Prof Mavis Mulaudzi, Head of Department of Nursing Sciences has been appointed SARChI Chair in Ubuntu Community Model of Nursing by the NRF. Her appointment will be for a five year period focusing on improving universal access to health, health care and health outcomes of people in remote, rural and under-resourced communities by developing, piloting and implementing an Ubuntu-Innovation model, approach and principles for coproduction and convergence of indigenous and biomedical knowledge.

Prof Mulaudzi grew up in in a village of Mudulani in Hakatuma in Limpopo. She started her journey in education under a tree in primary school. There was no local clinic in her village until she was in her teens. Her advice for growth is “You cannot stay stagnant, every day there is something new. Research and don’t be afraid to use the latest most relevant techniques.” She certainly looks forward to making an impact in her new role at the NRF.

The Chairpersons role is aligned with the agenda of the World Health Assembly (2019), the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and the Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health (2016-2030) as well as South Africa’s National Development Plan and Vision 2030, South Africa’s National Strategic Plan for HIV, TB and STIs (2017-2022), and the National Health Insurance Bill amongst others.