This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the full article here.

Most cancers can now be detected early. This hasn't always been the case. The first big breakthrough came 80 years ago when the pap smear was introduced. Ten years later the mammogram was created and then nearly half a century ago the fecal occult blood test was developed.

Advances in diagnosis have made a huge difference. When cancer is detected at an early stage – and when coupled with appropriate treatment – the chance of survival beyond five years is dramatically higher. Early diagnosis can also reduce the cost of treatment.

Despite this, millions of cancer cases are found late. This results in expensive and complex treatment options, diminished quality of life, and avoidable deaths.

The global cancer burden is estimated to have risen to 18.1 million new cases and 9.6 million deaths in 2018 up from 12.7 million new cases and 7.6 million deaths in 2008. One in 5 men and one in 6 women worldwide develop cancer during their lifetime, and one in 8 men and one in 11 women die from the disease.

Unless greater effort is placed into altering the course of the disease, this number is expected to rise to close to 30 million new cases by 2040.

More than 70% of the world's total new annual cases occur in Africa, Asia, and Central and South America. These regions account for more than 60% of the world's cancer deaths. Yet treatment for cancer is not widely available in these regions. Health systems are often not equipped to deal with detection and treatment of cancers. Prevention and early detection programmes are often weak or non-existent.

This situation is exacerbated by the high cost of treatment and, in particular, the high cost of newer cancer medication.

Cancer medication pricing has increasingly become a global issue creating access challenges in low-and middle-income countries. Death rates from cancer in wealthy countries are declining slightly because of early diagnosis and the availability of treatment.

But this isn't the case in low- and middle-income countries. For example, over 80% of children diagnosed with cancer in high-income countries will be cured. In low and middle-income countries the rate is as low as 10%.

Massive disparities

Only 5% of global resources for cancer are spent in the developing world. Yet these countries account for almost 80% of disability-adjusted years of life lost to cancer globally. And developing countries, governments and individuals struggle to pay for products that are priced at several times the level of their per capita GDP. Buyers are at the mercy of a single provider, often the patent holder of the product, particularly where the product has no competitors.

In 2018 the World Health Organisation found that pricing of cancer drugs was disproportionately higher than other types of pharmaceuticals and therapies.

Nor is it just a question of price. Efficacy comes into the picture too. In 2017, estimated global expenditure on medicines for cancer and related supportive care amounted to US$ 133 billion. Despite these huge costs, a systematic evaluation of 68 cancer medicines approved by the European Medicines Agency in 2009–2013 showed that only 35% had established evidence of prolonged survival at the time of approval. Similarly, only 10% of the 68 medicines had evidence of improvement in the quality of life at the time of approval.

In addition, some medicines may present higher risk of toxicities to patients, with evidence of high rates of deaths related to treatment (toxic deaths) and high chances of patients discontinuing treatment due to intolerance.

Some answers

We often hear that efforts to expand cancer care aren't affordable and will divert resources from higher priorities. A similar view was once held about HIV/AIDS. Yet we have seen remarkable success expanding access to services. Many lessons can be learnt from this experience. For example, generic drug competition in the HIV market has been essential in bringing the price of antiretroviral medicines down dramatically.

Developing countries should be encouraging the use of generic and biosimilar cancer medicines with a view to enhancing competition. This will certainly drive down cancer drug prices. For example, in Norway, an infliximab biosimilar was discounted by nearly 70% and now represents more than 50% of drug sales. Similarly, in India and Peru, a rituximab biosimilar was introduced at a 50% lower price compared to the originator, illustrating the value they bring into oncology care.

In addition, governments must ensure that the application of patent law and rights for market exclusivity are not over compensating innovators and becoming barriers to access. Such activism has been found resonance in many countries as has been the case in South Africa.

These approaches are important to create platforms for engagement and the political momentum to strengthen health care for cancer patients at national level and take action globally to provide guidance for treatment and care, share knowledge about treatment cost and provide a legal framework to ensure treatment is available.

The cost of new drug development as an explanation for the high prices of new medicines is doubtful. Yet when it comes to health care and certainly in the case of potentially fatal diseases such as cancer, people are willing to bear a heavy burden even if the health benefits in reality turn out to be limited.

What's important is that biomedical and technological advancements don't introduce greater disparities and inequities when it comes to access to care and outcomes. The watch word must be affordability, not profitability.

Dr Nabeelah Kajee, a cum laude medical (MB,ChB) graduate from Stellenbosch University's Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS), has been named a recipient of the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship for postgraduate study at the University of Oxford.

Kajee, who was awarded the Dean's Medal in 2016 for being the Best Undergraduate Student at the FMHS, will join a cohort of 101 new Rhodes Scholars from around the world at the University of Oxford later this year. She is currently completing her community service at Mitchells Plain Hospital, having already done her two-year internship at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town.

"Becoming a Rhodes Scholar is an honour. It offers me the remarkable opportunity to explore my education further in a deeply enriching environment. As a Rhodes Scholar Elect, I shall join a community of like-minded individuals, who are committed to creating a better world. I love the idea of continuing a platform where people can grow and create lasting networks – such that they can continue to give back their best to their respective countries and communities. I look forward to the great sharing of ideas and experiences in Oxford and beyond."

The Rhodes Scholarship is the oldest and one of the most prestigious international scholarship programmes in existence that selects exceptional students, based on their academic excellence, leadership potential and commitment to make a difference for good in the world.

Kajee has made her applications to study for a PhD (or DPhil as it's called at Oxford) to match her interests in medicine, medical education and mental health. “These are my passions. I am driven by global health challenges, and how we as health leaders may tackle these challenges sustainably. Research is unbelievably important in leading the way to creating innovative solutions, for healthier and happier communities.

“Having worked as a doctor in South Africa, I have come to realise how crucial our collective role is. We serve as clinicians, teachers and problem solvers – and for that, we need an understanding of a broad range of skills. My hope long-term is that by improving our medical education, we can enhance the quality, health and impact of our doctors, and, by ripple effect, change our communities."  

The current dean of the FMHS, Prof Jimmy Volmink, is a great source of inspiration to the young doctor. "I first met him when I was in my second year at university. Within a few minutes of talking to him, I knew that he was going to be a lifelong teacher. He is committed to excellence, and an astonishingly visionary leader."

Kajee is particularly proud of Stellenbosch University as an institution. “My alma mater prepared me very well for my career. It created an intellectual space that fostered my curiosity and allowed me to develop lifelong friendships."

After Oxford, Kajee dreams of continuing her career as a medical doctor, and in higher education. “My hope is to generate research that impacts the health and quality of life of our own citizens, and of the global community."

​AUXINS hosted by:  The Centre for Teaching and Learning (CTL)

Title of Presentation: Building your research profile: The rewards and risks of engaging with public audiences about your research and availing yourself to engage on other topical aspects.

Summary of Invitation: The CTL hereby invites you to a lunch-hour “padkos session” as part of the AUXIN Project. The AUXIN Project aims to create growth opportunities for SU lecturers.

