CPUT alumna and celebrity chef, Siba Mtongana will be joining an interactive webinar touching on topics such as young women empowerment and personal development.

Staff and students are invited to join the Young Women Empowerment programme for an interactive conversation with Mtongana, on 7 August 2021 from 10 am via Zoom. “Having a woman of Siba’s calibre to come to share her experiences and advice with us all is such an honour. She encompasses everything we want young women in society to develop and aspire to be, so we would love for you all to join us and share in the experience,” said Melanie Marais, Head of the HIV/AIDS Unit

Marais said the purpose of the event is to empower young women in terms of conversations with influential and well-known women such as Mtongana.  “We are proud to know she is a CPUT alumna.

“She is popularly known to be an international multi-award winning chef, culinary extraordinaire, author and entrepreneur.”

The Young Women Empowerment Programme is an initiative of the Division of Student Affairs, championed by the HIV/Aids Unit.  This initiative started about four years ago after the Unit noticed an increase in gender-based violence and the plight of many women in society. Through being relevant and responsive to these problems women face on almost a daily basis, the Unit aims to empower young women in terms of entrepreneurship, leadership and personal development and reproductive health awareness. This programme is also known to the neighbouring universities and technical and vocational education and training colleges and the Institution, therefore, extended the invitation to them as well. The hashtag is #YoungWomenLeadingTheChange

The end goal is to create opportunities for youth to learn from experienced and influential members of society and give them the platform to engage celebrities and businesswomen of Siba’s calibre.  “With Siba being an award-winning chef, entrepreneur and owner of SIBA the Restaurant, she will be able to share some great tips to aspiring young entrepreneurs on how to overcome challenges especially during these trying times,” Marais remarks.

This webinar is open to everyone so be sure to use the link provided below to join •Join Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/96619691425?pwd=TGZsOHk5WnhnQjlpT3I1VnpnVS9Ndz09 Meeting ID: 966 1969 1425 Passcode: 702974 

Any additional information regarding the webinar can be found on the poster and for any enquiries email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

We hope to see you all there #wearecput #SibaMtongana #yweprogramme #InConversation #webinaralert

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The HIV/AIDS Unit will hold the first 2009 Voluntary Counselling and Testing Drive from 9 to 13 March on Bellville Campus and 16 to 24 March on Cape Town Campus.

The initiative, which is rolled out in collaboration with the CPUT Health Clinic, facilitates voluntary HIV testing. Staff and students who participate in the drive get to learn their HIV status and are counselled accordingly.

Bellville Campus

09 March: Freedom Square Residence (16:00 - 21:00)
10 and 11 March: Auditorium (09:00 - 16:00)
12 March: Tygerberg Hospital Dental Technology Dept (09:00 - 16:00)

Cape Town Campus

16 March: Catsville Residence (16:00 - 21:00)
17 and 18 March: Student Center (09:00 - 16:00)
19 March: Granger Bay Campus (09:00 - 16:00)
23 March: Down Town Lodge (DTL) (16:00 - 21:00)
24 March: Elizabeth Womens Residence (EWR) (16:00 - 21:00)

Written by CPUT News
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The HIV/AIDS Unit recently hosted a two-day educational and awareness workshop. The workshop, titled “Beyond HIV/AIDS/STIs and TB” took place from 24 to 25 March 2009 at the Cape Town Campus.

It was attended by Student Development Officers, Assistant Student Development Officers, several students and individuals from the private sector.

On day one, Jacqueline Bacela, HIV/AIDS Unit Curriculum Officer, introduced the group to some of the positive and negative myths of the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

She also facilitated various interactive exercises to gain a deeper insight into the prevention, transmission and control of HIV/AIDS.

During the course of the day, participants also heard a testimony from a person living with HIV/Aids.

Other real-life topics that were discussed included, workplace tolerance, sexuality, HIV disclosure, confidentiality, safer sex negotiation with partner, advice for friendships/ relationships around HIV awareness, religious and cultural practices, opportunistic infections and anti-retrovirals (ARVs).

