Final-year Opticianry students recently stepped beyond the classroom to make a difference in communities and gain valuable hands-on experience during two outreach efforts

In early March a group of six students from the Department of Ophthalmic Sciences participated in the UWC IPEU outreach in Klipheuwel, outside Durbanville, supporting their South African Optometric Association (SAOA) optometry partners.

The students assisted the optometry team with vision screenings for community members.

Later in March a group of six students travelled to Robertson to join the SAOA optometry partners to support the Langeberg Start Well INReach initiative. The initiative was facilitated by Stellenbosch University in collaboration with the Western Cape Government Departments of Health and Wellness and Education, as well as several NGOs.

Over three days, the optometry team – accompanied by an ophthalmologist – screened more than 260 community members, including more than 200 learners from 11 schools in the district. Spectacles were prescribed for more than 80% of those tested and some were referred for pathology management.

Ntombi Zitha, Co-Chair of the SAOA Public Health Committee and Chairperson of the World Council for Optometry Public Health Committee, said: “During the outreaches, the students realised their understanding of optometry and their own potential in ophthalmic science. The one thing they said was that they saw the textbook coming to real life.”

Final-year student Xilaveko Khazamula said: “This experience was more than practice – it was a powerful reminder of purpose. It brought the theory to life, and in many ways, it brought life back to me.”

Angelique Walbrugh, lecturer in the Ophthalmic Sciences Department said: “It is evident that through these outreach activities, our students get to understand the value of their professional duties within the eye care team and the importance of their contribution towards eye and visual health in our communities.”

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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Final-year BSc Diagnostic Radiography student Khethelo Dlamini recently jetted off to Belgium as part of an exchange to Odisee University.

The Department of Medical Imaging and Therapeutic Sciences (MITS) has maintained a strong and valued partnership with Odisee University for more than a decade. This collaboration has enabled a few staff exchanges, academic networking and several inbound student internships facilitated under the leadership of Dr Aladdin Speelman. This year marks an exciting milestone as Odisee University has extended its support to fund the first MITS outbound student exchange to Brussels.

An excited Khethelo stated: “My exchange has been an incredibly enriching academic experience so far. The university’s personalised digital system, advanced and up to date skills labs including multiple X-ray units and a CT scanner on campus, have allowed me to receive hands-on training. The individual guidance and small group practical sessions have strengthened both my technical skills and confidence as a future radiographer. Beyond academics, this experience has helped me grow in independence, connect with people from diverse backgrounds and travel to cities I once only dreamed of like Paris and Amsterdam. This journey is truly life changing both professionally and personally”.

To ensure Khethelo remains aligned with her CPUT academic programme, she recently had a check in session with three of her lecturers, Valdiela Daries, Yanda Peter and Dr Heidi Thomas, who confirmed Dlamini’s progress.

Reflecting on this milestone, Speelman remarked, “It has always been our desire, after years of hosting numerous inbound staff exchanges and student internships, to one day see MITS students going on an outbound exchange to Europe and now it has finally happened”. The MITS Department hopes that this first outbound student exchange will open the door for many more MITS students to gain valuable international experiences, grow professionally and see firsthand how the healthcare system and medical imaging systems operate in a first world setting.

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The Department of Medical Imaging and Therapeutic Sciences (MITS) and the Department of Ophthalmic Sciences recently joined forces to provide vision screenings for students, ensuring they are ready to meet the visual demands of their profession from day one.

More than 60 students from the MITS Department received vision screenings, which took place during their orientation programme at the Bellville Campus.

About 40 third-year students from the Department of Ophthalmic Sciences assisted and manned five screening stations.

“One of the essential health requirements within the Department of Medical Imaging and Therapeutic Sciences is that students possess adequate eyesight to accurately visualise and interpret medical images which is a core component of their training and professional competency as radiographers,” said Abigail Petersen, Clinical Instructor: Diagnostic Radiography, who was the main facilitator for the MITS orientation programme.

“This marks the first collaboration of its kind and an excellent example of interdisciplinary teamwork.”

