Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS) staff members and students planted trees on the Tygerberg Campus to celebrate Arbour week, marked from 1 to 7 September. This annual event is held in collaboration with the faculty's Trees for Green Travellers project.
One of the FMHS's strategic goals is to promote environmental sustainability and the Faculty's Green Committee assists in focusing on these matters.
The Trees for Green Travellers project encourages staff to pay a small levy of R100 when travelling by air. "The contributions are used to plant trees and support small scale projects to enhance sustainability on campus," said Prof Bob Mash, the Chairperson of the Green Committee.
"There are more than 600 trees on the Tygerberg Campus, of which 160 were planted through this initiative," Mash said. "Trees are planted for two reasons, to increase biodiversity and to pay for our carbon 'sins' – the offset of our carbon emissions," he said.
Over the years, it has become customary to plant memorial trees for colleagues and students who have passed away during the previous 12 months. Prof Marietjie de Villiers, Deputy Dean: Education, delivered a short message and eulogy for each of the following staff members and students.
Ms Nolubabalo Ncapo
Ms Nolubabalo Ncapo, a fourth-year medical student, passed away after a motor vehicle accident in East London in December last year. She was known as a joyful and successful student who was loved by students and staff alike. She is remembered for her exuberance, her strong leadership qualities and the enthusiasm with which she embraced life.
Prof Stephen Hough
Prof Stephen Hough passed away in December 2015 after a short battle with lung cancer.
His special fields of interest were endocrinology and osteoporosis. He developed a metabolic unit at the FMHS which became one of the top training and referral centres in South Africa. In 1992 he founded the National Osteoporosis Foundation of SA, of which he was president ever since.
After his retirement in 2012, he opened a private practice but still committed one full day per week to the Faculty where he stayed involved with teaching and mentoring PhD candidates.
He was a national and international icon in his field, but was never pretentious nor ever acted superior to even his most junior colleagues. Prof Hough was always warm to all and sundry and was not bothered by ego.
Mrs Delene Swart
Mrs Delene Swart passed away in January this year. During her career of 20 years at the Division of Ophthalmology at the FMHS, she first worked as academic secretary and later as senior secretary. She is remembered for her work ethics, accurate execution of her duties and high level numerical and computer skills.
Prof Budgie van der Merwe
Prof Budgie van der Merwe was a much beloved colleague who worked at the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health as well as the Centre for Health Professions Education. He joined the FMHS in 1975 and spent his professional life caring for children with heart disease, as well as training future doctors for South Africa.
Prof Budgie was actively involved in the teaching of undergraduate medical students until his death. He was involved in the development of both under- and postgraduate curricula nationally and institutionally for medical students and future paediatricians respectively.
His expertise was excellent and he published several scientific papers.
Prof Budgie is remembered for his enthusiasm, his optimistic personality and his commitment to medical education. He was a pillar of strength to his colleagues who always shared his wisdom and had a steadfast belief in the potential of the students.
Ms Hilory Munhuweyi
Ms Hilory Munhuweyi was a brilliant young lady who died tragically in an accident in August 2015. She hailed from Hatfield, Harare in Zimbabwe and came to South Africa on a Presidential scholarship, to pursue a BTech in Biomedical Technology at CPUT.
She went on to do her honours degree in Medical Virology at Stellenbosch University and was in the first year of her Master's degree in the same field at the time of her passing. She was an excellent student who passed every level with a distinction and Africa has lost a promising young scientist.