On the second day, Head of the HIV/Aids Unit Dr Mohammed shared some important information around the epidemiology (medical statistics on the incidence and distribution) and the subsequent economic impact of HIV/AIDS on the Southern African Development Community region.

Dr Mohammed also presented case studies around opportunistic and HIV/AIDS-related infections, such as tuberculosis, severe diarrhea and pneumonia.

Dr Mohammed said by the end of the two-day workshop, participants were not only encouraged by the information received but were motivated to know their HIV status and practice the lessons learnt from the sessions.

But more importantly participants felt the need to become more proactive in terms of HIV/AIDS/STI and TB campaigns within their workplace and communities, said Dr Mohammed.

One participant, who asked to remain anonymous, said: “I realised that I still had much to do to get rid of the negative myths I had regarding this pandemic. We’re all vulnerable, but at least its spread is preventable”.

The HIV/AIDS Unit regularly conducts HIV/AIDS/STI and TB workshops for students and staff as well as credit bearing modules which are incorporated into existing courses.

For more information on the HIV/Aids unit, contact their offices at 021 460 4253, visit them at the Cape Town office or view their web pages at http://www.cput.ac.za/students/saas/hivaidsunit.

By Thando J. Moiloa

Photo: Head of the HIV/Aids Unit Dr Ashraf Mohammed addresses the group during the two-day awareness and training session.

Written by CPUT News
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

CPUT has been congratulated for being a front-runner amongst tertiary institutions in the fight against HIV/Aids. The 7th annual Peer Education Awards Ceremony was hosted by CPUT’s HIV/Aids unit recently.

The aim of the event is to acknowledge the sterling work Peer Educators do in fighting the disease amongst students.

Director of the Higher Education Aids Department (HEAids), Dr Ramneek Ahluwalia, said CPUT is doing very well compared to the 23 other institutions his organisation monitors.

“Peer education is the way forward and I believe in it,” he said.

“CPUT is doing very well and I appreciate your efforts.”

The glitzy event, which was held at the Tuscany Gardens Hall in Rylands, made certain the Peer Educators were centre of attention.

Guests were treated to a song and dance performance as well as a delicious three course meal.

HIV/Aids Unit HOD, Dr Ashraf Mohammed, called the students his ‘A-Team’ and reminded them of the important work they do each day.

“It’s easier for the youth to speak to the youth and tonight is about saying thank you,” he expressed.

The HIV/Aids Unit has also benefitted from a close working relationship with the German government in recent years. The liaison for this programme, Lionel Adriaan, explained the significance of the relationship and introduced two German students currently in SA and working with the unit.

“They bring a wealth of experience here with them and we are grateful to have them,” said Adriaan.

Before the evening ended, students were awarded a certificate for the contributions. 

By: Lauren Kansley

Photo by: Clive Galant (Fundani CHED)

Written by CPUT News
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Motivated by its mission to promote a healthy lifestyle, the CPUT HIV/Aids Unit ran a workshop to educate football players in Khayelitsha about their role as partners in sexual relationships.

The workshop, which CPUT ran in conjunction with Partners in Sexual Health (PSH), was held at Khayelitsha Youth Centre in Makhaza and was attended by members of the City Masters Football Club.

Sean Hashe, City Masters coach, says the football club started a partnership with PSH to run workshops on leadership and sexual health as part of a team-building exercise.

“The club is collaborating with PSH for the good of the community as both institutions want players to be positive role models,” says Hashe.

Jabulile Mlandu, Operations Administrator and Master Trainer in Life Skills and Capacity Building at PSH, said the workshop was meant to encourage the players to lead positive lifestyles.

CPUT empowered the players by bringing female Peer Educators to stimulate the discussion about Men as Partners.

CPUT HIV/Aids Unit’s acting head, Alex Semba, says the programme, Men as Partners, is aimed at involving men in wellness issues such as Sexually Transmitted Infections, HIV and TB.

“We want to involve soccer players in health education,” says Semba.

