Nursing Peer Mentors Receive Training

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The Discipline of Nursing’s Peer Wellness Mentors (PWMs) benefitted from an extended training programme to equip them with skills to support first-year students.

The four second-year students: Ms Noncedo Mthethwa, Mr Mduduzi Mpunga, Ms Zamangcolosi Bhengu and Sbonelo Chamane, visited the Disability Support Centre, the Primary Health Care Clinic, and the Campus HIV/AIDS Support Unit (CHASU) on the Howard College campus.

‘They became aware of the facilities and support available and how beneficial these services are to students who require them,’ said student counsellor Mrs Wulli Thaver.

The resources offered by these facilities include specialised equipment, dedicated LANs and accommodation for students with disabilities. Among other services, they offer holistic healthcare; family planning; occupational health services; HIV/AIDS counselling, care and support; and support for the LGBTIQ and marginalised student population. The HIV/AIDS Support Unit has 30 trained peer educators and five forums to cater for students’ diverse needs.

‘In as much as these visits were to equip Peer Wellness Mentors with skills to refer mentees as per their needs, they themselves were pleasantly surprised and benefited from the experience as they were unaware of the extent of the services and resources available to help students succeed,’ said Thaver.

Words: Nombuso Dlamini