Ideal Clinic implementation could go more smoothly if practical issues are addressed

By Gofaone Motsamai

In public clinics across the North West Province, healthcare workers share limited resources and juggle growing patient numbers – all while trying to meet the standards of the Ideal Clinic Realisation and Maintenance (ICRM) programme.

Introduced in 2013, the programme is a national…

Indigenous languages are key to boosting breast cancer awareness

By Gofaone Motsamai and Phenyo Mokgothu

Using indigenous languages to communicate health information could significantly improve breast cancer awareness among African women.

“Health information in the local languages not only enhances understanding but also increases trust in the messages being delivered…

Global warming places Africa’s wildlife in peril

Drought, intensified by global warming and compounded by human action, has taken a devastating toll on wildlife across Africa and the Amazon between 2023 and 2025. According to a sobering new United Nations report, animal populations are being ravaged not just by thirst and starvation, but by human intervention as…

Expert hails new malaria drug approval for newborns as turning point for Africa

Switzerland’s recent approval of Coartem Baby, the first antimalarial treatment specifically designed for newborns and very young children, is a major step forward in tackling one of Africa’s most pressing public health challenges, says Dr Fortunate Mokoena, a malaria expert at the North-West University (NWU). Developed by Novartis with support…

School of Geo and Spatial Sciences launches strategic agricultural partnership in Makouspan

By Prof Nomali Ngobese

In a landmark outreach initiative aimed at revitalising rural agricultural development, the School of Geo and Spatial Sciences at the North-West University (NWU) visited the Makouspan community near Mahikeng on 7 July 2025 to initiate strategic partnerships with local farmers across 3,800…

Mines are not legally bound to contribute to healthcare in communities, but they could do more

South Africa’s mining sector makes a significant contribution to the country's national output, employment and infrastructure. But in communities near mining operations, access to healthcare remains limited. A new study asks whether the law should do more to close that gap.

Nndwakhulu Collen Khangala, who recently completed an LLM in…

Reimagining higher education through cross-faculty collaboration

Higher education, that sprawling landscape of lecture halls, research labs and late-night study sessions, is undergoing a quiet but profound transformation. The Covid-19 pandemic shattered the status quo, pushing universities to rethink the way they engage with students and each other.

Now, a group of researchers from the North-West…

International expert launches tissue bioprinting laboratory at NWU

Tissue bioprinting and regenerative medicine are critical new frontiers in advancing human health. In partnership with a top Spanish researcher, the NWU has dramatically expanded its bioprinting research and innovation capabilities in its quest to find alternatives to animal testing and enhance personalised medicine.

Prof Daniel Nieto,…

To the stars with Prof Abebe

Prof Amare Abebe, research director at the Centre for Space Research, was recently appointed as the new president of the African Astronomical Society (AfAS). AfAS is the continent's primary professional body promoting astronomy research, education and outreach. It also plays a key role in positioning Africa as a global hub for astronomical…

Consumer Sciences students explore the power of bacon

What happens when science and taste come together in a delicious collaboration? For a group of final-year Consumer Sciences students at the North-West University (NWU), it meant diving into the world of sensory food research with bacon* taking centre stage.

The fourth-year students recently completed their research project that brought…