Title and Name of Presenter(s): Dr Marina Joubert & Mr Martin Viljoen

Short Biography of presenter(s):

Dr Marina Joubert is a senior science communication researcher at the Centre for Research on Evaluation, Science and Technology (CREST) at SU. She presents an online science communication course with a focus on Africa, and teaches public engagement with science as part of various postgraduate programmes. Her research interests focus on researchers’ role in public communication of science, online interfaces between science and society and the changing policy environment for public communication of science in Africa. She has been awarded numerous institutional and national awards for her contributions in the field.

Mr Martin Viljoen is the Manager: Media in the Corporate Communication Division of SU. He firmly believes that having a good media profile, has a direct positive influence on researchers’ research profiles. He regularly presents informal workshops on media relations and how to connect to the media.  Martin is a trained journalist but crossed over to corporate communications early in his career and has 20 years of experience in higher education in a media liaison capacity, but built up some street credentials in internal communications, corporate writing, publishing and public speaking. Every year he processes hundreds of media enquiries, requests and media releases.

Blurb (Including Conclusions and Implications for Teaching and Learning at SU)

Sharing your research with different audiences using a diverse range of communication tools and platforms to do so, is imperative if you want to build your research profile and academic stature.

Given the policy intention of the South African government (and specifically, the Department of Science and Technology) to encourage and support responsible public science engagement across all research disciplines, it is imperative to identify and understand the factors that influence researchers’ behaviour as far as public communication about their work is concerned.

This session will empower researchers to effectively engage with public audiences, through focusing on the why and how of effective public engagement about their research and other aspects. The presenters will focus on the benefits of such engagement as well as the support available at the institution.

Articles (Bibliographic information of 2 easy-read articles on the topic)

Joubert, M. 2018. Country-specific factors that compel South African scientists to engage with public audiences. JCOM. 17(04):C04.

Marcinkowski, F. & Kohring, M. 2014. The changing rationale of science communication : A challenge to scientific autonomy. Journal of Science Communication. 13(03):C04.

Key Words: Science communication; science engagement; Media relations

Date of Presentation: 26 March 2019

Time: 12:45 - 13:45

Venue: Den Bosch, 41 Victoria Street (opposite House Skuilhoek and directly behind the Conservatoire)

Please RSVP by completing the Google form:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfqtAwQGhYM9nKv0JeZVpkyhGew7LqVX79QLYMo-aZlHE7C9w/viewform?usp=sf_link

Enquiries: Ms Nothemba Nqayi, nothemban@sun.ac.za, 021 808 3717

Cancellations: If, for some or other reason, you are no longer able to attend the AUXIN, we request that you please CANCEL your registration at least 24 hours before the time, by contacting Ms Nqayi (contact details above). There are certain financial costs incurred by the CTL for each AUXIN, and the request is to minimise financial implications.

More Information: A podcast will be available on the CTL website after the session: www.sun.ac.za/ctl

​More than 100 learners and their teachers from four schools in Kayamandi will participate in a clean-up initiative of the Krom River in Stellenbosch ahead of National Water Week, as well as adopting and beautifying a spot next to the river for children to play.

This is one of the first public initiatives of the Kayamandi River Partnership – a collaboration between the Stellenbosch University Water Institute and external stakeholders such as the Stellenbosch River Collaborative, the Department of Water Affairs and Sanitation, the Stellenbosch Municipality's Department of Community Development and Security, and Kayamandi Schools. Other partners include SU's departments of Microbiology and Curriculum Studies.

Dr Leanne Seeliger, project leader based at SUWI, says previous attempts to address the pollution problems in the Krom and Plankenbrug rivers have been hampered by issues of sustainability and co-ordination among role players: “With this partnership, the aim is to develop a fund resourced by key stakeholders in water management in the area, to ensure continued water monitoring and water education."

The Plankenbrug river in Enkanini remains one of the most polluted rivers in Stellenbosch: “Initially we will focus on the Krom river as the initial site for awareness surveys and river clean ups, as the Plankenbrug river currently too polluted for learners to use," Seeliger explains.

With this initiative, the Kayamandi River Partnership hopes to build trust, restore community and rebuild civic responsibility through a shared understanding of ethics between the community and the municipality: “One of the greatest challenges facing most townships is water management. Many residents were previously excluded from crucial decision-making processes. If both the municipality and the community interrogate the principles at hand in water management in this area, then best practice, rather than minimal compliance could be achieved," she concludes.

Learners will also be monitoring the quality of the water, thereby contributing to their natural science's curriculum. Prof Chris Reddy from the Department of Curriculum Studies in the Faculty of Education will be showing the learners how to test the PH, nitrates and turbidity of the water using a toolkit from the School Water Action Programme (SWAP). Prof Wesaal Khan  from SU's Department of Microbiology will discuss the dangers of pollution.

The high point of the week is on Friday 15 March 2019, when learners will “adopt" and beautify a spot next to the Krom River.

The initiative has received generous sponsorship of refreshments for participating learners from local businesses, including Ten of Cups, Timberlea Farming Trust and Chill Beverages.

The initiative takes place ahead of World Water Day on 20 March, and South Africa's National Water Week from 18 to 24 March 2019.

 Media enquiries

Dr Leanne Seeliger

E-mail: seeliger@sun.ac.za

Cell: 072 203 2113

On the photos above, Learners from Kayamandi Primary School are taking samples to test the water quality of the Krom River in Stellenbosch, under guidance of the Stellenbosch Water Institute and Prof Chris Reddy from SU's Faculty of Education. Photos: Leanne Seeliger

Shades of Yale, an ensemble that specialises in “music of the African diaspora & African-American tradition", will be performing alongside the Stellenbosch University Vocal Ensemble (formerly KuKopella) at 19:30 at Kruiskerk on Friday, 15 March 2019.

The concert forms part of Shades of Yale's Spring Tour in South Africa, with songs from artists such as Alicia Keys, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, and Ben E. King. Says the group: “It is our objective to offer a unique, musically excellent, and spiritually enriching performance experience at Yale University and beyond."

​The concert is part of a new community outreach programme by KuKo, emphasising it's aim to promote arts that are “locally relevant whilst being internationally excellent", according to the chairperson, Blaine Josephs. Josephs is also working in conjunction with UNASA (United Nations Association of South Africa – Stellenbosch Chapter), to improve the footprint of culture in the local community, by doing social impact work through cultural projects. Transport and tickets for the event will be provided to disadvantaged children from the Legacy Development Centre in Kayamandi, a suburb of Stellenbosch.

• Tickets for the event are R80 if bought before the time and will be sold in the Neelsie Student Centre or alternatively tickets can be booked by contacting srcculture@sun.ac.za, or R100 at the door.
  

​​​

The Siyakhula staff programme is being relaunched and expanded as part of the Employment Equity and Diversity Capacity Building Programme.

Since 2016 more than 600 staff members at all post levels from different divisions and disciplines joined discussion sessions as part of this transformation competency series. The model of the Siyakhula staff programme has always been well received because it recognises the complexity of challenges faced by Stellenbosch University staff in a rapidly changing context. The programme capacitates staff with diversity knowledge by learning from one another, exploring attitudes and sharing skills to improve the quality of communication and relations.