The main facilitator for the vision screening services was Angelique Walbrugh.

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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Doctoral candidate and lecturer in the Medical Imaging and Therapeutic Sciences Department, Gerhardus Koch, recently returned from an enriching international doctoral research exchange programme in Portugal.

Koch said the two-month programme at the Polytechnic Institute of Porto was “a truly unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity”.

His research is titled: Individual patient radiation dose tracking guidelines for the South African healthcare system.

“It involves tracking the cumulative ionising radiation dose received by individual patients during medical imaging examinations throughout their lifetime. The purpose of maintaining such a record is to facilitate the early identification of individuals who are presumably at risk of developing radiation-induced injuries and cancers, thereby enhancing and promoting the justification and optimisation principles associated with patient radiation safety. Based on my research, I developed a model to guide the implementation of individual patient radiation dose tracking in South Africa.”

He said the experience has seen him grow personally and professionally.

“I expanded my professional network, formed lasting connections, and had the opportunity to share my research with international colleagues. The experience further led to the conception of a brand-new research project, which we are currently working on.

“This experience reinforced the importance of international research collaboration, scholarly mentorship, and adaptability. I am truly grateful to have had this opportunity and wish to thank our Head of Department, Dr Florence Davidson, for her encouragement, continued support and motivation.”

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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An impactful community engagement initiative by the Department of Biomedical Sciences, in partnership with Ikamva Youth, continues to empower matric learners in Nyanga.

The service-learning project, which is organised and run by the Department’s Anelisa Motaung and Nkosikho Sogwagwa, pairs Biomedical Sciences students with Grade 12 learners in Nyanga, with the students serving as mentors to the matric learners.

Launched in 2021, the programme aims to support the learners in planning for higher education by guiding them through the university application process. Each mentor assists their assigned mentee in exploring tertiary education options, completing three university applications, and with applying for financial aid resources.

Motaung said this year 40 CPUT students served as mentors.

Throughout the academic year, students and mentees engaged in various structured activities.

Some of this year’s highlights include:

• More than 100 university applications completed
• More than 200 hours of service invested by the CPUT mentors
• Learners received career guidance, academic and psycho-social support

The year concluded with an awards celebration for the mentors and mentees at the Bellville Campus.

Prof Glenda Davison, Head of the Biomedical Sciences Department, said: “As I listened to the reflections by both the students and matrics, I saw the future of South Africa, and it was a good feeling.”

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The Acting Head of the Wellness Sciences Department, A/Prof Kareemah Najaar, has been crowned as one of the winners in Good Hope FM’s Warrior Woman Awards.

The awards honour “South African women who are changing the game, not for applause, but because it’s who they are at their very core”.

Najaar won the Education and Research category and is being recognised for the matric Life Science Revision Project.

Launched in 2018 by Najaar, the initiative was designed to support learners in achieving the minimum entry requirements for higher education science programmes.

“I feel a heartwarming sense of gratitude as the recipient of this award. I will however also say that the recipients are who make this project possible, from the co-project leaders, tutors to the teachers and the learners. In addition, without the support of my Faculty and CPUT, this project will not be possible. Our passion and vision to re-dress education inequality within STEM is being acknowledged and that means so much to me,” she said.

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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The Medical Imaging and Therapeutic Sciences Department’s Diagnostic Ultrasound Programme recently received a generous donation of two ultrasound systems from Schnetler, Corbett and Partners (SCP) Radiology - a donation which will significantly enhance student training.

The private radiology practice has consistently shown strong support for student training and clinical education.

The donation represents a significant boost to the programme as it will enhance the ability of lecturers to train students more effectively and provide them with increased hands-on learning opportunities, according to Dr

Maria Hartnick, the programme coordinator for Diagnostic Ultrasound.

The additional equipment will also enable the department to expand its student intake, helping to address the growing demand for ultrasound training in South Africa.

The Ultrasound team, which consists of Hartnick, Geordean Schwartz and Carmen Batt expressed their gratitude to SCP Radiology for their ongoing commitment to education and their meaningful contribution to strengthening the programme.

