Academic Reaches Pinnacle of His Career

Click here for isiZulu version Dean and Head of the School of Health Sciences Professor Khathutshelo Percy Mashige has been promoted to the position of a full professor – a high honour in the career of an academic. Mashige, an optometrist by training, has more than 20 years of undergraduate and postgraduate teaching experience with

Optometry Team Wins Intervarsity Debate Contest

UKZN Optometry students won the Annual Specsavers Optometry Intervarsity Debate competition, scoring individual and discipline prizes, including cash, equipment for the optometry clinic, and sponsorship for the final year ball! The Discipline’s academic leader, Dr Urvashni Nirghin, congratulated the students and their lecturer/leader Ms Lungile Buthelezi on the national victory. ‘This is an exceptional achievement.

Top Biokinetics Student

Ms Leah Jamie Sim was named UKZN’s Top Biokinetics Honours student and Best Overall Achiever. Sim is passionate about sport, and learnt the importance and value of rehabilitation through individualised exercise programmes while playing at provincial level. She aims to work as a Biokineticist so as to improve other people’s lives. ‘Studying during COVID-19 was a

Research Investigates Intimate Partner Violence Against HIV Positive Women

Dr Felix Apiribu was awarded a PhD in Nursing for his research on Perpetration of Intimate Partner Violence against HIV Positive Women Following Status Disclosure: A Phenomenological Study in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. Supervised by Professors Busisiwe Ncama and Sinegugu Evidence Duma, the study explored and described men’s perpetration of intimate partner violence (IPV)

First Class Bachelor of Physiotherapy Awarded Posthumously

Ms Charlotte Dube will graduate with a Bachelor of Physiotherapy despite being tragically killed in a violent taxi incident on 10 April 2021, a month before her graduation ceremony. Staff from the Discipline of Physiotherapy paid an emotional tribute to Dube – who was to be awarded her degree first class. Dube grew up in

CHS Welcomes New Dean and Head of School of Health Sciences

Click here for isiZulu version Professor Khathutshelo Percy Mashige is the new Dean and Head of the School of Health Sciences at UKZN. ‘I am proud and ecstatic,’ said Mashige. ‘I felt I was in with a chance of being appointed but was a bit anxious and apprehensive about it.’ He aims to encourage and

Bels Gym Supervisor Wins Gold

UKZN’s Biokinetics, Exercise and Leisure Sciences (Bels) gym supervisor, Ms Zamile Nduli was crowned a wellness fitness champion at an IFBB LIVING Legends at the Station Urban Event in Durban. This qualified her for an invitation to Arnold Classic Africa 2021 – Multiple Sport Festival, Art and Lifestyle Expo, scheduled to take place from 14

Visual Function in NIPLHIV Study Earns Optometrist a Doctorate

Optometry academic, Dr Alvin Munsamy, graduated with a doctoral degree for his study titled: The Impact of Structural Retinal Changes on Visual Function in Non-Immunocompromised People Living with HIV (NIPLHIV). The novel study highlights the importance of monitoring the eye structure and vision of NIPLHIV, which is an often neglected area, given that these patients

UKZN Lecturer Develops a Paediatric Vision Screening Tool

Optometry lecturer, Dr Naimah Ebrahim Khan’s PhD study focused on the development of a paediatric vision screening tool. Supervised by Professor Rekha Hansraj, Ebrahim Khan developed a software programme, Basic Ocular Ngane Assessment (BONA) that can be used by non-optometrists to conduct vision screening in primary schools. ‘BONA is comprehensive and conforms to the standards