Building on the success of previous years, the relaunched programme will continue as a partnership between Human Resources, the Transformation Office, the Equality Unit and the Disability Unit. Monica du Toit will still coordinate the programme in her new role as part of Human Resources and specifically the Employment Equity and Diversity Capacity Development Programme. The 2019 programme offers 18 different discussion themes that will address practical challenges such as diversity management, sexual harassment, racism and employment equity and improve empathy, mediation and facilitation skills, with an added theme to activate the creative side of staff to design inclusive and accessible spaces for all.

Over the years, many divisions have chosen this programme as a measurable way to implement transformation goals, but it has also become an opportunity for leaders to listen to staff experiences and to help ensure that inclusion efforts translate into authentic practices and behaviours. From 2019 onwards, groups will be able to book the themes of their choice via this link: https://goo.gl/JheT2s; alternatively, you can contact Monica du Toit (mdt2@sun.ac.za) regarding specific needs or arrangements. The available programme options and content are outlined in the attached documents with the option of applying to participate in a central three-day programme or to book specific sessions for teams. The programme is offered at no cost to Stellenbosch University staff.

Students participating in the #Amagama project at the Woordfees this year were pleasantly surprised about people's willingness to learn isiXhosa.

Amagama means “vocabulary" in isiXhosa and the project, now in its second year, aims to cross language and cultural barriers by teaching festival goers basic isiXhosa words and sentences.

A group of 14 Education students from Stellenbosch University (SU) with isiXhosa as major volunteered to do duty at various venues during the Woordfees last week. Their experience was very positive.

Anathi Sokweba believes that diversity should be celebrated.

“Teaching isiXhosa to anyone who showed an interest during the festival was an opportunity to get a feel of what an inclusive classroom would require of me as a teacher. Breaking language barriers has a massive impact on how people relate to each other.

“I could not believe how many white people were interested in learning isiXhosa. Seeing people participate in the project gave me hope for a better future," Sokweba added.

Marie-Louise Hellstrom is very passionate about isiXhosa.

“It was wonderful to see people's faces light up when they recognised a word and could finally put meaning to it. There is nothing as rewarding as seeing a person learn."

Carly Beavon believes that speaking to someone in their mother tongue is the ultimate form of respect.

“I found that younger people were more eager to learn the language and that many of the older festival goers were intimidated by the clicks. However, I had a wonderful experience with an older lady who would come every day to learn the words and to practise the words from the previous day. She explained that she enjoyed speaking to her gardener in his home language and wanted to know more so that they could have more meaningful conversations."

Roland van Vuuren describes isiXhosa as a fun language with a rich culture behind it.

“I had a great time teaching people from all walks of life how to speak isiXhosa. There was a fantastic response and we got a lot of attention. One of the highlights of the project was when a young couple who had adopted a Xhosa child wanted to learn more about isiXhosa and the AmaXhosa culture so that they could teach their child about its heritage."

According to Raechelle Gouws, their group was visited by a man who stayed for approximately two hours to learn all the sentences and words.

“The security guard posted at the station was so interested in the project that she joined in and helped the man with his pronunciation."

Chané Terblanche participated in the project to improve her self-confidence when it comes to speaking and teaching isiXhosa.

“The highlight of the week for me was to see how many older people were interested in learning a new language. It makes me hopeful to know that there is still a chance of a rainbow nation coming together, learning about and from one another."

​​​​In an exciting step, Stellenbosch University's (SU) Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS) has expanded its footprint in the Northern Cape. This year, a small group of medical students will be completing their final year in Upington, contributing to much-needed medical services in the area.

SU's Ukwanda Centre for Rural Health is a pioneering initiative of the FMHS and was established in 2001. In keeping with its name (Xhosa for “grow" or “develop"), the Ukwanda Centre for Rural Health coordinates and supports training and research initiatives in rural communities. The aim is also to equip healthcare professionals with skills and hands-on experience to help address the challenges faced by rural and underserved communities in South Africa.

“Rural communities, which make up 35% of South Africa's population, are generally underserved," explains Prof Ian Couper, Director of the Ukwanda Centre for Rural Health. “The Centre is a means by which the FMHS demonstrates and drives its commitment to addressing the rural healthcare needs of South Africa."

For several years now, SU medical and other health science students have been doing short rotations at rural healthcare facilities in the Western, Northern and Eastern Cape, while a selection of students have undertaken their final year at the Rural Clinical School, based in the Cape Winelands and Overberg districts of the Western Cape. Now, a similar approach will be followed in Upington in the Northern Cape.

High-level negotiations between SU and the Northern Cape provincial government moved forward in 2017. Subsequently, in early 2018, Dr Therese Fish (Vice Dean: Social Impact and Clinical Services), Prof Julia Blitz (Vice Dean: Learning and Teaching) and Prof Couper visited Dr Harry Surtie Hospital in Upington on behalf of the FMHS. More visits followed, resulting in plans for training in a number of healthcare programmes.

“The aim was to work towards longitudinal student exposure based on collaborative practice," Couper says. “The SCALE-Up model – Stellenbosch Collaborative and Longitudinal Exposure in Upington – was proposed." The Ukwanda Centre will lead this collaboration on behalf of the FMHS.

In September last year, the Northern Cape programme kicked into gear when final-year medical students undertaking the five-week primary health care rotation started training at the Upington hospital.

From this year onwards, four final-year medical students will be completing a modified longitudinal integrated model (LIM) programme at Dr Harry Surtie Hospital. “These students will be trained by local healthcare staff and supported by consultants from Tygerberg Campus as well as the Ukwanda Centre for Rural Health team," Couper says.

In February, the Division of Occupational Therapy started sending final-year students for four rotations and, in April, the Division of Physiotherapy will follow suit by sending students for two rotations. “The plan is to move towards longer longitudinal programmes in 2020, with Speech-Language and Hearing Therapy possibly also joining the programme," Couper continues.

More plans for future expansion by the FMHS include the possibility of developing post-graduate training at Dr Harry Surtie Hospital, including possible registrar rotations in general medical specialities.

With this service, the Northern Cape – a province that doesn't have a medical school and that struggles to attract health professionals to its widely spread communities – will hopefully gain valuable skills and expertise.

The Ukwanda Centre values the very positive response from the Northern Cape – especially the management and staff of Dr Harry Surtie Hospital, who are excited about the vision to expand training in the province. This will ultimately lead to more members of the community being able to access services, says Couper.

For more information, contact Lindsay-Michelle Meyer at lindsaym@sun.ac.za. More information is available on the Ukwanda Centre for Rural Health's website.

