Health Sciences

Sedibeng research conference puts better healthcare in the spotlight

How can research help improve healthcare? This question was at the heart of the 2026 Sedibeng District Research Conference, held on 2 October at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Vanderbijlpark Campus.

Hosted by Sedibeng District Health Services in collaboration with the NWU’s Faculty of Health Sciences, the conference brought together healthcare professionals, researchers and academics to share findings and discuss ways to improve patient care.

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New hope for depression treatment as researchers test novel compound

For millions of people living with depression, finding the right treatment can be a long and difficult journey. Some medicines fail to ease symptoms, while others have side effects. Now, researchers at the North-West University (NWU) and the University of Ljubljana in Slovenia are testing a new compound that could offer another way to treat the illness.

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Students prepare to champion children’s rights

Second-year Social Work students at the Vanderbijlpark Campus of the North-West University (NWU) recently stepped into the world of legal proceedings during a mock trial at the Vanderbijlpark Magistrates’ Court. 

This provided them with practical experience in how social workers can help protect the rights and best interests of vulnerable children.

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How a 1 900 km TRACTOR journey transformed the hearts fighting dementia

On 18 September 2026, the TRACTOR Campaign team reunited at Crista Galli in Potchefstroom to reflect on a journey that took them nearly 1 900 kilometres across South Africa and left a lasting impact on each of them. 

As they shared their memories, challenges and encounters, it became clear that the campaign had been about much more than raising awareness about dementia. It had changed the people behind it, deepening their understanding of compassion, resilience and the power of human connection.

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Mini-budget is the President’s own deadline on child stunting, say NWU experts

When the Minister of Finance tables the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement on 21 October, one test will be whether it delivers on a promise made to South Africa’s youngest children.

In February’s State of the Nation Address, President Cyril Ramaphosa set a goal of ending child stunting by 2030. More than a quarter of children under five are too short for their age. He said the mini-budget would set out a clear allocation for the plan.

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NWU Nursing students take breast cancer awareness to the community

As breast cancer continues to affect women across towns and communities, early detection remains one of the most powerful tools in the fight against the disease. According to the latest data from the National Cancer Registry (NCR), approximately one in 28 women in South Africa may develop breast cancer during their lifetime. 

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NWU PhD student earns international recognition for occupational hygiene research

A study highlighting a less recognised form of chemical exposure among South African petrol attendants has earned the North-West University (NWU) PhD student Lize van der Westhuizen international recognition.

Lize received the award for the best oral presentation by an early-career researcher at the 10th Occupational and Environmental Exposure of Skin to Chemicals (OEESC) Conference, held in Manchester in the United Kingdom from 14 to 16 September 2026.

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Across faculties and borders: International Teaching Weeks bring global perspectives into classrooms

Academics from across Africa and Europe joined colleagues and students from the North-West University (NWU) for a week of teaching, learning, collaboration and cultural exchange - bringing international perspectives directly into NWU classrooms.

From 14 to 18 September 2026, the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences (FEMS) and the Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) hosted parallel International Teaching Weeks across NWU’s three campuses. 

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National teaching honour recognises researcher’s passion for student success

A researcher in physiology at the North-West University (NWU) has received one of the highest levels of recognition for excellence in higher education teaching in South Africa. Dr Annemarie Wentzel, senior lecturer and researcher in physiology, is one of only six recipients of the 2026 National Teaching Awards (NUTA). 

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