Babalwa Kepe, a Management student and Peer Educator, initiated the partnership between CPUT, PSH and City Masters as she is also the club’s administrator.

Peer Educator Nomtika Mjwana says the workshop empowered the players to know more about HIV/Aids and their role in leading a health lifestyle.                                                                                                                                                                               

Written by Kwanele Butana

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

A three-day HIV counseling and testing campaign targeting male students and their partners is underway at the Cape Town Campus.

The “Bridge The Gap Campaign” is a collaboration between the CPUT HIV/Aids Unit and the Students Christian Organization (SCO) and is in response to the national challenge of how few men know their status.

The campaign also aims to make students curious about HIV and to dispel the myth that they already know enough about the virus.

Additionally the initiative also seeks to encourage Christians to brave the stigma of associating HIV with sleeping around and instead get tested.

The campaign features an information stall, condom distribution and demonstration of their correct use as well as the promotion of the unit’s Abstinence Club.

Nomtika Mjwana, a PR intern with the HIV unit, says that the campaign is borne out of the fact that much more female students get tested than their male counterparts.

“We are trying to stress testing on males because our statistics show that 70% of students who get tested are female and only 30% are male,” she says.

Written by Kwanele Butana

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

CPUT’s HIV/AIDS Unit joined thousands across the globe on Monday, 16th May 2011 to remember those who have died of AIDS and support those who are living with the disease. On the 28th anniversary of the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial, Acting Head of the unit, Alex Semba says, “It was an honour to have such a great show of support from the CPUT community and the learners that we invited to be a part of the memorial in showing compassion and concern for people living with HIV/AIDS.”

“We heard remarks from Derrick Fine, founder of the Openly Positive Trust, Neliswa Nkwali of the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC), Central SRC Secretary Siyabonga Ngozi, and our own Health Promotor Marius Harmsen. We were treated to beautiful songs by the CPUT Choir and their soloist. The event was also a chance for the audience to learn about the HIV/AIDS support services offered on campus,” says Semba.

Openly Positive displayed their newly launched book in which Harmsen’s story, ‘Too lazy to die’ is featured, as part of a collection of short stories titled Whisper Not - 15 Africans speak out on life and love beyond HIV. Another author, professional nurse and mother of four Ann Ray Ray also delivered a powerful personal testimony of living positively.

The book celebrates the lives of ordinary men and women from across Africa, relating their experiences of living with HIV. They say by no longer speaking in whispers about HIV and AIDS, one can live a healthy, full and positive life.

“Even if one couldn't attend the event yesterday, one can still be commemorate the memorial by lighting a candle in your private space in remembrance of those who have died, and in support of those who are living with HIV/AIDS”, says Semba.

More information about the Openly Positive book collection can be obtained from the HIV/AIDS Unit, located on the 2nd Floor, Cape Town campus Admin Building on Tel: 021 460 4253.

By: Thando J. Moiloa

Written by CPUT News
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Head of CPUT’s HIV/AIDS Unit, Dr Ashraf Mohammed, is a busy man. Awarded the Humphrey Fellowship, a study sabbatical based in Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University in Atlanta, United States (US) some 6 months ago, Dr Mohammed has since been involved in several workshops, has published numerous articles and has presented over a dozen conference papers.

Since the start of his Fellowship, he has also successfully completed some six HIV/AIDS-related courses within the Global Health Department of the Rollins School of Public Health.

Last October, all Fellows attended the Global Leadership Forum in Washington DC as guest of the US Government. At a dinner hosted for the Fellows, the Keynote Speaker was the Secretary of the State, Hilary Clinton.

“One of the greatest highlights was attending a seminar where revered spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, and well-known actor, Richard Gere, were present. I couldn’t believe that I actually got to be in the presence of such deeply respected and celebrated icons”, says Dr Mohammed.

This Humphrey Fellowship is administered by Institute of International Education (IIE) in collaboration with US State Department and is offered to professionals with proven track record in the area of their expertise. Dr Mohammed is one of twelve Fellows, representing a variety of African, South American and Eastern nations.