Captions

Banner photo: FMHS representatives visit Upington. Front row from right to left: Ms Amanda Msindwana (Speech-Language and Hearing Therapy); Dr Inge Smit (Psychiatry); Ms Mia Duvenage (Occupational Therapy); Prof Elmin Steyn (Surgery); Prof Rafique Moosa (Internal Medicine); Prof Susan Hanekom (Physiotherapy); Dr Liezl Smit (Paediatrics); Dr Michael Pather (Family Medicine); Ms Lindsay-Michelle Meyer (Ukwanda Project Manager; visit coordinator). Back row from right to left: Ms Jana Muller (Ukwanda Collaborative Care; interim project coordinator); Dr Francois Coetzee (Ukwanda MB,ChB programme); Prof Ian Couper (Director, Ukwanda Centre for Rural Health; team leader); Prof Ben van Heerden (Director, MB,ChB Unit); Dr Esté Swart (Obstetrics and Gynaecology) 

Insert: The four medical students who will be completing their final year at Dr Harry Surtie Hospital. From left to right: Felrie Oettle, Elmaur Human, Anja Langenhoven and Ntshembo Nkuna.

​Populations of indigenous people in southern Africa carry a gene that causes lighter skin, and scientists have now identified the rapid evolution of this gene in recent human history.

The gene that causes lighter skin pigmentation, SLC24A5, was introduced from eastern African to southern African populations just 2,000 years ago. Strong positive selection caused this gene to rise in frequency among some KhoeSan populations.

Researchers from Stellenbosch University's Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics collaborated with anthropologist, Brenna Henn from the University of California-Davis and colleagues on the project. They have shown that a gene for lighter skin spread rapidly among people in southern Africa in the last 2,000 years.

This is a "rare example of intense, ongoing adaptation in recent human history and is the first known example of adaptive gene flow at a pigmentation locus in humans," according to the paper that was recently published online in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

In previous work, the researchers looked at pigmentation variation in two KhoeSan populations from South Africa by performing a genome-wide association analysis in about 450 individuals. They followed up on the top associated gene, SLC24A5, by simulating population histories with and without positive selection. The DNA and pigmentation sampling took place in the Northern Cape of South Africa in the southern Kalahari Desert and Richtersveld regions. Profs Eileen Hoal-Van Helden and Marlo Möller, and Dr Cedric Werely from SU's Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS) were involved with sample and data collection among the KhoeSan population. This data also informs their work on susceptibility to tuberculosis.

Gene plays a role in lighter skin pigmentation

Individuals who carry two copies of the lighter pigmentation gene are 14 percent lighter-skinned than the population average, the researchers said. The gene SLC24A5 plays a key role in the genetic basis of light skin pigmentation.

While light skin is often associated with European ancestry, even in South Africa, the present-day Khoekhoe and San did not experience enough recent migration to account for the frequency of the gene. Rather, strong positive selection during the past 2,000 years was the only way to explain the current distribution. The gene, which is also present in people from the Near East and eastern Africa, was probably initially brought into the region by only a small number of individuals.

The actual source of the positive selection is not clear. The researchers theorise that a shift from consuming vitamin D-rich marine animals to consuming pasture animals, or a reduction in exposure to ultraviolent rays, might have changed skin pigmentation over time.

"While the biological cause of the selective event merits further investigation, we have demonstrated an unusual rapid case of selection for lighter skin pigmentation based on a recently introduced allele less that 2,000 years ago, the first case of pigmentation adaptation from migration in humans," the paper concludes.

Caption: Dr Cedric Werely and Profs Eileen Hoal-Van Helden and Marlo Möller from the FMHS Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics. 

Photo: Wilma Stassen

​

The Siyakhula staff programme is being relaunched and expanded as part of the Employment Equity and Diversity Capacity Building Programme.

Since 2016 more than 600 staff members at all post levels from different divisions and disciplines joined discussion sessions as part of this transformation competency series. The model of the Siyakhula staff programme has always been well received because it recognises the complexity of challenges faced by Stellenbosch University staff in a rapidly changing context. The programme capacitates staff with diversity knowledge by learning from one another, exploring attitudes and sharing skills to improve the quality of communication and relations.

Building on the success of previous years, the relaunched programme will continue as a partnership between Human Resources, the Transformation Office, the Equality Unit and the Disability Unit. Monica du Toit will still coordinate the programme in her new role as part of Human Resources and specifically the Employment Equity and Diversity Capacity Development Programme. The 2019 programme offers 18 different discussion themes that will address practical challenges such as diversity management, sexual harassment, racism and employment equity and improve empathy, mediation and facilitation skills, with an added theme to activate the creative side of staff to design inclusive and accessible spaces for all.

Over the years, many divisions have chosen this programme as a measurable way to implement transformation goals, but it has also become an opportunity for leaders to listen to staff experiences and to help ensure that inclusion efforts translate into authentic practices and behaviours. From 2019 onwards, groups will be able to book the themes of their choice via this link: https://goo.gl/JheT2s; alternatively, you can contact Monica du Toit (mdt2@sun.ac.za) regarding specific needs or arrangements. The available programme options and content are outlined in the attached documents with the option of applying to participate in a central three-day programme or to book specific sessions for teams. The programme is offered at no cost to Stellenbosch University staff.

​LEARNING & TEACHING ENHANCEMENT SEMINAR, 13 MARCH 2019
held in Room 3008, Education Building, from 12h45 – 13h45

Ms Mariëtte Volschenk, a lecturer at the Stellenbosch University Centre for Health Professions Education in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, was the presenter at the Learning and Teaching Enhancement Seminar on the 13^th of March 2019. Her areas of expertise include learning technologies, postgraduate teaching and supervision, and programme renewal. She has a special interest in the impact of electronic portfolios on student learning. The topic of her presentation was “Examining e-Portfolios for post-graduate learning: A message from Medicine and Health Science". The main focus of the presentation was on exploring how various facets of e-Portfolio learning impact on learning and identity trajectories of post-graduate students in a selected context.

Ms Volschenk commenced her talk by providing some background and context to the research project. She then introduced the audience to socio-cultural learning theory as theoretical perspective employed in the project. She also explained the programme design and demonstrated how students were supported in developing a teaching philosophy statement as an important part of the e-portfolio, before turning to the challenges, pitfalls and student experiences of the e-portfolio intervention. Showcasing the Mahara e-Portfolio platform on SUNLearn was another interesting part of her presentation.

During the ensuing question-and-answer-session, the following issues were addressed: the time that it took for students to feel comfortable with technology; the size of the group that provided support to students (e-designers, mentors, etc.); and the challenge of getting students to move towards critical reflection.
The presenter's take-home-message was that e-portfolios have the potential to increase learners' self-awareness, foster self-directed learning, promote critical reflection and advance personal and professional development.

For more information about, feel free to contact the presenter, at mvolschenk@sun.ac.za

The next Learning and Teaching Enhancement Seminar will take place on 09 May 2019.

When she was awarded the prestigious PhD Global Minds Scholarship through Leuven University, Lynn Hendricks had not prepared herself for temperatures of minus-six degrees and for the lonely, overwhelmed feeling of being in a new country. 

But, said Hendricks, a research psychologist and recent graduate of the MSc Clinical Epidemiology programme at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, it has all been worth it. “In these four short weeks I have already learnt more about arts-based research than I ever did reading books and papers over the past few years," she said. 

Hendricks, who is currently employed at the Centre for Evidence Based Health Care (CEBHC), as a teaching facilitator, was over the moon when she heard recently that she had been awarded the fully-funded four-year scholarship through Leuven which is situated just outside Brussels in Belgium.

