HSFSA Donates Automated External Defibrillator to UKZN

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UKZN’s School of Nursing and Public Health has received a donation of a Philips automated external defibrillator (AED) from the Heart and Stroke Foundation SA (HSFSA).

The Foundation’s Regional Manager and Health Promotion Programme Manager, Ms Dana Govender, and Health Promotion Officer, Ms Sam Dladla handed over the machine to the School.

The AED will be housed at the Clinical Skills Laboratory (CSL) and will be used by students in the Disciplines of Nursing and Family Medicine.

‘The fully equipped CSL promotes self-directed learning and enables our students to use emergency equipment. This defibrillator will ensure that they are skilled and become safe practitioners,’ said Nursing Academic Leader, Professor Fikile Mtshali.

Govender highlighted the importance of training health professionals to act in cases of emergency: ‘The HSFSA focuses on preventing cardiovascular disease and health professionals need to know how to act swiftly to prevent complications and save lives.’

‘I am very excited about the donation. I believe in strong university-community partnerships in which the parties engage meaningfully to address significant issues, in this case, promoting the health of communities,’ said HSFSA board member, Professor Gugu Mchunu.

Dean and Head of the School, Professor Mosa Moshabela thanked the foundation and applauded them for their behavioural interventions in communities.

‘Such interventions are now more relevant than ever to ensure that all communities have access to care. UKZN is moving towards developing a health promoting initiative. It is important to invest in the prevention of cardiovascular disease before it occurs,’ he said.

Words: Nombuso Dlamini

Photograph: Supplied