Established in 1978 by the former US President Jimmy Carter, in honour of the late US Vice-President and Senator Hubert Humphrey, those awarded the fellowship are expected to carry forward Humphrey’s lifelong commitment to international cooperation and public service.

Fellows join the ranks of the global diaspora of distinguished alumni, many of whom subsequently become statesmen, judges, ambassadors, cabinet ministers, CEOs, Vice Chancellors, internationally honored researchers, scientists and academics. To date, an astounding 40 Fellows are highly-respected Nobel Laureates.

Apart from his academic commitments, Dr Mohammed has also been taken part in numerous charity projects, sporting activities and excursions to places of cultural interest. Dr Mohammed says, “On my return, I intend to plough back some much needed intellectual resources to the programmes and activities of CPUT’s HIV/AIDS Unit, hopefully bringing a renewed energy and approach to my staff and our clients.” He is due back at CPUT in June/July 2011 in his capacity as head of the Unit.

By: Thando J. Moiloa

Written by CPUT News
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

As part of its monthly seminar program, the HIV/AIDS Unit gave a group of students the opportunity to meet noted author and filmmaker Rayda Jacobs.

Ms Jacobs presented the film Confessions of a Gambler on 10 June 2008 on the Cape Town Campus. Aside from writing the bestseller on which the film was based, she is also the film’s co-director and lead actress.

The film tells the story of Abeeda, a Muslim woman who struggles with her addiction to gambling triggered by her son’s death from AIDS. Ms Jacobs, when answering questions from the students, explained that the film deals with the impact of HIV/AIDS to the uninfected or rather “affected”. The notion is that too often we focus our attention on the infected and neglect the affected. The HIV/AIDS Unit invited her not only to show her movie to students but also to motivate students to use the talents they have to achieve their dreams.

“The HIV/AIDS Unit, although very small, takes pride in educating and empowering CPUT students with regards to HIV/AIDS sometimes by exposing talented people like Rayda to the students,” said Peer Educator Phumelani Mayongo.

Loyiso Malindi from CPUT HIV/AIDS Unit says the movie has changed the way we think about our future as individuals. “The presentation has given people a whole lot of hope and it is not just about helping other people emotionally it is about helping others realise that they can help other people while they are in a process of healing themselves”, he added.

by Zininzi Ntando, Marketing and Communication Department

Written by CPUT News
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Staff members and students from the HIV/AIDs Units at CPUT and Rhodes University shared their success stories at a recent workshop.

The agenda on the day placed a special focus on the Workplace Peer Educators Programme.

The successful event took place at the Cape Town campus with members of both HIV/AIDS Units exchanging ideas about the challenges facing their respective units and also offering solutions and suggestions.

Head of the CPUTs HIV/AIDS Unit, Prof Ashraf Mohammed, shared the highlights of the unit’s programmes for 2012 as well as its strategic objectives. Included in his presentation was information on the HIV/AIDS Negative Symposium.

“As much as we look after and care for those who are HIV positive we look after those who are negative as well to ensure that they maintain their HIV negative status,” says Mohammed.

Rhodes University’s Institutional HIV/ AIDS Officer Thandi Mzizi offered great insight into the workings of their Unit. Mzizi pointed out many important factors that are key to the success of their unit and Workplace Peer Education Programme.

A highlight on the day was a motivational speech by Jerome Dreyer, a former CPUT peer educator who has been rehabilitated from his drug addiction. He shared his story of recovery and how he practiced the HIV/AIDS Unit’s message of not sharing needles with his friends. He says this important act of prevention contributed greatly to him still being HIV negative.

By Nurahn Ryklief

Written by CPUT News
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The campus wide Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) drive has proved to be a huge success, attracting hundreds of CPUT students.

The VCT campus drive, which is driven by the HIV/Aids Unit, has been a bi-annual feature on the CPUT calendar since 2005.

