Newsroom - Mafikeng Campus

NWU to launch project to promote mental health and prevent substance abuse

The high prevalence of mental health problems and substance abuse among adults and young people within communities have been reported across the country, and the North West province is no exception. 

To address this problem, the North-West University’s (NWU’s) faculties of Law, Health Sciences, and Natural and Agricultural Sciences, and the North-West Department of Health, will be launching a multi-sectoral collaborative care community intervention project at the Lokaleng village in Mahikeng on 15 October 2021.

Submitted on

NWU IKS celebrate September as African New Year and the month of new beginnings

African indigenous astronomy (bolepa dinaledi in Setswana) is one discipline of competencies of the broader African indigenous knowledge systems negated by the modern education system, including modern astronomers, researchers and policy makers.

This is according to Dr Motheo Koitsiwe, indigenous astronomer researcher and director of the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) Centre.

He says historians of science agree that astronomy is the first science in the world.

Submitted on

NWU hosts annual lecture on academic freedom

The North-West University (NWU) hosted its annual lecture on academic freedom on 15 September 2021. The lecture was a hybrid event hosted at the NWU’s Council Chambers in Potchefstroom and via the online platform Zoom.

The guest speaker for this year’s lecture was Prof. Kwadwo Appiagyei-Atua, an associate professor from the School of Law at the University of Ghana in Legon, Accra.

The topic was “The coloniality of higher education in Africa, the decolonisation agenda, and academic freedom”.

Submitted on

Oyster mushrooms could make brown seaweed rich pickings for indigenous chickens

Brown seaweed is known to be a rich source of minerals such as calcium, manganese, potassium, sodium, phosphorus, sulphur and iron. Add oyster mushrooms to the mix and the result could be a highly nutritious source of feed for indigenous chickens.

This is the thinking of Godfrey Mhlongo, North-West University (NWU) PhD student in animal health, whose PhD thesis is titled “Towards the optimisation of brown seaweed (Ecklonia maxima) for indigenous chickens using oyster mushrooms”.

Submitted on

How families cope with mental health care issues

The whole family can be affected when living with a family member with a mental disorder, disability or developmental delay. Mechanisms to cope with the resulting stress include escape, avoidance, denial or looking to religion.  This is according to Tshepang Modise, nursing science master’s graduate at North-West University (NWU).

Tshepang has conducted research titled “Coping mechanisms used by families of mental health care users (MHCU) in Mahikeng Sub-district, North West Province”.

Submitted on

Plants offer home-grown solutions to healthcare

Approximately 80% of South Africa’s population depend on medicinal plants for their healthcare needs, leading to an increased interest in the commercialisation of plant-based remedies.

Research by Tshepiso Ndhlovu, a PhD candidate at the North-West University (NWU), is shedding light on the potential of medicinal plants in the skincare market and in the treatment of childhood diseases.

Submitted on