MESSAGE FROM THE VICE-CHANCELLOR
Health and Wellness
My last communication with our alumni, donors and friends using this platform was in the second semester of 2019. We would have liked to have communicated with you earlier than now, but I am sure you understand how badly lives have been turned upside down by the outbreak of COVID-19.
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his message follows two editions of Iminingo between April and June dealing not only with the difficulties COVID-19 has created, but also important lessons from this ostensibly debilitating experience. I am assuming that all our internal stakeholders, including alumni, regularly receive university communiques. For this reason, I will not repeat what I have said in the two editions of Iminingo I am referring to. It’s safe to say that our Alumni Office always facilitates engagement with you. As you would have noticed, I also deal with other important institutional affairs and developments. Be that as it may, this piece of communication is about extending my heartfelt greetings and well wishes to all our alumni, donors and friends of DUT. I trust that you have managed to remain unscathed by the global pandemic that has besieged us and, in fact, continues to do so more virulently now. Please continue to look after yourselves and encourage all your loved ones to be careful, too. The virus can be fatal. Serendipitously, the theme of this edition is Health and Wellness, an apt topic during these physically and psychologically testing times. The COVID-19 pandemic has certainly challenged us in many ways. We have read about how being in great physical health can significantly improve our chances of recovery if infected. Fortunately, both national and global statistics demonstrate significantly higher recovery rates. The lockdown and the restrictions that accompany it have been challenging
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to many from a psychological perspective as well. Social isolation, especially for those living alone, is much more difficult, but we trust that you have had access to various technological devices that connect you with loved ones. The consequences of the pandemic have been far-reaching. Of great concern, even from the onset, was the stress it would bring to bear on the health system in terms of availability of beds, ventilators and personal protective equipment (PPEs). I must also use this opportunity to express our appreciation to all those alumni and friends of DUT working hard on the frontlines of the health profession to assist those who have been infected and affected by the virus. Unfortunately, we must also acknowledge that the pandemic has drawn the great divide between the ‘haves’ and the ‘have-nots’ and the severe societal inequalities that exist into sharp focus.The ‘haves’ are able to ride the proverbial coronavirus wave with relative ease with access to various resources, making the social distancing and lockdown restrictions more bearable. Many households experience partial or complete loss of income as a result of the restrictions, leaving many vulnerable and dependent on handouts and the generosity of others. This divide is a result of both our history of separate development and the post-apartheid mistakes we have made as a nation. It is against this backdrop that our Envision 2030, the new strategy we launched in February this year, is very deliberate about DUT positively impacting the lives and livelihoods of our people through its socially aware,