This year’s drive kicked off at Freedom Square Residence at Bellville campus on 9 March and will run up until 20 March.

Head of the HIV/Aids Unit, Dr Ashraf Mohammed said this year they would most likely reach much more students and staff because they have extended the VCT campus drive to additional CPUT sites.

During the past few years the drives were only held at Bellville and Cape Town campuses and occasionally at Granger Bay and Mowbray campuses.

But this year, it was extended to Tygerberg campus, and several student residences in Bellville and Cape Town.

Dr Mohammed said the move to extend the drive to other CPUT sites proved to be a “huge success.”

“We had an overwhelming response at Tygerberg campus,” he said.

At the student residences, the drive attracted large numbers of students who could not manage to get tested at the Bellville or Cape Town campuses.

Dr Mohammed said the main purpose of the VCT campus drive is to give students a chance to “just walk in and get tested.”

“Students prefer to come to the VCT campus drive because it is convenient, quick and they don’t have to make an appointment,” said Dr Mohammed.

Once students walk into the testing centre, they are given pre-counseling to put them at ease and are then required to sign consent forms before being tested.

Thereafter, students wait approximately 20 minutes before receiving their results in a confidential environment. Upon receiving the results, the students are given post counseling by trained counselors.

During this VCT campus drive, students were also given the option to sign a “Safer Sex Pledge” that highlights the Abstain (A), Be faithful (B) and Condomise (C) strategies (ABC).

Dr Mohammed said the VCT drives provide the HIV/Aids unit with an opportunity to reinforce healthy lifestyles among students in order to prevent risky behavior that could make them vulnerable to be infected with HIV.

“Our aim for those that test negative, is to keep them negative,” he said.

The VCT campus drive is also aimed at ensuring that those who do test positive have access to the care and support services offered by the unit’s Health Promoters and clinical support from the CPUT campus clinics.

Dr Mohammed said the VCT campus drive “compliments” the routine VCT service, which is offered at campus clinics (on both Cape Town and Bellville campuses only) throughout the academic year.

The next campus-wide VCT drive is scheduled for the second semester.

By Candes Keating

Written by CPUT News
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

A blessing service on 7 August 2009 and candle-lighting ceremony on National Women’s Day marked the beginning of a month-long recognition of the contribution of women to CPUT.

The 2009 Women’s Month programme, organised by Student Affairs and Services, in collaboration with the Institutional Transformation, Cohesion and Diversity Office, is based on the theme ‘I am a powerful woman.’

“We are celebrating all the women who have contributed significantly to CPUT, who have contributed to building a new CPUT institutional culture,” said Student Development Officer Thobeka September, one of the programme’s primary co-ordinators.

South African National Women’s Day, held annually on 9 August, commemorates the famous 1956 march by 20 000 to the Union Buildings in Pretoria to protest against the government’s pass laws. Many institutions in the country therefore use the month of August to highlight women’s issues.

The theme for CPUT’s Women’s Month programme was agreed upon at an inter-departmental meeting on 18 June 2009 that included representatives of Student Affairs, the HIV/Aids Unit, CPUT Residences, CPUT Libraries and the Research Directorate. It was felt that the slogan ‘I am a powerful women’ alluded to both the institutional and national significance of Women’s Month.

The Women’s Blessing Service, which opened the programme, took place at St Mark’s Church on Cape Town Campus two days before National Women’s Day.

At the service, female students and staff members, adorned with floral corsages, received a blessing from the Rector of St Mark’s Church, Reverend John Oliver. Music from female artists formed part of the proceedings and Sister Sylvia Abrahams of the HIV/AIDS Unit acted as Master of Ceremonies. A message of thanks from September, reminding the audience of the historical significance of Women’s Day closed the service.

A candle-lighting ceremony, held at the V & A Waterfront amphitheatre, took the Women’s Month programme beyond campus borders and into the public arena. At this evening event, the people of Cape Town watched CPUT students and staff members holding candles pass a flame from one candle to another.

