor Sultan Khan. Singh's chapter is titled “Safety on Durban’s Golden Mile through the Lens of Crime Statistics.”
UKZNDabaOnline
author : .author email : .2014 a “Resounding Success” at the College of Health Sciences
.jpg "2014 a “Resounding Success” at the College of Health Sciences")
Professor Rob Slotow congratulates long-serving staff: Mr Dhanapalan Naicker, Professor Julia Hilary Botha and Mrs Fazila Padayachee. The College of Health Sciences (CHS) ended 2014 on a high note with its Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Rob Slotow, lauding academic and professional services staff for working together to make the academic year a resounding success.
Slotow was speaking at the College year-end lunch at which long-serving staff and those retiring were recognised for their sterling contributions to the University.
In addition to the existing long service categories of 15 years and 25 years, this year the College congratulated Mrs Fazila Padayachee, Mr Thiramalai Govender and Professor Julia Hilary Botha for 36 years’ employment at UKZN.
Special recognition went to School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Sciences Technician, Mr Dhanapalan Naicker, for reaching an impressive 40 years’ service at UKZN.
Nominated by colleagues and unanimously voted employees of the year for their respective Schools and the CHS Administration Office were: Mrs Nirashni Badrinaria, Mr Vishnu Govender, Mr Thulani Khumalo and Ms Mavis Moodley.
Slotow reflected on 2014 as busy year that was full of activities with amazing achievement for CHS - ‘a result of a lot of hard work across the board’.
His year-end message captured several milestones reached by the College in 2014 including creating research-led scholarship. Slotow reported that last year the College enrolled 419 PhD students and 75 Postdoctoral fellows, while 48 PhD students had either completed, or were in the process of submitting their theses, including 17 staff members.
An increased number of academic staff submitted papers while College Journal publications were up by 40 percent from 2011, according to a 2013 audit.
The College also signed a significant Memorandum of Understanding with the Provincial Department of Health (DoH), envisaging a transformed curriculum with graduate competencies aligned to needs including community-based approaches.
The MoU lobbies for the creation of a decentralised training platform that makes use of all opportunities for quality clinical student placements, and that cascades quality and equality of care throughout the province. The development of a joint research agenda was listed in the MoU, especially around strengthening health systems and service delivery.
Slotow said: ‘What is outlined in the MOU will guide much of our individual and collective activities over the coming years, and, although it sets a challenging and ambitious agenda, I believe that with the quality and commitment of our staff, we will be able to step up to meet the challenges.
‘A key aspect that emerges from the MOU with the DOH is improving the quality of our teaching and learning, especially in terms of the clinical training our students receive.’
Slotow applauded the implementation of a multifaceted communication strategy within the College, and said while he had emphasised the academic outputs that were being achieved by academic staff, he often also reflected on the excellence that the College was achieving within its professional support staff.
‘We are certainly leading the University, and I would imagine the sector, in how our core business is supported for success,’ he said.
Lunga Memela
author : .author email : .Opening of Research Commons on Pietermaritzburg Campus
Pietermaritzburg Library’s Research Commons.The opening of the Research Commons at the library on the Pietermaritzburg campus was a celebration of UKZN’s commitment to the fulfilment of its goals of pre-eminence in research; excellence in teaching and learning and being the institution of choice for learners, said Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), Professor Jonathan Blackledge.
Officially opening the facility, Blackledge said UKZN aimed to produce the highly skilled individuals required to move South Africa from a resource-based to a knowledge-based economy. He highlighted the contribution the Library makes in this regard, working in close co-operation with Colleges and the other support divisions.
Blackledge said UKZN had pledged its commitment to:
· Diversify and rejuvenate the research cohort at the University
· Increase the postgraduate student success rate
· Broaden the knowledge base while ensuring the sustainability of the Institution.
He concluded that the Research Commons was one link in a strong UKZN chain to deliver quality graduates and research to address national and continental imperatives.
The Research Commons is intended to provide UKZN academics, researchers, PhD and Masters students with a dedicated space that is supportive of and conducive to producing quality research. It is a comfortable, secure and spacious venue which includes 20 computer stations running the most up-to-date supported applications software.
