Community Talks

Supporting Community Health Workers in South Africa

Community healthcare workers (CHWs) play an important role in health care in South Africa. In recent years, they have emerged as an essential team member in the work field to bridge the gap in the health workforce. 

Although their role is recognized, CHWs still face specific challenges at the workplace. Several reports show the need for training, support and supervision of CHWs. 

This project focuses on the particular needs of these local volunteers to promote healthcare in South Africa.
It aims to:
- Support CHWs through interprofessional learning with undergraduate students
- Support CHWs to collaborate in an interprofessional team at the workplace.

Fighting foot and mouth disease in the Greater Horn of Africa.

Livestock production in the greater Horn of Africa contributes to a considerable percentage of the National GDPs. However, livestock production in this region faces a great number of challenges during production, key amongst which is the occurrence of viral livestock disease, with Foot-and-Mouth disease (FMD) topping this list. According to FAO, FMD is one of the most important livestock diseases posing a great economic threat as a result of direct and indirect economic losses. The KEET-FMD project aims at:

1. Improving insight into regional FMD viral epidemiology
2. Understanding further the mismatch between the vaccine and field strains within this region
3. Improve on constraints in reagent supply by ensuring self-sufficiency
4. Training and education of stakeholders for the consolidated efforts in tackling FMD