“The candle-lighting symbolised unity in women and the fact that women bring light,” said September, who lit the first candle.

Head of Student Affairs Sibusiso Chalufu noted that as an institution, CPUT has the obligation to empower women.

“If you work at an organisation and don’t give different people the opportunity to make a contribution, you miss out on different perspectives,” he said.

He added that the Office of the Dean of Students is currently on a drive to encourage more female representation in leadership roles. This was discussed at a special meeting between Dean of Students Cora Njoli Motale and women representatives of the student body on 27 July 2009 .

At CPUT, the remainder of the month of August will feature activities centred around the contribution of women in particular areas.

The first two weeks of August celebrated women in business, science and technology and women in sports. Student activities included a Women in Leadership camp at Muizenberg, in which students from CPUT’s Cape Town and Bellville Campuses interacted with their counterparts from Stellenbosch University .

Women in education and women in arts will feature in the CPUT Women’s Month programme during the final two weeks of August.

The programme will close with a concert at Mowbray Campus on 29 August 2009.

By Ilana Abratt

Written by CPUT News
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

If you want to be a television star then your shot at fame has just arrived.

Producers of the popular Intersexions drama series are looking for new actors and they’ll be doing the scouting at CPUT’s Cape Town campus this Saturday.

The multi-award-winning, 26-part drama series is broadcast on SABC 1 and portrays various contexts where people expose themselves to the risk of HIV infection.

The event is being hosted in conjunction with the HIV/Aids Unit and CPUT is the only venue in the Western Cape where auditions will be happening.

Hopefuls over the age of 18, who don’t need to be CPUT students, must bring their IDs, fill in a basic entry form and perform a monologue for the judges.

If you make it through the first round, you will be given an on-camera audition.

A DJ will keep the crowd entertained and you’ll also get a chance to rub shoulders with your favourite stars from the drama series.

A mobile HIV/Aids testing unit will also be available on the day for anyone who wants a free test.

Transport for CPUT students at the Bellville, Tygerberg and Mowbray campuses is available and leaves from Bellville at 8.30 am and 11 am and will do a round trip of all these campuses before arriving in Cape Town.

Call Rene Williams at the HIV/Aids Unit for more information.

By Kwanele Butana

Written by CPUT News
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

More than 1 500 contestants participated in auditions for the Intersexions drama series that was held at CPUT’s Cape Town campus.

The event was hosted by CPUT’s HIV/AIDS Unit in collaboration with John Hopkins University, DramAide and SABC 1.

The multi-award-winning, 26-part drama series is broadcast on SABC 1 and portrays various contexts where people expose themselves to the risk of HIV infection.

Hopefuls over the age of 18 came from all over the Cape Peninsula to take their shot at fame. Participants were given scripts and had to perform a monologue for the judges.

Those who made it through the first round were given an on-camera audition.

Some participants also got the chance to pose for photographs with their favourite stars from the series.

In collaboration with TB Care, the university’s Mobile Wellness Unit conducted HIV Counseling and Testing for those who wanted to know their HIV status.

Dr Ashraf Mohammed, Head of the HIV/AIDS Unit, says despite the bad weather at the weekend, students and other hopefuls came out in large numbers.

“In fact this has been an awesome and overwhelming success and one of our biggest and best awareness events we ever had to date - despite the bad weather," says Dr Mohammed.

Kgaugelo Madisha, a Peer Educator based in the unit, says the auditions were a huge success.

By Kwanele Butana

Written by CPUT News
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

CPUT staff and students were rewarded for creating show-stopping stalls at Open Day 2012.

SECOND PLACE:  Event Management and Tourism Management with their Arabian Night-themed stall

This year the Chemical Engineering stall clinched the top prize for capturing the interest of thousands of visitors who lined up to take a look at the impressive machinery on show.

Visitors to the stand got the opportunity to pour sand into a high-tech machine and watch how it separated the magnetic particles.

THIRD PLACE: The HIV/ Aids unit

Clinching second prize was the Event Management and Tourism Management stall which boasted an Arabian Night-themed stall, while the HIV/Aids Unit walked away with third prize.