Researchers will have access to:
· extensive online resources
· wireless connectivity
· areas for consultation and discussion with supervisors and peers
· printing, photocopying and scanning facilities
· Subject Librarians
The Research Commons will be open according to Library hours until further notice. Access is via swipe card.
Research Commons are also available at the EGM Library, Westville Campus Library and Edgewood Library. The Medical School Library Research Commons is under construction.
Praversh Sukram
author : .author email : .Humanities Staffer Gets Award for 20 Years’ Service in Student Funding
UKZN’s Ms Constance Dube.Senior Financial Aid Advisor in the College of Humanities, Ms Constance Dube, received the prestigious Silver Award from the Department of Higher Education for 20 years of excellence in Student Funding.
Dube, who has been in student funding at UKZN since 1993, says she learned a great deal from her mentors ensuring the success of the Student Financial Aid Department.
‘To be able to serve students in one of the most challenging environments in the world is always demanding and never boring. To wake up each day with a sense of purpose and to know that I am making a difference and changing South Africa for the better is very satisfying,’ said Dube.
Some of the highlights of her career followed the University merger when she had the opportunity to manage student financial aid teams and be the Payment Officer on the Medical School, Edgewood, Howard College and Westville campuses.
In December 2011, Student Funding Advisors were devolved into the Colleges where she was employed as a Senior Advisor. ‘For Student Funding Advisors this was a big change as we did not know what the future held for us. There were challenges in the teething stage and some of them have been resolved.
‘As the Senior Advisor in the College of Humanities, it is not an easy task as we are all aware that our College has the largest number of Schools and the majority of students.’
Dube manages student funding teams on three campuses, providing support in terms of Student Funding Operations and making sure that all the resources are available i.e. staffing and office equipment.
Dube and her team are responsible for student queries regarding funding opportunities for the College and also deal with NSFAS Bursaries such as Ziphakamise and the Social Development (Social Work) Disability Funding for physically challenged students.
‘My office is always inundated with queries about bursaries, scholarships, loans, and sponsorships.’
Dube secured Social Work Scholarships for 33 students who were first time applicants in 2014 and were in Group 2, where some students have still not received funding. She believes her ability to build and maintain good working relationship within the University community and externally resulted in this.
Dube also received an award from the UKZN Disability Unity for participating in the Disability Awareness Day. ‘I was not expecting any award. My intention was to show physically challenged students they are all accepted and treated equally by Student Funding Advisors, and the University community at large.’
What is her ‘secret to success’ in student funding? ‘Hard work and honesty, keeping relationships with colleagues strong so that the team succeeds, never stop learning and use every opportunity to advance your skills and training,’ said Dube.
Sharing her plans for the future, Dube said: ‘Although we are working under tremendous pressure, I managed to complete my Social Science Degree, Post Graduate Diploma in Personal Management and Post Graduate Diploma Industrial Relations. So this year I intend to complete my Masters in Commerce through the UKZN Graduate School of Business.’
Dube thanked her colleagues in Student Funding who have supported her in her work and success at the College. ‘At the end of the day I am pleased if a student says: “Thank you, Ms Dube”, because then I know that I have made a difference in their life.’
Melissa Mungroo
author : .author email : .India Engagement for Doctoral Candidate
Ms Charlette Tiloke. UKZN doctoral candidate, Ms Charlette Tiloke, will deliver an oral presentation at the 2nd International Congress of the Society for Ethnopharmacology in Nagpur, India, next month.
The 24-year-old Chatsworth student won R30 000 towards attending a conference of her choice when she presented her doctoral research at the 2014 College of Health Sciences Research Symposium at UKZN.
Tiloke’s study investigates the antiproliferative effect of Moringa oleifera (MO) leaf extract on human oesophageal cancer cells.
Tiloke discovered that the plant – commonly known as Drumstick tree – was used in South African traditional medicine and possessed high levels of vitamins, amino acids and antioxidants, with known anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and hepato-protective properties.
