The Acting Head of the Department of Wellness Sciences, Assoc Prof Kareemah Najaar, has been selected as one of the finalists in Good Hope FM’s Warrior Woman Awards.

The awards honour “South African women who are changing the game, not for applause, but because it’s who they are at their very core”.

Najaar is a finalist in the Education and Research category and is being recognised for the matric Life Science Revision Project.

Launched in 2018 by Najaar, the initiative was designed to support learners in achieving the minimum entry requirements for higher education science programmes.

“I am very honoured and overwhelmed to have been selected as a finalist. This vision to support our matrics from disadvantaged backgrounds is only realised because of the amazing team that I have,” she said.

“Being recognised for our work and passion is extremely humbling and in fact further ignites me to continue striving to redress the current education inequalities and to continue growing our collaborations so that we are able to extend our reach to additional high schools.”

Asked why she started the project, Najaar said: “I believe that high school learners registered in STEM programmes, are in the programmes because they love science, but their socio-economic statuses unfortunately put them at a significant disadvantage”.

“What if we could be the difference for these matrics, provide opportunities for them so that they may qualify for STEM programmes at Higher Education Institutions (HEIs)? By creating a community of practice in which we combine the educational resources from their schools and from the HEIs, would be a powerful collaboration to support the learners.”

The project has grown from strength to strength.

“It has even expanded to include programmes that support our young female learners and to empower women in academia. I feel in many ways it is an extension of myself and an integral part of my academic path. Seeing the positive feedback from the learners and teachers makes me extremely proud to be allowed to support our future generation.”

To vote for Najaar, SMS WWA25, Kareemah Najaar, your name, surname and ID number to 37766.

For more on the awards, click here.

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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Somatology students have once again excelled in the internationally recognised Comité International d’Esthétique et de Cosmétologie (CIDESCO) exams.

CIDESCO is “the world's most prestigious spa and beauty certification authority and its headquarters is in Zurich, Switzerland.

Every year third-year Somatology students at CPUT have the option to enrol for the CIDESCO examination.

This is offered as an additional qualification to the standard Diploma in Somatology, to enhance employability among the Somatology graduates, said junior lecturer in the Department of Wellness Sciences, Rethabile Lesole.

“In 2022 we successfully coordinated CIDESCO after many discussions and notes taken from the Advisory Board as well as lecturers’ determination and tenacity towards ensuring that students are well equipped and ready for the real world of work,” said Lesole.

The theory exam was completed on 1 December 2022 and the practical assessments took place on 6 and 7 December 2022.

Twenty-seven candidates signed up for the exam.

The South African Association of Health and Skincare Professionals (SAAHSP) has provided sponsorship for two consecutive years. In 2021, 23 students were sponsored with two of the Department’s top students sponsored in 2022. The two students sponsored in 2022 were identified using a rigorous process, evaluating overall performance in practical and theory, throughout their three years of studies. Attendance and professionalism were among the key components assessed.

The two students identified, Zahrah Barlow and Precious None, had also taken up leadership roles, serving as class representatives throughout their three years of studying towards their diploma. Zahrah passed both practical and theory successfully also obtaining an award for best overall student, as well as best facial therapist for 2022.

The pass rates were as follows:

• Pass rate for 2022 overall 81% (increase of 9% from 2021)
• Pass rate for 2022 Theory 85% (increase of 8% from 2021)
• Pass rate for 2022 Practical 95% (increase of 25% from 2021)

The following students were awarded under the following categories:

• Best overall student: Zahrah Barlow
• Best Practical: Marcelle Wiener
• Best Theory: Imaan Wasserfall
• Best Facial Component: Zahrah Barlow
• Best Body Component: Jodi Smith
• Best Aesthetics Component: Thembeka Ngema.

“A special thank you to the designated international CIDESCO Examiner, Mrs Elna Hagen, as well as the internal examiners, all the Somatology lecturers for preparing our students, always inspiring, encouraging and motivating them to be the best in what they do. Thank you also to all our sponsors, Dermalogica, Environ and Thera Vine, for the gifts awarded to our students,” said Lesole.

Written by CPUT News
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The South African Medical Research Council/ CPUT/Cardiometabolic Health Research Unit will host its 1st Annual International Cardiometabolic Health and Diabetes Africa Congress next month.

The theme of the congress, which will be held virtually from 22 to 25 February, is Personalised Medicine.

The conference will provide a forum to discuss novel and emerging methodologies for preventing and treating cardiovascular diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, metabolic syndrome and complications associated with these diseases, such as kidney and liver disease.