Dean of the Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences, A/Prof Nicole Brooks attended the handover of the new systems and thanked SCP for their donation and contribution to student training.

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Two academics in the Medical Imaging and Therapeutic Sciences Department recently returned from a visit to UK universities – an opportunity made possible through the Research Exchange Programme grant.

Dr Kathleen Naidoo and Dr Heidi Thomas spent seven days in the UK where they met with research partners at the University of Derby.

“This collaboration allowed us to work jointly on data from our international research project focused on person-centred care. We were also given a guided tour of the university’s simulation laboratory, where we observed a variety of advanced simulation stations. The visit provided valuable insights into their innovative methods of simulation-based teaching and learning,” said Naidoo.

“In addition, our British Academy mentor invited us to De Montfort University (DMU), where we spent the day with the Radiography team. This visit offered an excellent opportunity to learn about their academic programme, pedagogical strategies, and teaching practices.”

Thomas said the visit reinforced the many similarities shared between radiography education in the respective countries.

“A key highlight was the openness and enthusiasm of the UK colleagues in exchanging ideas and sharing best practices. The experience was both inspiring and productive, strengthening our existing partnerships and laying the groundwork for a potential new international collaboration/s in the future.”

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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A Master’s student and clinical instructor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences recently scooped the award for best oral presentation at the Society of Medical Laboratory Technology of South Africa (SMLTSA) Congress.

Koketso Mogashoa said she felt extremely proud to have won the award.

“It was a great honour to have been voted the best presenter at the SMLTSA Congress, among a panel of exceptional presenters on the day. This made me reflect on all the hard work, sacrifice and dedication I put into this research, and it has motivated me to persevere to complete my research study with great excellence.”

Her presentation was titled: Elevated levels of TNF-α associated with endothelial dysfunction.

“My research investigates the possible use of a panel of biomarkers for early detection of endothelial dysfunction to enable timely intervention and reduce long-term complications. Endothelial dysfunction and inflammation are regarded as early events of cardiovascular disease, a common complication and leading cause of death among individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Identifying non- or minimally invasive methods for early detection of endothelial dysfunction can facilitate early diagnosis and treatment while opening the possibility of preventing endothelial dysfunction.”

Koketso was born in the Limpopo province “and grew up in humble beginnings as a child playing in the dusty streets of Mankweng, a township commonly known as Turfloop”.

“I grew up with a quiet determination to make a success out of my life and make my family and community proud.”

Asked why she decided to follow a career in biomedical sciences, she said: “It all started with a desire to help others, and with my growing interest in investigative science, biology and human health. I knew this would be the ideal career for me. As a scientist, I am always motivated by these four questions: What how, when, and why.”

She expressed her gratitude to everyone who contributed towards making her presentation a success.

“I am grateful and indebted to everyone who contributed toward this success story namely, both my supervisors (Prof Glenda Davison and Dr Don Matshazi) for their unwavering support and dedication to my journey, not forgetting the Ultrasound team of collaborators in the Department of Medical Imaging and Therapeutic Sciences, and the Cardiometabolic Health Research Unit team for their collective input and support in the preparation of my presentation for the SMLTSA Congress.”

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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CPUT Dental Technology students are at the forefront of protecting and giving back the smiles to South Africans through sophisticated dental prosthesis and protective guards.

CPUT Dental Technology Lecturer Dr Quintin Norval says the loss of a smile through either injury, disease or defect can have a profound impact on an individual’s confidence.

“The work we do can be two-fold. It is firstly to try and educate youngsters about the importance of mouth hygiene so that they protect their teeth against disease, and it is also about helping someone to replace something they once lost. This has widespread benefits like better digestion and a boost in confidence.”

CPUT is home to a cutting edge Dental Technology and Dental Assistant School which does numerous community outreach projects.

Norval says the days of putty imprints are long gone and that dental technology is going fully digital now.

“3D Dentistry means we use scans and 3D printing to create the prosthetics and we can do this virtually and anywhere in the world,”

The school recently worked with a youth rugby club in Saldanha to produce mouth guards for the young men.  The pro-bono guards are custom made and will help protect the youngsters mouths during games and training.

