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NDABA AUGUST 2007.Pmd olume 4 Number 8 August 2007 olume 4 Number 8 August 2007 olume 4 Number 8 August 2007 olume 4 Number 8 August 2007 olume 4 Number 8 August 2007 V V V V V US Secretary of Health visits Medical School nited States Other prominent members of the Department delegation included Dr William of Health Steiger, Director of the Office of and Human Global Health; Dr Julie Services Gerberding, Director, Center for Secretary Disease Control; Dr Roger Glass, Michael Director, Fogarty International ULeavitt and other senior officials Center and Associate Director for from the United States Government International Research, NIH; visited the Nelson R Mandela Ambassador Mark Dybul, US School of Medicine on 21 August. Global AIDS Co-ordinator; and Ms Professor Salim Abdool Karim, Pro Marsha Singer, South African Vice-Chancellor (Research) and Pepfar Co-ordinator. Director of the Centre for AIDS Programme of Research in South Secretary Leavitt, in his presen- Africa (CAPRISA) hosted the tation, said in his portfolio as delegation. Secretary of Health and Human Services in the US he was charged The day’s programme included a with the duty of providing better site visit to US funded HIV-related health for all Americans. However, projects in the Vulindlela area health issues also relate to human outside Howick. Most of the service issues and hence, “the US CAPRISA initiatives at Vulindlela needs to partner with institutions Picture: Anand Picture: Govender are funded by US agencies. (l-r) Professor Hoosen Coovadia, Scientific Director: DDMRI; Secretary Michael Leavitt, US Secretary for Health like UKZN to find a solution to the and Human Services; Professor Leana Uys, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Head of the College of Health Sciences; problem that is perplexing all of us. Reporting in The Witness (27 August and Professor Willem Sturm, Dean, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine. The future of the continent de- 2007), Kerry Cullinan wrote treatment, prevention and research treatment centre for local people, to conduct research but not do pends on our response.” “Secretary Leavitt described that is being conducted there... funded by the US President’s anything for the community,’ said Vulindlela as ‘the epicentre of Although Vulindlela is mainly a Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief CAPRISA’S site leader, Professor hope’ because of the HIV/AIDS research site, CAPRISA set up a (Pepfar), as ‘we felt it wasn’t right Quarraisha Abdool Karim.” - MaryAnn Francis OvercomingOvercoming obstaclesobstacles THE Student Counseling Centre and the Disability Unit on the Pietermaritzburg campus held a Disability Awareness Drive as part of a campaign termed “Disability: Whose hurdle is it? Overcoming Obstacles,” on 22 August. Students and staff took part in a treasure hunt moving in wheelchairs, went through a jumping castle blindfolded and later walked blindfolded using cane sticks to find their way. The cane rally was organised by the KwaZulu-Natal Blind and Deaf Society, Pietermaritzburg branch. There was also a cricket game for visually impaired young people from Sigabangolwazi Blind School in Mbali, Pietermaritzburg and KwaZulu-Natal Blind Cricket players. The players were coached by Mr Mookesh Parmeswar. The Disability Awareness Drive was attended by members of the Association for the Physically Challenged and the KwaZulu-Natal Blind and Deaf Society. “We are hoping to demonstrate that overcoming the ‘hurdle’ or ‘obstacle’ is not entirely the responsibility of the disabled person, but a responsibility that is shared. Many such ‘obstacles’ are not just physical barriers but are more complex issues related to prejudices, attitudes, myths and stereotypes (that of non- disabled people) around disability and disabled people, …leading to the marginalisation of disabled people,” said Ms Nafisa Mayat, Co-ordinator of the Disability Unit on the Pietermaritzburg campus. Picture: Bhekani Dlamini - Bhekani Dlamini Cricket players from Sigabangolwazi School for the Blind in Mbali. Inside 2 Cape Parrot Count 3 Women’s Day 6 UKZN achievers 8 UKZN Golf Day Founding Campuses Edgewood Howard College Medical School Pietermaritzburg Westville CapeCape PParrotarrot CountCount he endangered Cape Parrot Big Birding Day (CPBBD) is an estimate the abundance of the birds. species, including the endangered every year since the count started, is South Africa’s only annual national effort to monitor Observers also record the presence Samango Monkeys and Southern this year saw a marked decrease, Tendemic parrot. Cape Parrot the range of the Cape Parrot and of other rare bird and mammal Ground Hornbills. The areas despite the involvement of a similar covered include forests in the number of observers. The decrease Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and highlights the need for continued the Limpopo province. studies to ensure that any threats to the population are identified. She Professor Colleen Downs of the adds that “we need to understand School of Biological and Conser- the movements of Cape Parrot vation