She said nanoparticles were showing huge potential in cancer therapy because they had ‘characteristic properties of being small (1-100nm)’ and were able to interact with biomolecules both on the cell surface and intracellularly.
‘Metals such as gold are readily available and these nanoparticles can be synthesised using plant extracts such as MO in a cost effective and environmentally friendly synthesis. Lung, liver and oesophageal cancers which remain largely incurable are commonly diagnosed worldwide.’
Because current drug therapies were expensive and had many side-effects, alternate cost effective therapy was being sought.
‘No studies have to date used MO leaf and flower extract to synthesise nanoparticles. Therefore this necessitates research to determine the effect of MO leaf, flower extracts and their synthesised novel nanoparticles on human carcinomas such as lung, liver and oesophageal cancer.’
Tiloke’s study on cancerous human alveolar epithelial cells (lung cancer) was published in the BMC Complementary & Alternative Medicine Journal.
‘The research was upgraded to a PhD which I am currently completing.’
Tiloke said she was grateful and excited by the ‘dream come true’ of presenting her work to international delegates.
‘Cancer is one of the leading causes of deaths in South Africa and diagnosis is expected to increase over the next few years, which is alarming. South Africa has the highest HIV infection burden globally and studies show that surviving HIV positive individuals have a higher risk of developing cancer.’
Her research shows promise in finding complementary and alternative treatment for cancers which can be used in treatment regimes.
Tiloke has received Certificates of Merit and Deans Commendation from her undergraduate years right up until Honours where she graduated cum laude. She is a member of the Golden Key International Honour Society and excels beyond her novice research in Medical Biochemistry.
Her sporting accolades date back to high school and landed her the highest accolade (Full Blues) for sport at UKZN in 2008 – the same year she was nominated for sports woman of the year at the Institution and named Sports Union Executive of the year.
She has also captained many provincial and South African teams at tournaments.
She said research gave her the satisfaction of making a difference in people’s lives by developing novel agents and life-saving drugs. ‘I enjoy researching, analysing, interpreting and developing new ways to combat various cancers such as lung, liver and oesophageal cancer.’
Tiloke said during her undergraduate studies her current supervisors, Professor Anil Chuturgoon and Dr Alisa Phulukdaree, lectured her and sparked the flame for research. Their passion, enthusiasm and wisdom encouraged her to continue with postgraduate studies.
Lunga Memela
author : .author email : .2014 Highlights in UKZN’s Discipline of Occupational Therapy
.jpg "2014 Highlights in UKZN’s Discipline of Occupational Therapy")
Staff members of the Discipline of Occupational Therapy.* Professor Kitty Uys was appointed as the new Academic Leader for Occupational Therapy (OT).
* OT academics presented a total of 10 papers at seven international conferences in the United States, Finland, Japan, Australia, Spain and South Africa and were also at the National Occupational Therapy Conference in Cape Town where a total of 13 papers were presented by 10 staff members. The Discipline was well represented at a Rural Health Conference in Worcester in the Western Cape titled: “Building Resilience in Facing Rural Health Realities in Worcester”.
* Staff secured several grants, scholarships and were involved in capacity building initiatives. Two academics received Medical Research Council’s National Health Scholarships; one a National Research Foundation Sabbatical and Thuthuka Grants; three are currently on the MEPI-REMETH programme; one secured a Teaching and Learning Grant and another was accepted onto the SAFRI FAIMER programme.
* A total of eight papers were accepted into respected journals, with four published and four in press.
* Seven staff members were involved in writing up of two chapters which are currently under review for an international student textbook. These chapters focus on Caregiving within an African context and Refugee lessons from the field. One chapter on severe disability was also reviewed for a new edition of a textbook.
* The Discipline was visited by Professor Nathan Vytialingam of the School of Occupational Therapy at Perdana University in Malaysia; a group of academics from Virginia Commonwealth University; and Professor Rachel Thiebault of the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Health Sciences Occupational Therapy Discipline. It is also in communication with education authorities in Zambia to assist them develop a curriculum for a new occupational therapy programme.