Student Recruitment Officer Grant Barends encourages learners and other interested parties to come out to the Cape Town campus and visit the more than 60 impressive stalls.

Open Day continues on Saturday at the Multipurpose Hall from 9 – 3pm.

The Cape Town Campus is located on the corner of Tennant and Keizersgracht Street.

By Candes Keating

Written by CPUT News
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

A group of international students are marking their mark at the CPUT HIV/Aids Unit.

Two Human Rights and Democracy students from Sweden, Ellelta Beyene and Sanna Deltin, along with their German counterparts, Niclas Dehmel and Matthias Flug, are volunteering at the Cape Town-based unit.

Their stay at CPUT is part of a compulsory youth service programme, run by their countries.

Beyene and Deltin, who recently arrived in South Africa, first visited Idutywa in the Eastern Cape, before settling in at CPUT.

Whilst in Idutywa, the students lived with a host family in order to learn how democracy had affected the lives of those living in rural South Africa.

Now at CPUT, the students are already hard at work and are participating in a range of activities.

Some of the activities include developing posters and awareness campaigns, voluntary counselling, testing drives and data-capturing. The students also have a number of initiatives they would like to roll out during their stay.

Dehmel, who arrived last August, says he enjoys being part of the CPUT community as well as living in Cape Town.   The German student says he chose South Africa because of the variety of cultures he would be exposed to and good reviews from others who had visited the country.

Beyene is also pleased that she opted for volunteering at CPUT.

 “I’m amazed to see the different cultures, although I’ve visited the continent before I’ve never seen Africa like this.”

By: Thando J. Moiloa

Written by CPUT News
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The Department of Nursing Science is leading an initiative which aims to strengthen efforts to ensure the gradual safe return of staff and students to campuses.

The project has provided training, conducted via Microsoft Teams, for Campus Protection Services (CPS) as well as heads of departments and faculties and cleaning services.

“The focus was mainly on personal safety, wearing of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), access control and measuring temperature,” said Prof Karien Jooste, Head of the Department of Nursing Science. Jooste drew up a training programme for nurse educators who are experts in Occupational Health to provide the training. The training was coordinated and facilitated by the department’s Natalie Copeling and her team. 

The project was conducted in liaison with Human Capital: Learning and Development and Melanie Marais, Head of HIV/AIDS Unit as well as Campus Health Clinics.
CPS and cleaning staff were provided with information specifically tailored for their role in the processes.
According to Jooste, training of the CPS staff focused on the part that these staff will play in the screening of temperatures. “Training also included the use of interpersonal skills to address the possible fears and uncertainty that staff may have in relation to both the screening process and the return to campus within the constraints of our ‘new normal’”.

She added that the training for cleaning services staff will reinforce the way of cleaning, where to clean specifically and the chemicals used for the cleaning and disinfecting processes. Information sessions are also offered to all CPUT staff to provide a clearer idea of how to prepare the campus for the return of staff and students as well as what to expect on return.
“Participating in training is a constructive way to give back to the community and is in line with the slogan of the department: Carers for the future!” said Jooste.

The initiative comes as the department marks the Year of Nurse and the Midwife. This year has been designated as the Year of the Nurse and the Midwife by the World Health Organisation to mark the bicentenary of the birth of the founder of modern nursing, Florence Nightingale and to recognise the critical contribution nurses make to global health.

Marais said training for peer educators in residences had also been provided.

The Nursing Science Department encouraged the CPUT community to continue:

• washing hands regularly
• practising social distancing
• wearing a mask

Written by Ilse Fredericks
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

A conference which empowered young women in higher education with skills such as entrepreneurship, self-defence and personal branding was recently held on the Bellville Campus.

The two-day conference, which was hosted by the HIV/Aids Unit, was attended by approximately 300 female students from universities and TVET Colleges around the Western Cape.
Prof Nomafrench Mbombo, Western Cape Health MEC, told the young women to be wary of risky sexual activities as it could lead to their downfall such as unwanted pregnancies, sexual transmitted infections and abusive relationships.
“Girls are groomed for men’s sexual gratification,” she said.