She will spend between four and five months at Leuven University every year and will be at the CEBHC the rest of the time. 

Her award – valued at about R2 million over four years – was an outstanding achievement because competition for the grant is stiff with only one person per country region being selected each year. 

As a contribution to development, Leuven, Belgium's largest university, selects exceptional students from developing countries as scholarship candidates to obtain their PhD there, with a view to the PhD holders using the expertise gained when they are home. The scholarships are offered to excellent proposals that deal with a development-relevant research topic, preferably linked to the Sustainable Development Goals. 

Hendricks' work as a teaching facilitator involves developing new research methods modules and working on research projects. Her scholarship work involves a transdisciplinary joint PhD between Leuven and Stellenbosch universities. “I am exploring, through participatory research, the experiences of perinatally infected HIV positive South African youth and what they perceive as an enabling environment for adherence and their ability to thrive. Additionally, I'm interrogating the use of arts-based research as a methodology and research-film as a dissemination outcome throughout my project." 

Hendricks said she feels “really blessed" to be a recipient of the scholarship. “When I heard I'd got it, I was ecstatic! I get to spend every working moment on research I'm passionate about, with people I look up to and in a subject area I love." 

Highlights of the experience so far include her “great" PhD supervision team (Prof K. Hannes-Leuven; Prof T Young-Stellenbosch and Prof C. Mathei-Leuven) between the two universities and attending the 3rd European Congress of Qualitative Enquiry in Scotland. “I made connections with other researchers in Belgium, Australia and the United Kingdom. I even got an invitation to present on qualitative systematic reviews in Poland in April this year." 

Even though it's been an adjustment, Hendricks is adapting fast: “I've met great people, my research group has been supportive and my family is a video call away. 

“I'll return to Stellenbosch University a new person, revived, recharged and ready to teach! It's awesome being a Global Minds Scholar!"

​

When contemplating on social justice in March with Human Right's Day being celebrated on 21 March, one cannot help but to think of the words of former South African president, the late Nelson Mandela who once said that education is not only a means to economic development, but also a means to social justice, human rights and democracy. In contributing to social justice, Stellenbosch University (SU) is standing solid behind its students by helping them to make their dreams come true despite some financial, social and academic difficulties.  

Since 2010, SU has already spent a total of more than R800 million from its annual institutional budget to help fund undergraduate students. Over the past nine years, the University has spent an average of 28,34% of its main budget per year on undergraduate bursaries and loans.

SU has set clear processes in place to help more students from especially previously disadvantaged backgrounds to access and get funding for their higher education dreams.

Prof Wim de Villiers, Rector and Vice-Chancellor, ensured staff at a recent staff assembly at Stellenbosch that the University is committed to help students not just academically by also financially. “It is our policy and utmost desire not to exclude any student on financial grounds, if there is academic merit for the student," he said.

Over the years, SU has been committed to giving financial support to the BCIA (Black, Coloured, Indian and Asian) student population at the University.  

“The University strives to increase the diversity of its student population. Providing sufficient financial assistance to students ensures that they can focus on their studies and complete their degrees successfully. As graduates, they will make a contribution to the economy and a difference to our country as a whole," says Arrie Hanekom, Head: Bursaries and Loans (Undergraduate) at SU.

According to Hanekom, the introduction of the Ikusasa Student Financial Aid Programme (ISFAP) has helped many families in the so-called “missing middle. “Previously, families with a gross income up to R600 000 per year could not afford the high costs of student fees and would not have been able to send their children to a university if they did not received financial assistance in the form of bursaries or loans."

Throughout the years, SU has also been able to assist students waiting on their National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) allowances by helping them get the necessary study materials and food during their studies.

“It's important to recognise that the University makes a lot of its own funds available for bursaries apart from the other private funders in the system. In many cases our university is in a fortunate position where we can assist students who are still waiting for their NSFAS allowance funds to be paid out," says Ronel Retief, Registrar (Academic Administration).

For an outline of undergraduate bursaries and loans at SU from 2010 to 2018 click here​.

For more information on SU's bursaries and loans available, please visit www.sun.ac.za.​

​​​​An interactive discussion which forms part of a series focused on what South Africans want will be hosted at Stellenbosch University (SU) on Tuesday, 19 March for members of the public, non-governmental and community organisations. 

The series is organised by the Community Chest of the Western Cape, the District Six Museum and the One City, Many Cultures Project. The Stellenbosch discussion follows the one held at the District Six Homecoming Centre in February, where it was decided to broaden the discussion to towns around the Western Cape. This is the third discussion of the “South Africa We Want" series following the one held in Paarl on 14 March.

The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at SU will host the event thanks to the ties that Ms Ncebakazi Mnukwana, a lecturer in the Music Department, has built up as a Board member of One City, Many Cultures and the writing project she participates in at the District Six Museum. The event forms part of the SU100 celebrations within the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.

The discussion, facilitated by media expert Ryland Fisher, will reverse the traditional trend of panel discussions and will be held in the Jannasch Lecture Hall at the Konservatorium in Stellenbosch. The discussion will start with inputs from the floor and invited respondents in the audience will be allowed to comment at the end. This is to ensure that more people are able to participate in the discussion within the limited time allocated.

“We started with a discussion on the role of NGOs in an election year and followed this up with a discussion on the South Africa we all want to live in. It became clear that we needed to take this discussion outside of the Cape Town metropolitan area," said Community Chest CEO Lorenzo Davids.

Bonita Bennet, Director of the District Six Museum, added: “We want to know from ordinary people what are the issues we want government to deal with. How do we interact with government in a way that will help them achieve a more equitable society? How do we fix the many things that are wrong in our country so that we can all look forward to a better and more positive future? What do we want the country we live in to look like? 

“We will bring together a group of people who are interested in taking forward the vision of a more equitable society irrespective of political affiliation. Our aim is not to point fingers at anyone but to help in the search for solutions."

Fisher said that after all the dialogues – the final one will be in June, after the elections – the organisers intend to draw up a report that will be circulated to senior politicians and municipalities throughout South Africa to give them an idea of the views of ordinary South Africans.

The event starts at 5:30pm for 6:00pm and will run till 8:00pm. Lights snacks will be served before and after the discussion. For catering purposes, RSVP to reception@districtsix.co.za. 

For more information, contact Ryland Fisher (rylandfisher@mweb.co.zaor 082 800 5326), Bonita Bennett (bonita@districtsix.co.zaor 021 466 7200) or Lorenzo Davids (ldavids@comchest.org.zaor 021 487 1500)

​Woordtrofee Award nominations for 2019

The nominations for this year's SU Woordfees Woordtrofee Awards [Word Trophies] have been announced. The winners will each receive a trophy at an awards ceremony on the 4th of April.

