Page 14 - VC 5 Year Review Report 2022

Urbanisation is largely unplanned and fuels the growth 8. Access to quality healthcare
of informal or slum settlements. In South Africa, 63%
of the population are living in urban areas and this Nationally and internationally, being better prepared
is projected to rise to 71% by 2030. By 2050, eight for the next pandemic is a high priority that calls for
in 10 people will be living in urban areas which will investments in upgrading public health infrastructure
place additional pressure on constrained resources and modernising health care systems, including
and make it more difficult to deliver on the goal of the telemedicine and virtual health. While South Africa
Integrated Urban Development Framework (IUDF) to is making progress in addressing Sustainable
foster a shared understanding across government Development Goal 3 relating to good health and
and society about how best to manage urbanisation well-being, key challenges include poor access to and
to achieve economic development, job creation and poor quality of universal health care in areas such as
improved living conditions. mental health care and services for the disabled. The
retention of skilled, senior health professionals in the
Rapid urbanisation is a key challenge to in achieving public sector is another issue, with many leaving the
the intention of the Paris agreement to hold the country. To counter this, the Occupational Specific
increase in the global average temperature to 1.5°C Dispensation (OSD) for health professionals has
compared to pre-industrial levels. Cities account been introduced in the South African public sector.
for 60 to 80 percent of energy consumption and
generate as much as 70 percent of the human- Against this backdrop, principles such as equity,
induced greenhouse gas emissions. Urgent action community participation, social and economic
is required to transform urban systems well before development form the basis of South Africa’s health
2030 to withstand climatic extremes. policy and service delivery. This informs interventions
focused on the determinants of poor health, health
7. Climate action and sustainability promotion, prevention, cure and rehabilitation, an
integrated referral system to facilitate a continuum of
The Global Risks Report 2022 ranks climate action care, teams of health professionals with specific and
failure as the risk with potentially the most severe sophisticated biomedical and social skills, adequate
impacts over the next decade. Climate change is resources, and a client-centred approach.
already manifesting rapidly in the form of natural
disasters, abnormal weather patterns, resource Within the context of complex global megatrends, it
scarcity, and species loss. The threat of climate is crucial that Mandela University proactively designs
change is already destroying lives, livelihoods, forward-looking strategies to enhance its strategic
and ecosystems, especially in poorer regions that positioning within the post-school education
contribute the least to global warming. and training landscape nationally, on the African
continent, and globally. This should be informed
Climate change projections for the SADC region show by a comprehensive analysis of the implications of
that the greatest impact will be on water availability, the legislative mandate of public universities in the
which could severely affect food production and South African context.
energy generation. Annual rainfall is expected
to decrease by 20% by 2080 in southern Africa, 9. Legislative mandate
worsening water and food insecurity. South Africa
is among the pioneers in adopting green economy The United Nations Sustainable Development
strategies to fulfil the commitments contained in Goals (SDGs) strive to address global challenges
the United Nations Framework Convention on such as those related to poverty, inequality, global
Climate Change. Various programmes have been unemployment, climate change, and environmental
put in place to promote energy efficiency, green degradation. Goal 4 aims to “ensure inclusive and
transport, sustainable housing, and climate resilient equitable quality education and promote lifelong
agriculture. These will be implemented in a manner learning opportunities for all” with one of the targets
that stimulates investment, local economic activity, seeking to “ensure equal access for all women and
and manufacturing, as part of a just transition to a men to affordable and quality technical, vocational
low-carbon economy and climate resilience. and tertiary education, including university” by

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