It will also include conversations about discovering novel biomarkers and potential treatment options involving personalised or alternative medicine. Several workshops are planned to bring together policymakers, academics, and emerging researchers to share their views on how we can effectively stop the upward trend leading to the rising prevalence of these conditions.

The congress will feature 39 international speakers and 12 South African speakers.

The unit’s Saarah Davids said staff members, researchers, students and postdoctoral fellows could participate by submitting either an abstract or participating in the youth forum as follows:

Abstracts:

• When submitting an abstract, it could be selected for poster or oral presentation. The programme is designed so that staff, researchers, students, and postdoctoral fellows would present with presenters in themed slots to gain experience and learn from experienced researchers in the same field.
• The criteria, template and other information, can be found at the following link: https://www.cmhcongress.org/main-program-criteria.html
• Closing date 31 January 2022

Youth forum:

• Those who are staff, researchers, postgraduate students, or postdoctoral fellows under the age of 40 who would want to present ideas for future projects. This will allow those presenting to get feedback from other young researchers and possibly aid in future collaboration
• The criteria, template and other information can be found at: https://www.cmhcongress.org/youth-forum-criteria.html
• Closing date 31 January 2022

Prof Thandi Matsha, Dean of the Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences, is the chair of the congress organising committee.

Written by Ilse Fredericks

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The Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences’ Life Science Revision project is growing from strength to strength, with nearly 200 matrics from three high schools joining in a recent revision session at CPUT.

The project was launched in 2018 by the Department of Emergency Medical Sciences’ Prof Kareemah Najaar, to help more learners achieve the minimum requirements to qualify for programmes in the science field.

Matric learners and teachers from Lavender Hill High School, Wynberg High School and Langa High School visited the Bellville Campus for the first revision session of the year, with 43 tutors volunteering to assist the learners.

The tutors included staff and students from all seven departments in the Faculty: Emergency Medical Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, Wellness Sciences, Nursing, Medical Imaging and Therapeutic Sciences, Ophthalmic Sciences and Dental Sciences and, for the first time, tutors from the Department of Medical Biosciences at the University of the Western Cape (UWC).

“Over the years, since its inception in 2018, this community project has grown in numbers and evolved in design, efficiency and leadership. What started as a project with myself and 15 tutors and one department supporting one high school with Life Science revision, now has a pool of approximately 100 tutor volunteers from seven FHWS departments as well as volunteers from UWC who are supporting three high schools,” said Najaar.

“I am also now part of a powerful leadership team, with Dr Wendy Solomon and Ms Marnel Germishuys, who work tirelessly to ensure the efficient planning and execution of each revision session. We are very proud of what has been termed as a Faculty Flagship.”

In previous years, a school would serve as the venue for the revision session, but this year learners were welcomed on campus, where they received valuable exposure to the institution.

Plans to expand the project are in the pipeline.

“Before the end of 2024, we intend inviting two additional schools from disadvantaged backgrounds in the Paarl district. We also intend to invite the Medical Biosciences Department, UWC to officially partner with us and continue to increase the number of adopted high schools.”

Najaar said a fundamental component of the project’s success was to use the feedback from the teachers and learners and adapting operations and revision content to their needs.

“I do believe that we have created a tutoring model that is able to adapt to various scenarios, from serious events such as the COVID-19 pandemic (when technology is not available to the disadvantaged) to an unexpected significant decrease in tutor numbers. The ever-adapting model ensures that the matric learners are provided with quality revision sessions in preparation for their final exams.”

Langa High School teacher, Nandipha Mandongana, said the project afforded learners the opportunity to revise topics that they may otherwise not have time for.

“The exposure to CPUT also serves as a motivation. They know what is expected of them in terms of their results if they want to make it (to CPUT) next year.”

Najaar said that in 2021 a significant component was added to the community project, that seeks to empower the young women in matric.

“In support of the national Sanitary Dignity Programme, we provide feminine hygiene products to the female students, in the hopes of making a small difference to the quality of education for young women.”

She thanked all role-players who contributed to the project’s success.

“We would always first give thanks to our tutors who volunteer their time and create a welcoming environment for the matric learners, without whom this project would not be possible. A warm thank you to our colleagues from UWC, who volunteered their time and skills. A heartfelt thank you to our teachers who provide us with the opportunity and guidance during the planning and execution of the revision sessions. We are also in appreciation for the received support from the Dean’s office as well as the Centre for Community Engagement and Work Integrated Learning, Service-learning division.”

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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