2012-11-20
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| Fidele Mukinda and Julius Ayuk |
After the short stroll from our overnight spot in the fresh
and ‘somewhat more humid than we are used to’ Joburg morning air we arrived at
the imposing building that hosts the intellectual capital of the Witwatersrand
School of Medicine. In the Department of Family Medicine and Centre for Rural Health we met with Audrey Gibbs who gave us a rapid introduction to the fairly
new entity in South Africa health care team – Clinical Associates.
Essentially the idea was born out of the need for competent
health care workers in the South African rural areas.
We learnt about the origins of the mid level health care
worker and how difficult it was to convince governing bodies like the HPCSA
about the role and responsibilities of the Clinical Associate. Currently, after graduating a 3 year
bachelors degree that is highly practical – with patient contact from the first
year – Clinical Associates work in a hospital or clinic where they can be
supervised by a doctor. Clinical
associates are trained to address many of the common complaints that patients
present with. By contributing with their
clinical skills and knowledge they have the ability to reduce the health care
facility workload and improve patient satisfaction and outcomes.
We look forward to see how this new cadre of health care
worker will contribute to health in South Africa and establish themselves as an
essential part of the health care team, especially in the rural areas.
More Clinical Associate information: http://www.wits.ac.za/academic/health/entities/ruralhealth/10098/clinical_associates_bcmp_degree_programme.html
All back into the VW taxi and Toyota Corrola – this time to
visit the Wits Western Campus in Braamfontein.
After a quick and unplanned scenic tour of the Parkside area, Sammy our
Samsung GPS quickly made the driver realize that there is an increasing space
for lending an ear to the artificial intelligence in the vehicle. So much for keeping control as humans…
We headed to the Wits Centre for Health Policy that is currently
being housed in the former sports hall of the Wits show grounds. The ‘secret’ entrance was found after
enquiring at a couple of friendly ‘Wits’.
Director Jane Goudge gave us an overview of the history, structure and
function of the Wits Centre for Health Policy.
Currently with 15 employees from a range of backgrounds in and outside
the medical field, the unit is run entirely on research funding. They are hoping to move to the new Wits
School of Public Health that should be open early in 2012. Don’t be mislead by the name, their focus is
not solely on policy development, they also have a strong health systems
focus. In the words of Jane
herself: “We try to conduct health
systems and services research that answers relevant questions and builds
sustainable education and development.”
Recent research included human resources, financing & governments;
the level of altruism under health care workers; Primary health care
re-engeneering and initiating child grants in pregnancy to ensure the child
will reap the benefit before the first 6 months of his / her life.
http://www.wits.ac.za/chp
Back at the Wits School of Public Health we met with Shan Naidoo and
his team of specialists and registrars.
Apart from getting to know everyone over a tasty lunch we discussed
public health registrar education and curricula, assessment and career
pathing. Debates were abruptly cut short
long before final conclusions were made.
We got to Lilliesleaf with just enough time to spare for
enjoying the main attractions of this interesting interactive museum. Lilliesleaf is
a smallholding in Rivonia, a suburb of Johannesburg where
19 leaders of the ANC and
ANC military wing Umkhonto we Sizwe were arrested in the winter of 1963. They had, after many years of unsuccessfully
trying to peacefully create a democratic and racially indiscriminate South
Africa, been planning to proceed in their struggle against the then South African
apartheid government in an organized
violent manner. The arrested included Govan Mbeki, Raymond Mhlaba, Andrew
Mlangeni, Elias Motsoaledi, Ahmed Kathrada, Denis Goldberg and Harold
Wolpe. Before the 11 July 1963 the farm that was privately
owned by Arthur Goldreich had been a hideout for ANC members, among others,
Nelson Mandela. The arrests lead to the
notorious Revonia trial that lead to numerous ‘life in prisonment’
sentences.
“…no one can blame
brave and just men for seeking justice by the use of violent methods; nor can
they be blamed if they tried to create an organized force in order to
ultimately establish peace and racial harmony.”
Chief Albert Luthuli, October 1964, Rivonia trial.
After reading a quote by Luthuli I had a feeling that I
could have very interesting conversations with these ‘radicals’ and they might
not have had an extremely difficult time to convince me to join them. This made me get a yearning and even feel a
jealousy towards this group of young revolutionaries who had a fantastic life
goal and conviction to create the essential change in their country with so
much enthusiasm.
Liliesleaf museum is
well worth a visit if you find yourself in the Johannesburg area.
The day’s experiences lead to many interesting conversations
that evening which shattered our plans to get to bed early.
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| Lilliesleaf enterance |
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| The 'Overland Safari' truck in which MK smuggled weapons into South Africa |
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