The nominees (in alphabetical order) are:

Best Upcoming Artist(s)

Carpets

In Slavenhuis 39​

Raak

Visuele Arts: Best Exhibition

Elbé Coetsee (Lap se onthou)

Jean Theron Louw (My Afrika-wildehonde)

Theresa Jo Wessels [Die obsessie – Die emmer]

Classical Music: Vocal

Cecilia Rangwanasha (Verdi's Requiem)

Libertaskoor (Verdi's Requiem)

Lund Universiteitskoor (Hemispheres – Choral Music from South Africa and Sweden)

Stellenbosch University Choir

Classical Music: Instrumental

David Salleras (saxophone) & Christopher Duigan (piano) [Indigo]

Erik Dippenaar & Camerata Tinta Barocca (Glorious Baroque)

László Kuti (clarinet), Peter Martens (cello), François du Toit (piano) [Contrasts]

Olga Kern (Prestige-klavieruitvoering)

Best Technical Achievement

GodgOdgoD (production design: Wolf Britz & Ilana Cilliers)
SAMSON (music and musical direction: Shane Cooper)

SAMSON (video animation: Kirsti Cummings)

Sky en Czech (production design: Marí Borstlap)

Literary Recital (“Woordkuns")

Susanne Beyers (Dr. Hans Spatel en die boeksuster)
Juanita Swanepoel (Direction: 'n Oulap se rooi and Dr. Hans Spatel en die boeksuster)

Woutrine Theron ('n Oulap se rooi)

Best Supporting Actress in a Play

Martelize Kolver (Katvoet)

Greta Pietersen (Kleedkamer-blues)     

Esther von Waltsleben (Toutjies & Ferreira)

Best Actor in a Play

Wessel Pretorius (Kleedkamer-blues)

Richard September (Swerfgoed)            

Jodecee Solomons (Die gangsters)

Beste Ensemble in a Play

Babbelagtig

Die road trip

Kleedkamer-blues

Best Actress in a Play

Joanie Combrink (Toutjies & Ferreira)

Cintaine Schutte (Tien duisend ton)

Tinarie Van Wyk Loots (Katvoet)

Best Actor in a Play

Andrew Buckland (Endgame)

Jefferson J Dirks-Korkee (Rooilug)

Ben Pienaar [DEURnis (Net)]

Beste Director of a Play

Marthinus Basson (Die gangsters)

Wolf Britz & Nicole Holm (Toutjies & Ferreira)

Nico Scheepers (Katvoet)

Sylvaine Strike (Endgame)

Beste Woordfees Debut Play

Die road trip
Katvoet
Tien duisend ton

Best Play

Die gangsters

Katvoet

Rooilug

Toutjies & Ferreira

Contemporary Music: Best Solo Artist

Jo Black (Bring die hoop weer terug)

Joshua na die Reën (Someraarde)
Grethe van der Merwe (Inversie)

Contemporary Music: Best Group

Amazink Live: Season 6

Soweto String Quartet ontmoet Loki Rothman

Spoegwolf

Contemporary Music: Best Music Theatre

Katrina: Die dansende taal

Samson

Uit die bloute

The Woordtrofee Awards Ceremony will be held on the 4th of April in the Oude Libertas Theatre in Stellenbosch. The bestselling books on the writers's programme will also receive Woordtrofee Awards, and a number of special prizes will be awarded. For more information please contact Danie Marais at danie_marais@sun.ac.za or 083 325 3433.

​This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the full article here.

Tuberculosis is not just a human disease. Cattle also contract a similar type of bacteria, called bovine tuberculosis. Evidence suggests that it can be transmitted from cattle to humans as well as wildlife and vice versa.

Bovine tuberculosis has been well studied in cattle. This is particularly true in Europe where the disease was very prevalent during the 19th and 20th centuries. It's estimated that the agricultural sector, globally, has a total loss of more than US$3 billion annually due to bovine tuberculosis. In the UK more than 39 000 cattle were slaughtered after testing positive for the disease in 2016.

The disease made its way into Africa during the 18th and 19th centuries through the importation of cattle from the UK, Europe and Australia. Now wildlife, like lions and wild dogs which prey on potentially infected animals, such as buffalo and warthogs, have also become infected.

But only a few studies have investigated the effect its had on Africa's wildlife populations. This is starting to change, as the disease's impact on vulnerable and endangered species like lion, rhino and elephants with human TB are coming under the spotlight.

Lions potentially become infected through eating infected animals and rhino may become infected through environmental spillover, when sharing their grazing with infected animals such as buffalo.

There's also a new focus on the disease and warthogs, animals that are believed to be potential hosts of bovine TB. I set out to study the role these tusked mammals play when it comes to disease prevalence and to find out their susceptibility to bovine TB.

I found that warthogs have a high disease prevalence in bovine TB endemic regions and that they are susceptible to the disease in the wild. This is important information that will help us to develop effective disease management strategies to reduce and control the spread of bovine TB in South Africa.

Why warthogs?

Putting a number to the warthog population size in South Africa is difficult, but the estimate in 2016 was 22 250. This number means that they aren't in any way threatened. It also means, they're an important species when it comes to studying infectious diseases such as bovine TB.

Warthogs are also useful in studying the dynamics of this disease as they're free-roaming. This means that they aren't kept in by barriers, like fences, and can move freely between parks, reserves and farm land. This potentially increases their chances of contact with livestock and humans.

To begin my research I first had to be able to accurately determine which individuals were infected and which ones weren't. I did this by evaluating tests that were developed for other species and then optimised and modified them to develop new diagnostic tests for warthogs. An example was the Quantiferon assay used in humans that we modified to be used in warthogs.

One of my newly developed tests was used to investigate the disease prevalence from historically banked warthog samples. This allowed me to study the extent of the disease in warthog populations. Thus allowing the description of some key risk factors of the disease in warthogs.

The high prevalence of the disease, in some cases higher than 60%, suggests that warthogs are either prone to infection through contact with other infected species, or that they are spreading the disease within their own populations.

My research suggests that the answer is probably something in between the two scenarios. This is because warthogs are frequently seen scavenging on carcasses of other animals, such as buffalo, which are a potential source of infection. In addition, their burrowing behaviour allows for close contact between individuals in a confined spaces which increases the risk of transmission. I have, however, not been able to show yet that warthogs secrete (spread) the disease in to their ecosystem.

I also found that adult warthogs were at a higher risk of having the disease, than either sub-adults or juveniles. There are two possibilities for this:

1) adults have been exposed for a longer period of time; or,

2) younger individuals may die before being tested.

Both these scenarios could increase the risk of spreading the disease to other species indirectly. On the one hand there's a greater chance of an animal spreading the disease if they have it for a long time. On the other if they succumb to the infection as juveniles, scavengers may become infected who ingest the infected carcass.

Understanding and implications

A deeper dive into the information we'd gathered showed us that warthogs can be used as disease sentinels. Sentinel species are used to monitor the spread of a disease, and its presence or absence. Using sentinels is useful because it means that we don't need to resort to testing valuable or endangered animals which can be risky.

Warthogs are a perfect sentinel species for a number of reasons. There are lots of them, they're highly susceptible, they survive the disease and with the help of my new test, have easily detectable signs of infection.

This means that warthogs are an important species in managing the disease.