OT Lecturer Ms Pragashnie Naidoo said: ‘This generation of research is critical in advancing the profession of OT and in ensuring viability of the profession at large. Occupational therapy embraces research across paradigms with lecturers contributing to new theories and philosophy as well as evidence-based practice and in-depth inquiries into the experiences of the clients under our care.
‘The Discipline here at UKZN has embraced the call to become relevant and researchers have begun to contribute to the pool of knowledge both locally and internationally,’ said Naidoo.
Lunga Memela
author : .author email : .Study Sheds Light on Why HIV is Still Transmitted Through Breast Milk
Dr Johannes Viljoen.UKZN AIDS researchers have discovered that a herpes virus common in breast milk can help transmit HIV to babies, despite mothers being on antiretroviral therapy.
This discovery follows work done on the virus known as cytomegalovirus and HIV in breast milk by researchers from UKZN and the University of Montpellier in France.
The study, led by Dr Johannes Viljoen of UKZN’s Africa Centre for Health and Population Studies, is published in the highly influential scientific journal, AIDS.
Cytomegalovirus is carried by most South Africans and is commonly found in breast milk, but in general does not cause any symptoms. Once contracted, it remains in a person’s body, where it is stored among others in the mammary glands.
Researchers found that a mother whose breast milk contains high levels of cytomegalovirus was up to two and a half times more likely to transmit HIV to her infant via breastfeeding than a woman with low levels.
There is treatment available for the virus but due to severe side-effects it is not suitable to roll out on a large-scale as a preventative measure. The effectiveness of experimental vaccines seems encouraging, but none has been tested on a large scale.
Studies have shown that even when using ARVs, five to ten percent of infants still become infected after birth.
Viljoen’s research forms part of efforts to understand why this happens and to reach the goals set by the World Health Organization to reduce all forms of mother-to-child transmission to below five percent by the end of this year.
Viljoen said cytomegalovirus was not the only reason why ARVs did not fully protect babies from contracting HIV through breast milk – other influencing factors were the duration and pattern of breastfeeding, whether the mother had mastitis previously and how low her CD4 or white blood cell levels were.
‘To optimise the management of HIV-infected mothers, it is important to understand how HIV is transmitted via breast milk after birth in spite of ARVs, and to identify additional factors associated with transmission,’ said Viljoen. ‘Breastfeeding is a most valuable source of nutrition for babies, especially in under-resourced areas, and therefore more research is needed to pave the way for developing treatment or vaccines that completely prevent the transmission of HIV from mothers to their children.’
Viljoen’s study was part of a larger intervention programme in KwaZulu-Natal that focused on the use of different forms of infant feeding within a rural setting. The Umkhanyakude district in northern KwaZulu-Natal is one of the areas worst affected by the HIV and AIDS pandemic, and has some of the highest prevalence figures in the world.
Women were enrolled into this study prior to the national ARV roll-out in South Africa in 2005, and thus did not receive ARVs.
UKZNDabaOnline
author : .author email : .UKZN Loses Prominent Academics
Emeritus Professor of History at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Professor Jeff Guy and Professor Emeritus and Senior Research Associate of UKZN, Professor Patricia Berjak.The University pays tribute to esteemed academics, Professors Jeff Guy and Patricia Berjak who recently passed away.
Professor Emeritus and Senior Research Associate of UKZN, Professor Patricia Berjak
It is with great sadness that we inform the University and broader Scientific Community of the death, after a short illness, of Professor Emeritus and Senior Research Associate of UKZN, Professor Patricia Berjak. Berjak, a world leader in the study of seeds, began her scientific career in 1962 with a first class BSc (Hons) degree in Biochemistry from the University of the Witwatersrand. She went on to graduate with a Master’s degree in Medical Sciences before realising her calling as a Seed Biologist; the subject of her PhD, obtained in 1969 from the former University of Natal.
Professor Berjak served the University of Natal and University of KwaZulu-Natal for over 48 years and in many capacities, including Head of Department, numerous University committees and more recently expert/mentor in the Research Office. She joined the Plant Biology Department at the University of Natal in 1966 as a Junior Lecturer. As a Professor Emeritus, she continued to lecture and actively supervise postgraduate students within the School of Life Sciences at UKZN up until October, 2014.
