Page 32 - VC 5 Year Review Report 2022

With social justice at Partnerships with other educational institutions,

government, civil society, and key industry players
its core, the medical are in place to ensure a collective drive towards
embracing the untapped potential of the oceans
programme embraces economy in a sustainable manner. To this end, the
a comprehensive University serves as the headquarters of the South
Africa International Maritime Institute (SAIMI), which
primary healthcare was established in 2014 to enhance the contribution
of the maritime sector to the economy of South
approach Africa and Africa by effectively coordinating quality
education, training, and research with partner
underpinned by institutions.

the four pillars of Medical School
Being better prepared for the next pandemic is a
medicine. high priority, both nationally and internationally.
This requires investments in upgrading public
health infrastructure and modernising health care
systems, including the wider use of telemedicine and
virtual health.

Although South Africa is making progress in
promoting good health and well-being, key
challenges facing the healthcare sector include poor
access to quality, universal healthcare. Tackling the
inter-linked challenges of poverty and health starts
that contribute to addressing global sustainability with a recognition that treating patients medically
challenges confronting our oceans. Examples of needs to be accompanied by integrated approaches
exciting postgraduate qualifications that have to health care that address the underlying social
been accredited over the past five years include determinants of health, such as access to decent
the Honours in Marine Engineering, as well as housing, education, and social services.
Masters’ programmes in Maritime Studies, Maritime
Management, and Ocean Governance. It is widely known that South Africa has a shortage
of medical doctors and adequately trained health
Developing our ocean sciences niches leverages care professionals required to improve access to
off existing strategic advantages such as our five quality health care services. This underscores the
NRF-funded South African Research Chairs Initiative need for Mandela University’s Medical School to
(SARChI) Chairs in the domains of marine ecology, offer medical and health professions education in
oceanography and marine food security, climate a unique, community-focused setting. With social
change, oceans governance and the law of the seas justice at its core, the medical programme embraces
in Africa, marine spatial planning, and ocean cultures a comprehensive primary healthcare approach
and heritage. Various research entities promote underpinned by the four pillars of medicine: disease
pioneering research and innovation in support of prevention, health promotion, treatment and
global, continental, and national endeavours to rehabilitative medicine.
unlock the economic potential of the oceans in a
manner that promotes sustainable livelihoods for With the third cohort of 100 medical students
marginalised coastal communities. These entities admitted in 2023, the University is well on its way to
include the Institute for Coastal and Marine Research producing fit-for-purpose, civically minded medical
(CMR), the FishFORCE Academy, the South African professionals committed to making a difference in
Environmental Observation Network (SAEON), the the lives of vulnerable, underserviced communities
African Centre for Coastal Paleoscience, and the in our country. The accreditation of the fourth year
Marine Robotics Unit. of the medical programme took place successfully

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