Sciences on the Pieter- between forest sites in order to maritzburg campus is a member of better understand their ecology. the Cape Parrot Working Group This should be realised in the next and the overall Co-ordinator of the few years with the recent donation CPBBD. of funds from the World Parrot Trust. This new research will focus This year marked the 10th count. A on improving our understanding of number of UKZN staff and stu- Cape Parrot distribution and demo- dents assisted with the counting. graphy in the northern Eastern Cape region.” Professor Downs reports that, while the number of Cape Parrots observed in the wild has increased - Deanne Collins Picture: Supplied Picture: UKZN students and staff who participated in the count in the Ingeli-Weza area. Science and Maths Editorial Send your news to [email protected] teachers visit AS part of its campaign to boost The teachers were fascinated by the the number of students registering displays in the Science and Techno- US and UK support for its programmes and to show- logy Education Centre which case its new and improved facili- prompted many of them to set up ties, Public Affairs and Corporate visits for their high school learners. Communications and the Faculty of They were impressed with the acknowledged Science and Agriculture hosted state-of-the-art laboratories, re- Mathematics and Science teachers search facilities and modern from the University’s top feeder equipment. Many said they had no THE visit of Dr Michael Leavitt, US schools at the Westville campus. idea the University was so sophisti- Secretary of Health, to KwaZulu-Natal and to cated. A Science teacher who has UKZN in particular is extremely significant. That such a Eighty teachers, some from as far worked in industry said, “I now high level US delegation chose to visit UKZN-run projects, and afield as Ulundi and Eshowe, realise the equipment I worked with then the Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, is a clear indication of attended information sessions at the was mickey mouse.” The LIDAR the confidence one of the major funders of HIV/AIDS research in South Africa newly-established Science and Research Centre in Physics made has in our Institution. Technology Education Centre. The another wish he was still a student! programme included a discussion Much of the credit for attracting US support from the US President’s Emergency Plan for on the new National Senior Certi- The event gave teachers valuable AIDS Relief (Pepfar) must go to our internationally acclaimed cohort of researchers led by ficate (NSC) Mathematics and insight into the NSC Mathematics the likes of Professor Hoosen Coovadia and Professor Salim Abdool Karim, both widely Science Curriculum and its influ- and Science Curriculum – a topic respected for their contributions to scientific research on HIV/AIDS. ence on Faculty entrance require- that is of great concern to them – ments. The teachers toured the and, more importantly, illustrated The US delegation visit preceded, by a few days, the announcement by the Wellcome Trust that new Computer Science, Chemis- the excellence of the University as the Africa Centre for Health and Population Studies would receive £15 million over the next five try and Physics teaching and a premier site for the delivery of years. This much needed injection of funding will assist researchers at the joint UKZN/Medical research facilities and interacted Science. Research Council initiative to better understand ways in which to manage the conditions that with Heads of Schools and mem- contribute to the spread of HIV/AIDS in poor communities and to provide better care for bers of the Faculty during lunch. - Vicky Crookes those already infected. Funding, especially from internationally recognised and prestigious bodies such as the US-based Pepfar and the UK based Wellcome Trust, adds credibility and prestige towards UKZN’s quest to be the Premier University of African Scholarship. The University community acknowledges and celebrates the contributions of our researchers who make this trajectory possible and acknowledges Pepfar and the Wellcome Trust for their support. Professor Dasarath Chetty, Executive Director, Public Affairs and Corporate Communications The ukzndaba team Picture: Vicky Crookes Vicky Picture: Professor Andrew Kindness (right) engages with teachers in Chemistry’s new undergraduate laboratories. Dasarath Chetty Deanne Collins Bhekani Dlamini Thembeka Dlungwane Fikisile Mabaso Vidhya Singh 2 DemonstrationDemonstration againstagainst gendergender violenceviolence he UKZN Gender Based “Women’s Day is not about getting Violence Lobby Group flowers, but making a strong point Tstaged a demonstration against women’s abuse,” said Ms against violence against women Lliane Loots, Organiser of the at the Howard College campus on demonstration and Lecturer in 8 August. Drama and Performance Studies. She added that the campus Risk The Group is a loose coalition Management Services (RMS) which was formed by concerned offers services which students don’t UKZN staff and students a year know about. As a group, they ago.
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