Pat, as she was affectionately known by all, was passionate about seeds and conservation. She was one of South Africa’s few A-rated scientists and achieved a number of highly significant breakthroughs in the understanding of recalcitrant seeds, seeds that lack the ability to survive for sufficiently long periods in storage, thus undermining food security in the developing world. It was her personal drive, unrivalled work ethic and desire to make a difference that established her research group as one of the most respected in the field of recalcitrant seed biology world-wide.
Berjak’s innovative research has been highly recognised globally and her numerous accolades include being elected member of the Academy of Science of South Africa, a Fellow of the University of Natal, the Royal Society of South Africa and the Third World Academy of Sciences. In 2001, she was awarded the Silver Medal of the South African Association of Botanists for research excellence and she went on to receive the Gold Medal from the Association in 2006. In 2004, she received the Department of Science and Technology’s Distinguished Woman Scientist Award for her consistent contributions to science over her entire career. Berjak was also nominated, unopposed, as President-elect of the International Society for Seed Science and continued to serve the Society over the last few years, in addition to being a Trustee of the Durban Botanical Gardens. Between 2006 and 2014 she went on to reach even greater heights receiving the Order of Mapungubwe (Silver), the highest honour granted by the President of South Africa. She held a National Research Foundation A rating, signifying world leadership in her field, and received the NRF President’s Award for Lifetime Achievement. Her impact on the advancement of Botany in South Africa is further illustrated by the professional success of her postgraduate students, many of whom hold key positions in academia and industry.
Pat always asserted that her achievements resulted from the contributions of many scientists, especially her husband Professor Norman Pammenter.
Amidst all her scientific exploits, Pat pursued many other passions: the English language, classic cars, aerobatics, ballroom dancing, photography, detective novels, cooking, an unstinting devotion to all things feline and, most of all, Norman’s companionship.
Berjak’s considerable scientific prowess, pursuit of excellence and generosity of spirit leaves an indelible and inspirational mark on this University and the international botanical landscape.
- Professor Paula Watt, Dr Sershen Naidoo and Professor Norman Pammenter
Emeritus Professor of History at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Professor Jeff Guy
Emeritus Professor of History at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Professor Jeff Guy passed away in London on 15th December 2014 whilst on his way home after visiting family and friends and delivering a series of successful lectures about Bishop Colenso.
Professor Guy was also Research Fellow at Killie Campbell Collections. Campbell Collections was like a second home to Jeff as he spent most of his time conducting research there. He was also a prominent member of the Killie Campbell Collections Advisory Board.
Jeff Guy’s Memorial Service was held at Killie Campbell Gardens on Saturday, 24 January 2015. It was attended by many of those whose lives he touched including academics, former students and friends.
Jeff Guy was born in Pietermaritzburg 13 June 1940. He studied History at the University of Natal in the 1960s. As apartheid tightened its grip on the country, a number of friends were detained under the 1967 Terrorism Act, or went into hiding. Due to this intolerant and intolerable political climate Jeff Guy left South Africa for England in the late 60s. He worked as a school teacher in London and also enrolled for his PhD at the School of African and Oriental Studies (SOAS), studying under Shula Marks.
At the memorial, Guy’s daughter, Heli, gave an emotional tribute to her father.
‘He had ideas about books and articles, important themes he wanted to explore… he was so full life and irrepressible enthusiasm; a quality we all need to remember, and strive to nurture and preserve in ourselves. It is very hard to accept that my Daddy is not coming home. Our lives will be a much poorer place. But when I think about when and how this happened: after work success and validation, a lovely time reconnecting with family and friends, invigorated and looking forward to his return… then finally on the couch, sitting down, relaxing, letting go of stress and anxiety… I imagine calm. I picture peace.’