The next steps will be to determine whether warthogs transmit the disease to other species or does transmission stop at an individual level.

Photo: Pixabay

Thanks to two successful National Equipment Programme (NEP) applications, Stellenbosch University's (SU) Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS) will be acquiring two state-of-the-art laboratory instruments which have, until now, not been available on the African continent.

The applications, one led by Profs Samantha Sampson (Biomedical Sciences) and Carine Smith (Physiological Sciences), and the other by Profs Gerhard Walzl (Biomedical Sciences) and Lydia-Marie Joubert (Microbiology), were for an imaging flow cytometer and a serial blockface field emission scanning electron microscope (SBF-SEM). The instruments are valued at R12,6 million and R15 million respectively.

“These instruments promise to open up many new opportunities and research avenues in the imaging arena," says Sampson, who holds the SARChI Chair in Mycobactomics.

Although both instruments will be housed at the FMHS, it is intended for broad access and researchers from other fields and faculties in the university, and from other institutions, will have access to the facilities. The instruments will be managed by SU's Central Analytical Facilities (CAF).

“Currently there are no such instruments in Africa, and with this acquisition we are going to be right on the cutting edge of this type of research. It will have a range of applications and will support multidisciplinary research on a scale that was not possible before," says Sampson.

The imaging flow cytometer is equipped with a high-resolution microscope and camera. This enables the association of a high-definition image of every cell that passes through the flow cytometer for detection by laser-based optics. It combines the speed, sensitivity, and phenotyping abilities of flow cytometry with the detailed imaging and functional insights of microscopy in a single instrument.

“This instrument will have significant societal and economic impacts in the areas of healthcare, environment and biotechnology," explains Sampson.

“In the medical sciences, the imaging flow cytometer will support research on both infectious (TB, HIV, etc.) and non-communicable diseases (e.g. diabetes), with the ultimate goal of informing novel interventions and contributing to improved public health, wellbeing and quality of life."

According to her environmental microbiology research will also be supported by this instrument. “This will advance areas of research such as animal TB and wastewater management, which have both human health and economic implications." 

The ultrahigh resolution field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), with advanced system for automated 3D microscopy by in situ ultramicrotomy, allows automated and uninterrupted nanoscale slicing and imaging of biological and soft materials, with integrated 3D reconstruction of cell volumes.

“The instrument will bring us to the global forefront of innovation in high resolution imaging and 3D ultrastructural analysis and will lead to major scientific and technological progress," says Joubert, an associate professor in microbiology and the Electron Microscopy Unit Manager at CAF.

Joubert explains: “The international exposure and collaboration enabled with the acquisition of this instrument – especially as a tool in medicine and health sciences – will create further opportunities to be competitive and solve the country's health and social challenges."

In the medical sciences, this technology will benefit all cellular and microbiological research, including research in neuroscience, cardiothoracic, pulmonology, ophthalmology and cancer. Non-medical disciplines, such as physiology, food sciences and technology, polymer science, biotechnology and botany, will also benefit by applying this technology in research. 

Caption: Profs Lydia-Marie Joubert, Samantha Sampson and Carine Smith.

Photo: Wilma Stassen

​​Every year, Stellenbosch University commemorates Human Rights Day on 21 March with the rest of the country as part of the institution's commitment to the South African Bill of Rights and consequently the right to human dignity, equality and freedom for staff and students.

Latching on to SU's specific values of respect, equity and compassion, SU strives to ensure that staff and students' rights to access higher education and be included in the total transformative experience – which is not just academically orientated but also co-curricular – are respected.

In line with Human Rights Day on 21 March, the focus this month at SU is on social justice. That is according to the 'Framework for stakeholder engagement at SU in 2019', approved by the Rectorate on 5 February (click on the hyperlinked title above to download).

“The theme of social justice resonates well with SU's overall guiding document, Vision 2040 and Strategic Framework 2019–2024, which was approved by Council in June last year and is being implemented from the start of this year," SU Rector and Vice-Chancellor Prof Wim de Villiers said.

“In terms of our Vision 2040, one of the formal aspirations of the University is to become a transformed and integrated academic community that celebrates critical thinking, promotes debate and is committed to democracy, human rights and social justice."

“One of the six new core strategic themes being implemented institution-wide is to build a thriving Stellenbosch University. Our Strategic Framework lists eight institutional goals for this theme, of which the first is to cultivate a University characterised by inclusivity, deep and intentional transformation, and diversity."

“One of the University's five new values is equity, which in our Vision 2040 is defined as restitution in response to our past legacy and fairness in our aspirations for the future."

When asked to share their views on human rights, students and staff members had the following to say:

• Prof Sandra Liebenberg, HF Oppenheimer Chair in Human Rights Law and Vice-President, United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights: “Poverty and inequality are the two major challenges facing the human rights movement both in South Africa and globally. The growing gulf between rich and poor undermines not only civil and political rights, but also economic, social and cultural rights. We need to find urgent policy responses that address these interrelated challenges using the human rights principles of participation, accountability, non-discrimination, transparency and respect for human dignity."

• Prof Hester C Klopper, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Strategy and Internationalisation, Stellenbosch University: “We are celebrating Human Rights Day while the world is still reeling in shock following the brutal and deliberate killing of Muslims in Christchurch, New Zealand. And in a very ironic and surreal manner, this incident invariably brings back the gruesome images of Sharpeville and the atrocities of a wretched time in the history of our country. But even more paradoxical, is that in our quest for social and restorative justice we've experienced Boipatong, Marikana, the Life Esidimeni disaster and the ongoing killings at Glebelands, each representing grotesque violations of human rights. The common thread running through all these incidents is human life ravaged and destroyed on the altar of political and economic expediency. On this Human Rights Day, let us ponder and reassess our commitment to a just society characterised and guided by the sacredness of life, the value we attach to our common humanity and the limitless potential of the human spirit to do good. Our people and our country deserve nothing less."
  
  
• Dr Chris Jones, Unit for Moral Leadership:  “As we look back over the last 25 years, we should celebrate the promotion and protection of human rights, honour those who fought for our liberation and commemorate the rights and the constitution we enjoy today."
  
  
• Prof Nico Koopman, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Social Impact, Transformation and Personnel: “When we commemorate and celebrate Human Rights Day, we remember our vision of a society where rights are implemented in service of dignity, healing, justice, freedom and equality."
  
  
• Prof Juliana Claassens, Chair of the Department of Old and New Testament and Head of the Gender Unit: “As more women and men are standing up, taking a stand, we may be reminded not only once a year, but once a week, that we will not have succeeded in cultivating a human rights culture until we have come to accept that human rights also constitute gender rights."
   
• Mr Bongani Mgijima, Director: SU Museum: “Human Rights Day always reminds me of the selfless sacrifices made by the men and women who came before us. Our freedom came at a huge cost and we must endeavour to use all the means at our disposal to create a non- racial, non-sexist society."
  
