Health Sciences

Researchers in the spotlight

Researchers across the faculties at the NWU continue to produce exciting work in their fields of expertise.

We introduce the work of two researchers - Prof Muchativugwa Liberty Hove, deputy director of the School of Language in Education, and Dr Wihan Pheiffer, senior lecturer at the DSI/NWU Preclinical Drug Development Platform (PCDDP).Tumi Ledwaba, a lecturer in History, and Prof Tycho Maas, extraordinary researcher in the School for Ancient Language and Text Studies.

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Puseletso Lesofe honoured with prestigious Mail & Guardian award

The North-West University (NWU’s) Puseletso Lesofe, a medical biological scientist on the Potchefstroom Campus, was announced the winner in the STEMI category of the 2024 Mail & Guardian Power of Women Awards on 29 August.

This specific award celebrates the accomplishments of women making significant contributions in the fields of science, technology, engineering, mathematics and innovation (STEMI).

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Cutting-edge language application to boost effective communication between healthcare providers and patients

The Faculty of Health Science at the North-West University (NWU) officially launched the Sinapi Language Application during the university’s annual Language Awareness Week on the Potchefstroom Campus on 29 August.

In a collaborative effort, through a service agreement between the NWU and Ambani Africa, this revolutionary language application aims to address the linguistic gap between faculty students and patients during their compulsory work-based learning.

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Dr Tenza advocates for making it easier for staff to report medical incidents

The World Health Organisation's Global Patient Safety Action Plan envisions a future where no patient suffers harm during hospitalisation by the year 2030. A crucial element in achieving this objective is the establishment of hospital settings where discussions about errors are both easy and accepted among healthcare professionals.

Medical errors represent significant challenges within healthcare systems, and Dr Sabelile Tenza from the North-West University (NWU) advocates for environments that encourage the reporting of such errors.

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NWU hosts impactful nutrition leadership training in Malawi

The North-West University (NWU) is dedicated to playing an impactful role on the African continent in line with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

A prime example of this is the African Nutrition Leadership Programme (ANLP) of the Centre of Excellence in Nutrition (CEN) at the NWU that has for 22 years been making meaningful contributions towards achieving zero hunger (Goal 2), good health and well-being (Goal 3), and quality education (Goal 4).

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First-year pharmacy student has set her sights on the stars

Douwleen Conradie, a first-year pharmacy student at the North-West University (NWU) is making the most of her talents and has her eye firmly set on making her mark in the pharmaceutical profession.,

She has been serving as student exchange officer on the South African Pharmaceutical Students Federation’s (SAPSF’s) Presidential Committee this year.

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Academic awarded international President’s award

Prof Hans de Ridder, director of the School of Human Movement Sciences at the North-West University (NWU), was recently acknowledged with the President’s award at the biannual International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry (ISAK) conference on 7 August in London, England.

This award is in recognition of his unwavering commitment to contributing to a field that blends science, health and sport, while impacting lives positively. Prof De Ridder is among the only two individuals honored with this distinction in the history of ISAK.

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International collaboration impacts local quality improvement and patient safety

Dr Sabelile Tenza, a distinguished Senior lecturer and researcher from the School of Nursing Science and NUMIQ Research Entity at the North-West University, took the stage as an invited speaker at the prestigious Quality Improvement and Patient Safety Leadership Forum that took place from 18 to 19 July in Nairobi, Kenya.

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