Health Sciences News

Understanding the world of homeless people suffering from mental illness

Phenyo Mokgothu

Globally, one of the main causes of street homelessness is chronic mental illness, and South Africa is no different. Researchers from the North-West University (NWU) have some recommendations on how the plight of these vulnerable people can be…

New grant to target global killer

Bertie Jacobs

Malaria is a global killer, a disease that destroys human lives and the economies of countries in which it thrives.

According to the latest figures by the World Health Organization (WHO), there were 241 million cases of malaria in 2020, with an estimated 627…

NWU cyclist master of the track

The director of the Centre for Health and Human Performance (CHHP) at the North-West University (NWU), Prof Pieter Kruger, applied his knowledge of sport science and performance psychology brilliantly in winning the 20 km points race during the South African Track Cycling Championships at the Bellville Velodrome.…

NWU academic says back to basics for TB programmes

Phenyo Mokgothu

Deaths from Tuberculosis (TB) have increased globally for the first time in over a decade. This is according to the World Health Organisation’s Global TB Report that was released in October 2021. The increase in deaths is due to “reduced access to TB diagnosis and…

Researcher rings alarm bells over use of alcohol among students

Mafumane Thlapi

High prevalence rates of alcohol use among students in higher education are a public health concern. This is according to a study conducted by Prof Miriam Moagi from the School of Nursing at the North-West University (NWU).

Prof Moagi reviewed existing evidence to address alcohol abuse…

NWU academic receives prestigious grant for malaria research

Phenyo Mokgothu

Dr Fortunate Mokoena, North-West University (NWU) academic in the subject group Biochemistry, has been awarded the Grand Challenges Africa drug discovery grant.

Dr Mokoena was awarded this grant for…

Anja sets her sights on early detection of kidney disease in young South Africans

The earlier kidney disease is detected, the more effectively it can be treated. Anja Degenaar, a master’s student in physiology at the North-West University (NWU), has set out to identify the biomarkers which will indicate deteriorating kidney function in young South Africans, ensuring early detection and treatment.

“The global…

HART walks for World Obesity Day

On Friday, 4 March 2022 the Faculty of Health Sciences at the North-West University (NWU) commemorated World Obesity Day. The Hypertension in Africa Research Team (HART) decided to partner with NWU Wellness and arranged a casual walk through the campus to drive awareness of obesity. The walk-through started at the amphitheatre on the…

NWU nursing students to take part in national WorldSkills competition

Two nursing students from the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Mahikeng Campus, Sakhile Ngcobo and Tshiamo Mokgoetsi, have been selected to take part in the Health and Social Care skill category of the WorldSkills South Africa national competition on 28 March 2022.

They will be competing for the chance to represent South Africa at…

NWU hosts SASCOC indaba

The North-West University (NWU) hosted the SASCOC High Performance Indaba at the Sports Village between 9 and 11 February 2022. SASCOC used this strategic planning session to review the performance of the Olympic and other elite teams over the past five years, and finalise a strategic plan for the next few Olympic…