  
• Mr Leighton September, Secretary-General:  Students' Representative Council: “My definition of human rights is the right of every person to be treated equally to everyone else, and to be respected for who and what they are. Social justice according to my understanding cannot exist without its counterpart, social injustice, meaning that we have to address the injustices of the past and those in our current situation if we want to move forward to live in a truly equal society one day."​
  

Vanessa Reyneke, a Project Coordinator in the General Linguistics Department at Stellenbosch University, and her husband, Johan, have embarked on the ambitious goal of raising R300 000 to help their two-year old Deaf daughter obtain two cochlear implants simultaneously. 

A cochlear implant is “a small electronic device that partially restores the hearing function of a damaged inner ear". While hearing aids amplifies a sound, cochlear implants fulfill the role of the inner ear to deliver sound signals to the auditory (hearing) nerve of the brain. An implant does not restore normal hearing, instead it can give a Deaf person a useful representation of sounds in their environment and help him or her to understand speech.

Medical aid schemes only pay for one cochlear implant per individual per year and operations last between four to six hours. In a bid to save their young daughter from undergoing the trauma of major surgery two years in a row, the family has decided to take the bold step and have both cochlear implants inserted during one operation. Also driving the urgency is the fact that Karli's hearing is deteriorating by the day. 

With her operation scheduled for May, the family now only have six weeks left to raise R300 000 to cover the implanting of the second device as well as the hospitalisation costs. 

Vanessa explains that the family first noticed that all was not well with the little girl's hearing when she was just short of 4 weeks.

“We started noticing with growing concern that Karli did not react to the loud barking of the dogs or any loud noises," says Vanessa who is also Deaf.

Aware of what this might mean, the Reyneke's took the nearly one month old Karli for tests. It confirmed what they had suspected - Karli had bilateral moderate-severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss, a complicated term for profoundly deaf.

At two months Karli was fitted with tiny, pink hearing aids. “From the very start we were committed to communicating in both South African Sign Language and in spoken word. She would react when you called her name and was able to tell us that she could hear sounds like the doorbell ringing or a knock on the door."

And then, three months before Karli's second birthday, the Carel du Toit Centre received a donation of brand new top-end technology from the Hear the World Foundation. Not only was it the newest, it was also the best and the first choice of hearing aids for children across the world. And Karli was one of the select few to receive this gift.

“The hearing aids allowed Karli to hear both high and low frequencies better and made it possible for Karli to expand her vocabulary in spoken language, along with her sign language. We were extremely excited about what this would mean for her."

However, a few weeks down the line, Karli experienced a build-up of wax in her ears and developed a high fever. She was diagnosed with severe middle ear infection and the doctor advised that the best way to treat it was to put emergency grommets in, to help with draining the fluid build-up in the middle ear. 

“A lot of fluid was still coming out of her ear long after the grommets had been inserted. Once her ear healed, we put her hearing aids on again, that's when we realised she couldn't hear us when we spoke to her, even when she was near us. We weren't sure whether the middle ear infection had worsened Karli's hearing loss." 

“After the middle ear infection, we took Karli for another test and it was confirmed that she had lost the ability to hear as she did, before she fell ill. We were devastated because the hearing aids received as a gift was no longer effective for her. It became clear that we had to seriously consider the procedure for cochlear implants."

All the members of Vanessa's family are Deaf, and so they have a strong Deaf culture in their home. They are proud that Karli is already proficient in South African Sign Language. 

“It remains a difficult decision to subject Karli, who is still so young, to such a big operation, but we know that a cochlear implant may help her to hear other sounds in her environment and enable her to hear spoken languages, which we believe will give her more opportunities in life."

“Like every parent out there we want to give our daughter a good quality of life. We would like for her to have the chance to attend a mainstream school, where she will interact with hearing and Deaf persons so she can function in both worlds."

In January, the family launched the # Hear Karli Hear # fundraising campaign on the ADDaBIT fundraising platform. Since then, they have raised R34 450. However, this still leaves the family short of R264 550. 

The R300 000 will only cover the initial major costs. Once the device has been fitted, Karli will need to attend sessions to train the brain to understand the sounds heard through the cochlear implant. She will have to go for weekly speech therapy sessions and audiological evaluations. On top of that, there is also the cost of maintenance of the devices such as replacing batteries, filters, or the implant processor cable if it becomes damaged. 

“Research conducted by audiologists suggest that Deaf children from birth to 11 can wait to have a cochlear implant, but there is also a lot of research that shows that the earlier a child obtains a cochlear implant , the earlier they can be exposed to and develop spoken language."

If you are able to contribute towards the costs of helping Karli obtain cochlear implants simultaneously in both ears, you can visit https://addabit.com/fund/hearkarlihear to make a donation.

Photo: Vanesssa Reyneke (far right) with her daughter Karli and her husband, Johan. The family is trying to raise R300 000 to help their two-year old Deaf daughter obtain two cochlear implants simultaneously and prevent her hearing from deteriorating any further. (Supplied by the Reyneke family)

Most people visit their local animal welfare association only when they want to adopt a new kitten or puppy. Not Dr Luther van der Mescht. He goes to visit in search of fleas. To be precise, cat fleas. He is working on a comprehensive study of the different species found on South African dogs and cats.

Worldwide, cat fleas (Ctenocephalides felis felis) are the most commonly found fleas plaguing pets. Despite their name, these little insects also occur on dogs. Animals covered with these fleas often suffer from tapeworms over time, and can become quite emaciated in the process.

Dr van der Mescht hopes to be able to determine which species are all found in South Africa. He will be using microscope and genetic techniques to study the fleas that he collects. Such information can ultimately be valuable when trying to ensure that the right types of flea repellents are used in different regions.

"It is very difficult to identify with the naked eye species which fleas are all members of the Ctenocephalides felis-complex, and therefore we do not really know which species of cat fleas are found on South African dogs or cats," explains Dr van der Mescht. "The previous thorough survey on the topic was done in the 1970s."

His research project is funded by the Claude Leon Foundation.

Dr Van der Mescht works closely with parasitologist Prof Sonja Matthee of the SU Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, who concentrates on parasites such as fleas and ticks, and evolutionary biologist Prof Conrad Matthee from the SU Department of Plant and Zoology.

According to Dr van der Mescht, 20 animal welfare organizations and private veterinarians across the country are already involved in his studies. They are helping him to collect enough fleas from a diversity of regions so that he can identify and genetically study them.

Members of the public who are interested in helping his research can send flea samples collected from their cats and dogs to Dr van der Mescht until the end of April. This is when the typical summer flea season ends. It is best to store dead insects in a small container of ethanol.

For inquiries about how to do so, contact Dr van der Mescht at luthervdm@sun.ac.za.

​
Background: Dr Luther van der Mescht
• He obtained his doctorate in conservation ecology in 2015 at Stellenbosch University after researching the factors that determine the variety and distribution patterns of fleas on mice across South Africa.
• From September 2016 to September 2018, he did postdoctoral research at the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel. He worked under one of the world's leading flea scientists, Professor Boris Krasnov.
• Currently, he is a postdoctoral fellow at Stellenbosch University, and focuses on expanding and updating information on the diversity, evolution and habitats of different South African fleas.
• He matriculated in 2004 at Punt High School in Mossel Bay.

​