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Liaises with the media and writes press releases about interesting developments at CPUT.

The Acting Head of the Department of Wellness Sciences, Assoc Prof Kareemah Najaar, has been selected as one of the finalists in Good Hope FM’s Warrior Woman Awards.

The awards honour “South African women who are changing the game, not for applause, but because it’s who they are at their very core”.

Najaar is a finalist in the Education and Research category and is being recognised for the matric Life Science Revision Project.

Launched in 2018 by Najaar, the initiative was designed to support learners in achieving the minimum entry requirements for higher education science programmes.

“I am very honoured and overwhelmed to have been selected as a finalist. This vision to support our matrics from disadvantaged backgrounds is only realised because of the amazing team that I have,” she said.

“Being recognised for our work and passion is extremely humbling and in fact further ignites me to continue striving to redress the current education inequalities and to continue growing our collaborations so that we are able to extend our reach to additional high schools.”

Asked why she started the project, Najaar said: “I believe that high school learners registered in STEM programmes, are in the programmes because they love science, but their socio-economic statuses unfortunately put them at a significant disadvantage”.

“What if we could be the difference for these matrics, provide opportunities for them so that they may qualify for STEM programmes at Higher Education Institutions (HEIs)? By creating a community of practice in which we combine the educational resources from their schools and from the HEIs, would be a powerful collaboration to support the learners.”

The project has grown from strength to strength.

“It has even expanded to include programmes that support our young female learners and to empower women in academia. I feel in many ways it is an extension of myself and an integral part of my academic path. Seeing the positive feedback from the learners and teachers makes me extremely proud to be allowed to support our future generation.”

To vote for Najaar, SMS WWA25, Kareemah Najaar, your name, surname and ID number to 37766.

For more on the awards, click here.

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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The Department of Biomedical Sciences marked International Pronouns Day with a thoughtful initiative aimed at fostering inclusivity, respect and awareness.

As part of the initiative, the department unveiled the Pronouns Project, which invited participants to display their preferred pronouns on a communal banner within the department.

A visual metaphor was used to reinforce the message of unity – a flask containing a solution, symbolising that while everyone is different, “we are part of the same community, the same solution”, explained Senior Lecturer, Dr Lisa Graham.

“We want to create a safe environment for students and staff within the university so that everybody feels safe, equal and welcome. We are all diverse and there are people of different sexual identities, sexual orientations and gender identities and I just wanted to increase awareness and consciousness around our differences, but also to create unity and to appreciate our diversity.”

Emergency Medical Sciences lecturer, Llizane McDonald, delivered an informative talk, in which she engaged students on biological sex, gender identity, pronouns and gender expression, among other things.

“It is important that we talk about these things so that everybody can feel included,” McDonald said.

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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The Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences recently hosted a creative, hands-on Breast Cancer event for students – showing them how to do self-checks and why early detection matters.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and the event’s main message was early detection saves lives. 

Dr Lizel Hudson, Work-Integrated Learning and Language Coordinator in the Faculty, said the initiative was driven by students for students, with Nursing Science and Medical Imaging and Therapeutic Sciences students taking the lead.

“The amazing team from Nursing Science said they wanted to do something for the students — to create not only awareness about breast cancer, but also to teach them how to do a breast self-examination. It’s a powerful tool that is often neglected. We wanted to show them what to look out for and why it’s important,” she explained.

At the HIV/AIDS Unit, students could participate in demonstrations to learn the correct technique for performing a breast self-examination and conduct their own examinations.

One of the highlights of the event was the creative use of sweets with different textures to help explain the differences between normal and abnormal breast tissue.

“Tumours come in all shapes and sizes, but this gave students something tangible and sensory to remember: if it feels like the hard sweet, get it checked.”

Hudson thanked the Faculty leadership, CANSA, the Nursing Science Department, and the students for their support.

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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The Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences’ Teaching Excellence Awards ceremony shone a spotlight on the faculty’s commitment to outstanding education and honoured exceptional staff members.

