Health Sciences News

Plans for the NWU Medical School on track

The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the enormous stress and burden placed on South Africa’s medical professionals have dramatically strengthened the North-West University’s case for a medical school in North West.

Official NWU documents suggest that despite competing interests and financial pressures due to Covid-19, the pandemic…

Hypertension: a problem among young people

No one escapes the silent killer.

High blood pressure is one of the major factors that contribute to cardiovascular disease and is often referred to as the “silent killer”.

It is clear from several studies conducted by the Hypertension in Africa…

Mother and son doing first year at university together

With a 25-year age gap between them, mother and son Susan and Janu Fouche have both been accepted to do their first year at the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University (NWU).

Forty-three-year-old Susan is studying towards a social work qualification, while her 18-year-old son is pursuing a degree in computer and…

NWU rewards exceptional lecturers

​The North-West University (NWU) celebrated the torchbearers of its teaching excellence during a virtual event. The best-of-the-best lecturers of 2020 were acknowledged for their work in taking teaching and learning to higher levels during the annual Teaching Excellence Award (TEA) ceremony, which was streamed online on 25 March. The NWU is…

NWU boasts two academics on Most Influential Young South Africans list

Two academics from the North-West University (NWU) were recently featured in Avance Media's 100 Most Influential Young South Africans list for 2020.

Dr Lerato Moekoena and Dr Lebo Gafane-Matemane were recognised for being the best in their respective fields.

The list, put together by public relations firm…

Study highlights the link between obesity and academic performance

While most people are aware of the health risks associated with children being overweight or obese, they do not know about the academic consequences that come with these conditions.

Deidré van Staden, a North-West University (NWU) master’s degree graduate, conducted a study in which she explored how child obesity, overweight, stunting…

NWU School of Nursing educates communities on Covid-19 and vaccines

The North-West University’s (NWU’s) School of Nursing in collaboration with the South African Police Service (SAPS), the Community Police Forum (CPF), and the South African Ministers Fraternal (SAMIFRA), hosted a campaign from 9 to 11 February to educate the community of Extension 39 in Mahikeng on Covid-19 and…

NWU to mentally gear up South Africa’s Olympic athletes

The Centre for Health and Human Performance (CHHP) at the North-West University (NWU) has only grown from strength to strength since its recent inception. This latest achievement confirms the fact that they are a dynamic centre with serious intent and operating at the highest level.

Study shows how children benefit from physical activity in the classroom

When children are physically active, their brains and bodies benefit. This has again been demonstrated by an eight-country Brain Breaks ® study in which the North-West University (NWU) participated. From the NWU’s side, Prof Dané Coetzee at the School of Human Movement Sciences led the charge. The collective research was published in an article…

Behind the scenes of a pandemic

“A learning experience like no other.” This is how Prof Petra Bester, director of the Africa Unit for Transdisciplinary Health Research (AUTHeR) at the North-West University (NWU), describes the unit’s exposure to the inner workings of the North West province’s efforts to combat the Covid-19 pandemic. In the early days of the pandemic, AUTHeR…