Health Sciences News

Minister appoints NWU academic on professional board for social work

Minister of Social Development Ms Lindiwe Zulu recently appointed North-West University (NWU) academic Dr Elizabeth Smit as member of the Professional Board for Social Work at the South African Council for Social Service Professions (SACSSP). 

Dr Smit, the deputy director in the School of Psychosocial Health in the Faculty of Humanities…

NWU joins the world in raising awareness on World Hepatitis Day

Ontiretse Motingwa

The subject group Microbiology at the North-West University (NWU) recently facilitated an online webinar focusing on World Hepatitis Day.

Dr Hazel Tumelo Mufhandu, senior lecturer and deputy leader of the subject group was the facilitator, and Dr Nishi Prabdial-Sing, a principal…

NWU School of Nursing hosts anti-bulling campaign and boy’s manhood dialogue

The North-West University’s (NWU’s) School of Nursing, in collaboration with the Department of Education, hosted an anti-bullying campaign and boy’s manhood dialogue at the NWU’s Mahikeng Campus on 28 and 29 June 2022.

Twenty secondary schools in Mahikeng were invited to attend. These included the Sebopiwa Secondary School, Boitseanape…

Golden opportunity to help vulnerable learners become healthy adults

The surge in lifestyle diseases in South Africa could be halted by paying more attention to the lifestyle choices of young and vulnerable learners, especially in rural areas.

“The period of rapid growth and development that occurs in childhood has a profound impact on future health and quality of life enjoyed in adulthood, and…

NWU study looks at readiness of nursing college to use technology in teaching and learning

“The use of technology plays an important role in the facilitation of teaching and learning in higher education institutions. Cloud computing, which encompasses applications such as YouTube, Google Apps, and Dropbox, have become the reality of contemporary teaching and learning, including nursing education.

“With that in mind and owing…

NWU student wins WorldSkills South Africa national competition

North-West University (NWU) nursing student Tshiamo Mokgoetsi was announced as the winner of the WorldSkills South Africa Occupational Standards national competition that took place from 30 to 31 May 2022 in KwaZulu-Natal.

She will now represent South Africa at the 46th International WorldSkills Competition which will be held from 12 to…

Legalisation of cannabis has implications for mental healthcare practitioners

Misinformation about cannabis use can have serious implications for people facing mental health challenges. Mental healthcare practitioners can counter this by running education campaigns for vulnerable people, including mental healthcare users and especially the youth.

This recommendation comes from Isaac Mokgaola, an academic in the…

NWU's Optentia appoints international health expert as extraordinary professor

Prof Doris Bohman, a registered nurse, nurse tutor and associate professor at the Department of Health, Blekinge Institute of Technology, in Sweden, was recently appointed as an extraordinary professor at the North-West University's (NWU’s) Optentia research unit. 

Dr Bohman holds a PhD in medical science and…

Study into environmentally friendly options to replace chemical fertilisers

Prompted by the high cost of chemicals fertilisers and their impact on the environment, a master’s student the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Mahikeng Campus, took on the challenge of searching for environmentally friendly options to replace or supplement chemical fertilisers.

Motlagomang Khantsi’s study titled “Determination and…

Why early blood pressure screening in children is vital

High blood pressure or hypertension is not only a disease in adults, but starts during childhood and tracks into adulthood.

In a study conducted by the Hypertension in Africa Research Team (HART) of the North-West University (NWU), researchers emphasised the importance of screening children, especially black children, for elevated blood…