The event, which was recently held at the Cape Town Hotel School, showcased the best teaching and learning practices in the faculty, under the theme: In Harmony: Honouring the heart and science of teaching excellence.

Assistant Dean, Dr Lloyd Christopher, said the event was not just about recognising the recipients but everyone who contributed to their success, “whether faculty office, whether it be the heads of departments, and all the other technical administrative staff that make a really very difficult job possible and so we acknowledge all of that”.

The winners were:

• Clinical Instructor recognition award: Elroy Cameron (Emergency Medical Sciences)
• Senior Lab Technician: Fadia Alexander (Biomedical Sciences)
• Lab Technician: Abdulraoef Ganey (Ophthalmic Sciences)
• Faculty Office Award: Karin Buckle (Faculty Manager)
• Faculty Teaching Excellence Award: John Meyer (Emergency Medical Sciences)

In her closing remarks, Faculty Teaching and Learning coordinator, Anthea Pinto-Prins, said the theme of the awards, “invites us to reflect not only on what we teach, but how and why we teach”.

“Together, you create conditions in which students grow cognitively, professionally, and personally. In this way, the heart of teaching, our care, empathy, and responsiveness are inseparable from the science of teaching, our pedagogical frameworks, disciplinary knowledge, and intentional design. Harmony is not a soft ideal. It is a rigorous, ethical balancing act that ensures no student is left behind and no knowledge is left inaccessible.”

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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The Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences continues to make an impact in local high schools through its matric Life Sciences revision project, an initiative that provides dedicated tuition to Grade 12 learners.

All departments in the faculty – Emergency Medical Sciences, Wellness Sciences, Dental Sciences, Ophthalmic Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, Medical Imaging and Therapeutic Sciences and Nursing Sciences – play an active role in the project while the University of the Western Cape’s Medical Biosciences (MBS) Department has also come on board.

Launched in 2018 by Assoc Prof Kareemah Najaar, the initiative was designed to support learners in achieving the minimum entry requirements for higher education science programmes.

The model aims to bridge gaps for disadvantaged learners who often face challenges such as limited access to technology.

This year the focus was on five schools, with two of the schools – Charleston Hill Secondary from Paarl and Langa High School, recently attending a revision session at the Bellville campus.

Najaar said teachers help to identify the topics that are revised and more than 30 students and lecturers served as tutors for the day. 

The project leaders from CPUT are Najaar, Dr Wendy Solomon and Marnel Germishuys

The project leaders from UWC (MBS Department) are Drs Chontrelle Willemse, Monique Bennett and Kim Lategan.

Najaar said plans were in the pipeline to extend the projects reach.

 “Our intention is to have six schools by next year. We plan to switch our focus from Grade 12 to Grade 11, as teachers have agreed this is where the intervention will have the most impact,”.

The initiative has also given rise to an off-shoot project focused on the wellbeing of teachers. Somatology students from the Wellness Sciences department provided a much-needed pampering session for teachers during the revision session. The project leaders are Mandy Thomas and Marnel Germishuys

Reflecting on the project’s growth, Najaar noted: “I feel proud of this work because the model truly works. It adapts and reaches learners who need it most.”

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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Fourth-year BSc Diagnostic Ultrasound students recently conducted peer learning tutorials for their counterparts in the BSc Medical Emergency Sciences (EMS) programme.

Coordinated through collaboration between lecturers of both programmes, these sessions created a valuable platform for academic exchange and interdisciplinary engagement.

Peer learning is an important part of the teaching and learning philosophy at CPUT, as it enhances student engagement, develops leadership and communication skills, and fosters deeper understanding through shared knowledge.

The tutorials took place in the Diagnostic Ultrasound (DU) Clinical Skills Laboratory, where the DU students performed chest and abdominal ultrasound examinations, including explaining the techniques to the EMS students.

“Following each demonstration, the EMS students were encouraged to apply their learning by performing the scans themselves.” said, Dr Maria Hartnick, lecturer in the Medical Imaging and Therapeutic Sciences Department.