A message of condolence from Shula Marks was read by colleague and friend Professor Julie Parle from UKZN’s Historical Studies. Marks shared her memories of having Guy as one of her doctoral students and his insatiable appetite for knowledge and his inquiring mind citing that ‘he wrote with passion and compassion.’
His friend and UKZN Alumnus, Professor Mark Hunter of the University of Toronto spoke at the service stating that Guy stood as an icon for his restless passion for rigorous research. ‘He had faith that people could change the world. But he also cared deeply about the research institutions that could both reveal the horrors of colonialism and the opportunism of those who today make ahistorical calls on tradition.’
1971 Jeff married Naimi and returned to southern Africa, taking up a post as History Lecturer at the University of Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland on the Roma campus in Lesotho where he worked for 14 years (teaching many South African exiles including former and current cabinet ministers). His children Heli and Joe were born at Roma. While in Lesotho, Jeff published his doctoral thesis (doctorate was awarded 1975) as The Destruction of the Zulu Kingdom. Other works include his celebrated study of Bishop Colenso, The Heretic, Remembering the Rebellion, The Zulu Uprising of 1906, Theophilus Shepstone and the Forging of Natal; African Autonomy and Settler Colonialism in the Making of Traditional Authority.
In the mid-80s Jeff took up a fellowship in Manchester, England, and then, on deciding to leave Lesotho accepted a post as a History Lecturer at the University of Trondheim in Norway.
In 1992 after the release of Nelson Mandela and the unbanning of the ANC, Jeff returned to South Africa where he had been offered the Professorship of History at the former University of Natal, Durban. His enthusiasm to contribute to the building of a new South Africa never waned.
- UKZNDabaOnline
author : .author email : .Academic Scores Double Century in Science World
Professor Gert Kruger.Professor in the Peptide and Catalysis Research Unit of UKZN’s School of Health Sciences and the Editor-in-Chief of the South African Journal of Chemistry (SACI), Professor Gert Kruger, has reached a remarkable milestone in his academic career with the publication of his 200th scientific article!
Really impressive about this rare achievement is the multidisciplinary nature of Kruger’s published projects. His work has appeared in journals specialising in organic, analytical, medicinal, computational and structural chemistry as well as in publications focusing on microbiology and biochemistry.
Kruger is also the Chair of the Molecular Modelling section of SACI and the Chair of the UKZN High Performance Computing (HPC) Users group.
‘We are extremely exciting about the R4M new HPC cluster bought late last year,’ he said. ‘This computational research equipment will benefit more than 80 academics at UKZN as well as their respective research groups and students.’
Kruger’s research interests include Health Sciences, Organic Chemistry, and Pharmaceutical Chemistry while his research specialties span across chiral synthesis; peptide synthesis; cage compounds; NMR of cage compounds; TB-cage drugs; and cage anti HIV-PR inhibitors.
In 2014 Kruger delivered a stimulating UKZN Inaugural Lecture titled: “Cage HIV Protease Inhibitors”.
Kruger said the research group at the Peptide and Catalysis Research Unit had been working on the design, synthesis and testing of several pentacycloundecane (PCU) derived peptide and peptoid HIV PR inhibitors for several years.
‘We have reported PCU derived cage peptides, functionalised as lactams (1), diols (3 and 4) and ethers (5), which demonstrated in vitro HIV protease inhibition. One cage peptoid also showed promising anti HIV PR activity.’
An international flagship of research excellence at UKZN’s College of Health Sciences, the Peptide and Catalysis Research Unit’s (http://cpru.ukzn.ac.za/Homepage.aspx) projects are a cauldron of interests from each principal investigator including Professor Thavi Govender who has reached an impressive 160 ISI publications. Other members of the Unit are A-rated scientist Professor Fernando Albericio, Professor Per Arvidsson and Dr Glenn Maguire, Dr Tricia Naicker and Dr Bahareh Honarparvar.
Kruger said: ‘I am really thankful for the support of my fellow research partners, students and collaborators. Without their dedicated support, this milestone would not been reached. The support we are getting from UKZN, the College and School is globally unmatched and this is the main reason why our University as a whole is the leading South-African research institution.’
Lunga Memela
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