Welcome to the Albertina Sisulu Research chair in Nursing Science project titled “Ubuntu community model of nursing’. The foundation and basis of the project is to honour Ma-Albertina Sisulu’s legacy. She embodied the philosophy of Ubuntu and dedicated her nursing career to supporting communities through her tireless effort and commitment to visiting families by rendering nursing and midwifery care. This project will be based on the value-laden principles of Ubuntu such as solidarity and cohesiveness, participatory decision making, sharing, sense of belonging, teamwork, collaboration and problem-solving through reaching consensus. 

The project intends to empower communities to take responsibility for their own health through the promotion of self-care and the development of an enabling environment to increase the quality, availability, and effectiveness of educational and community-based programs designed to prevent disease and injury, improve health, and enhance the quality of life. This will be achieved through a focus on the use of technology, maternal and child’s health, food fortification using indigenous plants and edible insects.

Participatory-emancipatory research methods, which foster collaboration and the use of community members, traditional health practitioners and students as part of the research team will be utilised.  Incorporation of cultural sensitivity and cultural diplomacy to differing perspectives will be maintained when conducting research to capacitate and empower the community and young scholars in research skills through joint workshops and sharing experiences.

Communities of practice will be established to ensure a sense of belonging, teamwork and continuous decision making on ethical issues throughout the project. We will be collaborating with universities, communities, governmental and non-governmental organizations, nationally and internationally.  Join us as we embark on this journey to healthy living guided by the African philosophy of Ubuntu.

Prof FM Mulaudzi 

South African Research Chair in Ubuntu Community Model in Nursing