SDG3 ensures healthy lives and promotes well-being for all at all ages. Currently, the world is facing a global health crisis unlike any other - COVID-19 is spreading human suffering, destabilizing the global economy, and upending the lives of billions of people around the globe. The University of Pretoria (UP) actively contributes to tackling SDG3 from a multidisciplinary approach. UP is committed to creating value in healthcare through science production, innovative solutions, and knowledge dissemination. The Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Pretoria is recognized nationally and internationally as an outstanding institution in terms of its education of health professionals, its research, and its practical hands-on training of students. It is only by directing our academic efforts towards being problem-oriented that we can accelerate progress in achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In addressing SDG 3, we support communities through the exceptional talent and dedication of our staff and students involved in projects, which uplift health and well-being. This provides valuable life skills and training for our students while providing communities with access to an array of healthcare workers. Please click here for video content in the offerings of the Faculty of Health Sciences.
UP enjoys a range of collaborations with local and global health institutions. Examples include building leadership and management capability within national Malaria Control Programmes in 8 southern African Countries in collaboration with a range of health partners (addressing SDG3 target 3.3); and a global collaboration with UNICEF to grow a global ONE Health network of scientists. UP social responsibility and sustainability initiatives address community outreach and reflect work across all faculties. Initiatives focused on health and well-being include increasing awareness, community-based delivery, education and capability building in resource-poor settings, and demonstrate a particular focus on women and vulnerable groups. UP has extensive indoor and outdoor sporting facilities on its Hillcrest campus, consolidated under the Sports Department of UP, TuksSport. Comprehensive, high-performance support programmes are provided for all athletes participating at both national and international levels. The high-performance programme, provides services that range from scientific and medical, sports testing, fitness, technical and tactical expertise, sports injuries and sport psychology support. Sexual and reproductive healthcare for students form part of a comprehensive suite of free health service offerings to the entire UP student body. Specifically, these services incorporate awareness, education, access to self-help resources, provision of care and referral mechanisms. UP recognises the importance of identifying and supporting mental health in staff and students. Free support for students includes a dedicated Student Counselling Unit with a broad range of services. Free counselling services for staff are provided through the Employee Well-being Programme @UP. Smoking is incorporated in the broader institutional Policy on Smoking, Alcohol and Substance Abuse.
Teaching and LearningTeaching and Learning platforms need to be purposefully transformed to graduate learners who are able to connect across disciplines. By creating opportunities for transdisciplinary research and practical interaction, it allows our trainee health professionals a greater understanding of their role and contribution to society. Click here to read more.
Imvelo Food System - UP Interdisciplinary Initiative Helps Create Food Security for Vulnerable Communities
Student's Research Report - Moreleta Park Integration Project Research Report 2020
Dr. Ellenore Meyer - UNICEF ONE HEALTH FOR CHANGE (UP-UOH) A UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA PROJECT
With community-oriented primary care, healthcare students have a learning platform that takes them into the streets, homes, childcare establishments, and schools where people live, work and play. In 2008, undergraduate medical students at the UP have participated in the Longitudinal Community Attachment Programme (LCAS). The LCAS is now part of every academic block from the middle of their first year to the middle of their fifth year of study. Community-based learning is also a requirement for postgraduate students. The COVID-19 crisis has highlighted the dire and immediate need of our vulnerable communities for basic necessities, such as sufficient nutrition and medical access.
The Covid-19 crisis brought attention to inequity that exists in our society and increased the risk for malnutrition. In vulnerable communities, the nutrition status will be affected, and the malnourished will be more susceptible to a virus such as Covid-19. In many developing countries Covid-19 led to a health and nutrition crisis combined with a socioeconomic crisis. This reinforced the importance of being able to access water, sanitation, primary care, and opportunities for work and education close to home. The COPC embarked on a five-year food system research project, in collaboration with various partners including the UP departments of Family Medicine, Public Health, Dietetics, Architecture, Engineering, Veterinary Science and Agriculture, the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) Centre of Excellence in Food Security at UP’s Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, the Agricultural Research Council (ARC), Tebelo NPO, Living Word, and SA Cares with the launch of the Imvelo(from the Earth) Urban Food Systems at Living Word Pretoria East Congregation.
The health and wellbeing of staff are one of the University's highest priorities. UP management maintains that 'Wellbeing' refers to 'feeling good' and 'functioning well' - both physically and emotionally. Positive well-being enables an employee to flourish and achieve their full potential for the benefit of themselves and the University. As the staff's health and wellbeing is of great importance to the University of Pretoria, its management made available Employee Well-Being Programme (EWP) at UP. This programme consists of EAP and Wellness services and is centrally managed by EWP on the Hatfield campus. EWP hosted a workshop "Effective Workplace Relations" and the of this workshop was to equip UP employees at all levels to conduct their workplace relationships efficiently. Also, another workshop "Mindfulness for busy people" was hosted by EWP, and the focus of the workshop was to explore what Mindfulness is, why it is important, and look at simple practical steps to apply the principles to everyday life. University of Pretoria (UP) has a range of projects that help to promote healthy lives and well-being within a local, continental and global context. Click here to read more.
The UP/SAMRC Research Centre for Maternal, Fetal, Newborn and Child Health Care Strategies research focus is developing and implementing effective interventions in maternal, newborn, and child health care at primary and secondary levels of care.
This grant will allow expansion on early learning programmes by exposing children and teachers as well as community health workers to critical thinking skills development through playful learning with Lego and through robotics.