Mbombo decried the patriarchal environment which raises boys differently from girls and added that young women sometimes feel the pressure to have children in order to please or gain hold over their men and that transactional sex is a common practice these days as women wants to live the good life. 

Acting Dean: Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences, Prof Penelope Engel-Hills, said she works with communities around issues of gender-based violence. 
“In this country women are not well at the moment and this means that the society at large is ill,” said Engel-Hills.

HEAIDS Project Manager, Alex Semba, said the conference was a platform for the delegates to network with each other.
Semba discussed the programmes that HEAIDS is providing to universities and colleges to address the ‘blessing’ culture in a bid to reduce HIV infections among women between the ages of 15 and 24 by 30%.
He said health and wellness is important in order for higher education institutions to perform their core functions of teaching, research and community engagement. 
During the conference the delegates received goodie bags and spot prizes, and were equipped with a range of skills including personal safety, entrepreneurship and leadership.

Written by Kwanele Butana
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Head of the HIV/Aids Unit, Dr Ashraf Mohammed, was recently awarded a doctorate in Public Health from the University of Cape Town.

Dr Mohammed, who holds degrees in Microbiology and Medical Science, conducted research on the prevention of Tuberculosis (TB) in advanced HIV-infected patients. This study, which was partially funded by the prestigious Diana Princess of Wales HIV Research Foundation, is one of seven studies of its kind to be conducted in the world.

As a result, the findings of this significant study will be used by several international health organisations (WHO/CDC) in order to undertake a meta-analysis study.

The study, which is titled, “The efficiency of intermittent directly observed Isoniazid for preventing tuberculosis in HIV-infected adults with advanced disease,”was undertaken at public hospitals in the Western Cape.

In order to conduct the study, patients were randomly selected from various health facilities in the Western Cape.

“They were then assessed for eligibility for the trial,” said Dr Mohammed.

Those selected for the study were screened for TB and only those that were free from TB were enrolled for the trial and were required to follow a 24 month treatment programme. The treatment programmes were conducted at Tygerberg, Groote Schuur and Somerset Hospitals.

Dr Mohammed said the study took place over several years because patients entered the programme at different times. As a result of the study, Dr Mohammed devised a TB screening instrument.

Through this method, they detected several undiagnosed TB cases (8.5%) in patients who were referred by clinicians as being free from TB. This TB screening instrument for patients with advanced HIV infection in a hospital setting has now been incorporated into the South African National TB Policy Guidelines. Dr Mohammed said he plans to further research in this area.

“I want to extend the study and develop it into a research niche at CPUT,” he said.

Dr Mohammed has already published widely in peer-reviewed journals and also presented his research at several international conferences. Prior to his graduation he had already published two articles in international peer-reviewed journals and is currently drafting a third paper for publication.

He was also awarded the Foggarty Fellowship, which allowed him to complete various aspects of his doctorate at the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University in New York.

He was also a recipient of the Guy Elliot Medical Research Fellowship. Dr Mohammed is currently supervising 5 postgraduate students, 2 of which are medical doctors,

Written by CPUT News
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

As CPUT celebrates the coming launch of Golden Key, the institution recognises one of its own who has recently achieved membership status.

Dr Ashraf Mohammed, Head of Department for the HIV/AIDS Unit, completed his postgraduate studies at the University of Cape Town where he developed his profile in the medical field.

His doctoral thesis focused on the aspects of a tuberculosis (TB) screening test developed, which was subsequently included in the national guideline to HIV-positive patients.

Prior to graduating with his qualification, Dr Mohammed published several papers for peer review and submitted data to global medical bodies such as the Centre for Disease Control and the World Health Organisation to be included in their meta-analysis studies.

As a result of these fine academic achievements, he was invited to become a member of the Society earlier this year.

Written by CPUT News
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.