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 627 000 deaths.
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. He had a very successful week riding in the masters’ category too and claimed three silver medals (in the individual pursuit, team sprint and te
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 treatment in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic”, the report found.
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 among students from a demand-reduction approach. The article is from her PhD study, which was guided by the National Drug Master Plan (NDMP) pillars 2013–2017. The three pillars are demand reduction, harm reduction and supply reduction.
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 prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is becoming an increasing concern, especially since CKD is expected to be the fifth leading cause of mortality by the year 2040,” she says.
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.
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 the 46th International WorldSkills Competition which will be held from 12-17 October 2022 in Shanghai, China.
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 cycles.
It is no secret that the Hypertension in Africa Research Team (HART) at the North-West University (NWU) is at the forefront of in-depth research. Over the past year they have demonstrated yet again that their mission is to conduct research that could solve many health-related problems that affect young and old.
Recently, HART researchers took part in a programme, #theArtofResearch, as an initiative to activate African knowledge. The researchers showcased their research by means of posters to make African science more accessible to our communities.