Together with the UP’s Community Oriented Primary Care unit, the unit embarked on community outreach programmes that will focus on three key areas aimed at sustainable improvement: health, nutrition, and education. This project aims to reduce maternal and infant mortality rates through improving access to essential and comprehensive medical maternal and child health services, and to training community health workers/health care providers and teachers of all the early learning centers in the informal settlement. This g will support and develop mothers and children to be able to self-actualize physical well-being and emotional strength/psychological well-being. We are also looking to improve overall health through nutritional education and cognitive development of mothers and children so as to encourage critical thinking, self-care, and early learning by training future trainers.
Free counselling services are offered to registered students by the Student Counselling Unit (SCU). In addition to mental health matters, the SCU offers counseling, career assessment, and a cognitive development programme/cognitive training, free of charge. Hospital admissions are arranged free of charge and medical intervention is limited but free in appropriate cases. A 24-hour toll-free telephone crisis line is available to all students. This is run in partnership with the university counselling unit where students' problems can be followed up face to face.
The Mental Health of the healthcare workers was highlighted as a priority area when the pandemic started and to that end, the UP and Healthcare Workers Care Network signed an MOU to tackle mental health. Click here to read more.
Student Health Services (SHS) is committed to providing all students with sexual and reproductive health services that entail complete physical, mental and social well-being in all matters relating to the reproductive health system. It implies that students are able to have a safe and healthy sex life, the capability to reproduce, and the freedom to decide if, when, and how often to do so. These services are available to all students and are free. The Faculty of Health Sciences and the university also run specific campaigns to create awareness and to support students.
Sports facilities are accessible to students, staff members, professional sports pupils, and the local high school (TuksSport High School) for free (outdoor facilities), and non-members are charged a small fee. Indoors facilities (gymnasium, swimming pool, karate, etc.) are not free of charge. This applies to students, staff, and the community.
The Faculty of Health Sciences is also host to the Sport, Exercise Medicine and Lifestyle Institute (SEMLI). SEMLI is not only a research institute with the aim to address lifestyle and non-communicable diseases in a primary health care approach, but also is the host of a clinical facility that is open to the public. The trans- and interdisciplinary approach include disciplines like Sports Medicine, Physiotherapy, Biokinetics, Human Nutrition and Dietetics, and others. They provide a service to schools spanning more than 55 000 learners related to sports education, outreach, and exercise. Watch SEMLI's Clinical & Scientific Services Video here
With more than 30 sports clubs, TuksSport offers a home for dedicated sports people but also creates an atmosphere for staff, students, and members of the public to participate in a fun-filled and secure environment. In collaboration with the Student Sports Committee, TuksSport accommodates 9 000 participants per week throughout the year. TuksSport not only focuses on top performers but also on club contestants and recreational participants. It provides a comprehensive, high-performance support programme that ranges from scientific and medical, sports testing, fitness, technical and tactical expertise, sports injuries, and sports psychology support. Sport represents a significant part of student life. The University of Pretoria provides students with opportunities to participate in a variety of sporting disciplines at a club, national and international levels. The University also boasts excellent sports facilities, which are highly regarded both nationally and internationally. The Hillcrest Campus is centrally located and is easily accessible to students. TuksSport has a large number of sports clubs and is currently the largest source of athletes for a variety of sports disciplines and national teams. TuksSport forms a vital part of the UP experience, and therefore, you are encouraged to select the University of Pretoria for an outstanding sporting and academic career. Sport also covers not only high-performance athletes, but significantly provides facilities and programmes for the students at UP for their recreational, health, and wellness needs. Besides this TuksSport offers junior programmes for the broader community in the city, providing coaching and sport development skills training to young individuals/scholars, by making use of the vast facilities (across 30+ sporting codes) of the University.
We are proud of our reputation for sporting excellence, which spans performance, facilities, expertise, and working partnerships, but one thing we are incredibly proud of is how broad our sports offer is. Whether you are a complete beginner looking to try something new or an elite athlete with a record of high achievement, our campus is home to some of the best opportunities in the world. Membership is open to students, staff, alumni, and the community. Our clubs offer something for everyone whatever your interest in sport and fitness, find out more about what our more than 30 clubs have to offer and get involved.
The University of Pretoria’s High-Performance Centre (HPC) is Southern Africa’s first elite performance sports facility. Launched in May 2002, the Centre is the training ground for tomorrow’s sporting champions and the venue of choice for sports professionals and enthusiasts alike.
The HPC, situated on the Hillcrest Campus of the University of Pretoria, offers a unique combination of world-class training facilities, medical services, accommodation and hospitality, nutritional and scientific expertise, and research, which has earned this Centre a reputation of excellence and success, both locally and internationally. These facilities attract a steady flow of international athletes, as well as local sporting bodies for training camps and specific team preparation. The HPC has become the preferred location for Team South Africa pre-departure camps and the centre of choice for specialization for a significant number of national federations. Within this sporting environment, the Sports Academy Programme initiative has been endorsed by several national and international sporting federations on numerous occasions.
Use of the High-Performance Center facilities is not limited to the use only by High-Performance athletes, however, the general public that also would like to make use of the services on offer can access these.
Traditionally many African sports federations have enrolled their talented athletes in the Academy Programme. Athletes from Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia, Kenya, Zambia, and Botswana frequently spend time at the HPC while preparing to compete on the global stage.
TuksSport High School is an independent school for boys and girls from Grade 8 to 12. This specialized school allows current and potential high-performance athletes to train and travel internationally while remaining in school. TuksSport High School offers learner athletes a unique opportunity to live out their passion for sport in a distinctive and supportive sporting milieu created by the HPC and the University of Pretoria. The children in this school come from across the country, with many being identified and recruited from previously disadvantaged backgrounds and not the necessary facilities and coaching to achieve their level of sporting potential.
Read more about Goal 3 on the UN website
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