 A key focus of the tutorials was the FAST (Focused Assessment with Sonography in Trauma) protocol, a point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) technique designed to rapidly identify life-threatening conditions in the prehospital environment. This skill is an essential component of emergency medical practice, equipping EMS professionals with the ability to provide real-time imaging to decrease diagnosis times, improve procedural accuracy, and expedite treatment for various conditions in critical care.”

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Senior lecturer in the Department of Biomedical Sciences, Dr Samantha Meyer, delivered a plenary lecture at the International Conference on Nano Structured Materials and Nanocomposites (ICN 2025), recently held in India.

Meyer said she was deeply honoured when Prof Sabu Thomas, distinguished global scientist and former vice-chancellor of Mahatma Gandhi University (MGU) in Kerala, India, invited her.

The invitation came shortly after Meyer was awarded a C2-rating from the National Research Foundation (NRF).

Mahatma Gandhi University has been ranked 4th among Indian universities in the Times Higher Education Asia University Rankings 2025.

“This occasion was extremely special and poignant to me as India is the land of my ancestors. My great-grandparents came to South Africa as indentured labourers in the late 1800s. It was incredibly emotional for me to be the first person in my family lineage to visit India; the great-granddaughter of sugar-cane workers returning to her motherland to present her scientific research on a global stage.”

Meyer’s presentation was titled: Silver Nanoparticles Synthesized from Cotyledon orbiculata: Antimicrobial, Anti-Inflammatory and Wound Healing Effects.

Apart from being an invited plenary speaker at the conference, Meyer was also appointed as a session chairperson. These key roles at the conference give credence to her expertise and international standing in the field of Nanotechnology research. According to her Google Scholar profile, Meyer has been cited more than 1000 times in the literature.

The ICN 2025 conference included representation from universities, research institutes, and industries from around the world.

This diverse association created a rich environment for knowledge exchange, networking, and collaboration.

“It was an honour to represent CPUT at this global gathering of more than 350 participants. My presentation garnered much interest in both my research as well as our institution’s dynamic and beautiful campuses.”

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The Department of Ophthalmic Sciences has successfully completed its first international collaboration outside Africa, partnering with the College of Ophthalmology & Allied Vision Sciences (COAVS) in Lahore, Pakistan, with the support of global NGO, Sight Savers International (SSI).

This landmark initiative saw the delivery of a hybrid faculty development programme in Dispensing Opticianry, combining online training with in-person practical sessions in Lahore. The programme was designed to strengthen both theoretical knowledge and hands-on competencies in this rapidly growing field, while also laying the foundation for future exchanges and joint projects.

The online training introduced faculty and students to key topics such as lens types, frame design, progressive lenses, coatings, prisms and prescription analysis. The sessions blended lectures, tutorials and case studies, creating an interactive platform despite the geographic distance. The practical training, hosted in Lahore, gave participants the opportunity to refine practical skills in measurements, frame identification, glazing, fitting and repairs.

In total, 23 participants took part, including faculty members and students from COAVS and the Pakistan Institute of Rehabilitation Sciences (PIRS). Participants highlighted the balance between theory and practice, the structured delivery of content, and the collaborative learning environment as major strengths of the programme. Many of these participants, upon graduation, will become the first cohort of opticians to serve in their public health system, contributing to blindness prevention efforts in Pakistan.

“It was a great honour to contribute to opticianry education in Pakistan. The online sessions were highly engaging, with participants showing remarkable enthusiasm, respect, and dedication. Their energy and eagerness to learn made the experience deeply rewarding, and I am proud to have played a role in shaping the first generation of opticians at COAVS,” said online trainer, Fatima Flander.

“The hands-on training in Lahore was an incredible experience, marked by warmth, hospitality, and genuine eagerness to learn. The faculty and students embraced the opportunity with enthusiasm, and any initial language barriers were quickly overcome. Their hunger for knowledge was inspiring, and this training has sparked new possibilities for expanding Dispensing in Opticianry to other institutions in the region,” said practical trainer, Abdulraoef Ganey.

This project was made possible through the close cooperation of the International Committee, The Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships Directorate, Legal Services, the Deanery, and the Vice-Chancellor’s Office.

Looking ahead, the Department hopes to expand the collaboration to include joint research, exchange visits, and further training opportunities - strengthening South–South cooperation in health sciences education and enhancing the global visibility of CPUT’s expertise.

“This collaboration is more than just a training programme – it is the beginning of a long-term partnership that will open doors for innovation, shared learning, and greater impact across continents,” said Prasidh Ramson, Acting Head of the Ophthalmic Sciences Department.

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The Department of Biomedical Sciences recently partnered with the South African Bone Marrow Registry (SABMR) to host the annual Stem Cell Donor Drive.

The primary objective of the event, which was held at the Bellville Campus, was to recruit new donors who can potentially provide life-saving stem cell transplants to patients in need.

This collaboration saw second- and third-year Haematology students and their lecturer, Rizqa Siebritz-Williams, work together to assist the SABMR in creating awareness about the significance of stem cell donation and its role in treating various life-threatening blood disorders and cancers.

“By engaging the student community, the drive aims to foster a culture of social responsibility and highlight the impact individuals can make through donor participation. Furthermore, the event serves to promote the mission of the SABMR and its partners, including Childhood Cancer Foundation (CHOC), the Organ Donor Foundation, Save Seven, Vitanova, and the Western Cape Blood Service, by strengthening collaboration in the field of donor recruitment and public health,” said Siebritz-Williams.

“In addition, CPUT’s HIV/AIDS and Student Counselling units engaged students around initiatives CPUT offers to support students holistically. A further objective is to recognise and express gratitude to current donors, thereby encouraging others to contribute to this vital cause.”

She thanked the student volunteers for 2025: Njabulo Dhlangamandla, Mfundo Dube, Beyonce Esau, Xiluvelo Hlungwani, Elizabeth Jacobs, Azande Maqhwara, Noliso Nesi, Emihle Ngala, Dimpho Sishiqa, Sinawo Sizani, Danielle Wentzel, Aakifah Ely and Hope Nkomo.

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In a vital initiative demonstrating its commitment to community engagement and strengthening national health systems, the Department of Emergency Medical Sciences (DEMS) successfully delivered critical training to frontline paramedics in the Eastern Cape.

The project, titled "Breathing Life into Care: Eastern Cape EMS Airway & Ventilation Project," addressed an urgent need to upskill emergency medical personnel.

The project was initiated in response to the unique challenges faced by the Eastern Cape, a province with vast rural areas where critically ill patients often require long-distance transport to tertiary hospitals. These extended transfers can lead to preventable morbidity and mortality if advanced airway and mechanical ventilation are not managed expertly. The collaboration was spearheaded by Abongile Xeketwana, the project lead from the Eastern Cape Department of Health.

A dedicated CPUT team travelled to Gqeberha to conduct the two-day workshop. The team was led by facilitators Elroy Cameron, Athenkosi Sobada, and Kwanda Gogotyi, with John Meyer providing crucial coordination and administrative support.

The workshop was attended by 24 Paramedics and Emergency Care Practitioners, the majority of whom work in the public sector in rural, low-resource environments. For two-thirds of the attendees, this was their first formal training in this specialised area.

The educational impact of the simulation-based workshop was profound and measurable. A pre- and post-course knowledge assessment demonstrated a remarkable improvement.

The training successfully closed significant knowledge gaps previously identified in complex areas like paediatric ventilation and lung-protective strategies. The analysis showed the workshop was especially effective for early-career professionals while also serving as a valuable refresher for highly experienced clinicians.

This project aligns with national and global development goals, including the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals for Good Health (SDG 3), Quality Education (SDG 4), and Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10), as well as South Africa’s National Development Plan goal of ensuring a long and healthy life for all citizens.

Through this collaborative effort, CPUT DEMS has not only enhanced the clinical skills of Eastern Cape paramedics but has also reinforced its role as an engaged university dedicated to using its expertise to build a capable state and address the real-world health challenges facing South Africa’s communities.

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