Ensuring Free Healthcare for DUT Students

DUT’s Isolempilo Campus Health Clinic, staffed by professional nurses and doctors, provides registered students with free medical services and advice in a professional and confidential manner. DUT Connect spoke to Sister Soori Wardthen to clarify what services are offered and which events the clinic hosted last year.

Q: What is the Clinic’s aim, vision and

mission?

A: Our aim is to make health and wellness a culture and/ or a lifestyle among our student population. Our vision is to provide free primary healthcare aimed at preventive, promotive and curative healthcare for students. We try to provide a holistic healthcare service that assists students to reach their maximum potential in all areas of life. We, therefore, direct our efforts holistically to be in line with the World Health Organisation (WHO). Acknowledging that these areas of life are interrelated, we, therefore, seek to promote a multidisciplinary approach in the provision of healthcare services within our university. We also take cognisance of the external factors that influence health, namely, the environmental and economic factors.

Q: What unique features are on offer at the clinic that will make students’ lives easier?

A: The clinic offers a comprehensive service within the Department of Student Counselling and Health with ease of referrals to and from the Student Counselling and HIV Centre. Furthermore, students are referred to departments within the University for other services that are available, namely: • Radiography • Chiropractic • Homeopathy • Dental

The services available at the campus health clinic are as follows: • Treatment for minor ailments, e.g. cough and colds • Treatment for sexually transmitted infections • All contraceptives including: º Male and female condoms º Emergency contraceptives (morning after pill) º Implanon º Emergency care, including rape management and needle stick injuries, epilepsy and asthma º Pap smears º A support system for long-term treatment º Wellness clinic º Tuberculosis management º A medical doctor is available for two hours daily º Health information and dissemination º Immunisation º Referrals to and from clinics (internally and externally) º HIV testing service, including provider-initiated counselling and testing (PICT) º Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) to prevent HIV º Post-exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) for rape or needle stick injuries º Anti-retroviral treatment (ART) initiation for HIV-positive students

A senior professional nurse at an isolation room for suspected COVID-19 patients at the Ritson Campus.

Plan A Prevention of Pregnancies for Tertiary Students (IALCH)

Pregnancy Awareness Day

Mental Health and Wellness Fair Know Your Status

STI Condom Week

Q: What have been the most prevalent health issues that you have dealt with in past year?

A: These conditions have been the most prevalent: • Dermatological – eczemas and fungal infections, allergic reactions and acne • Gastrointestinal conditions • Sexually-transmitted infections • Seasonal flu and common colds

Q: What events do you host? Where do you go and who do you service?

A: Events are usually held on campus to serve the DUT community.

• Events held in 2019:

º Mental Health and Wellness Fair º Know your Status º MMC º STI Condom Week º Plan A Prevention of Pregnancies for Tertiary

Students (IALCH) º Pregnancy Awareness Day º First-year Student Orientation º International Menstrual Hygiene Day º World Aids Day º Cuppa for Cansa fundraising for NGOs º HIV/AIDS GBV community engagement

Health services in Durban are available on the following campuses:

º Steve Biko º Ritson º City º Brickfield

Q: What has been the response of students to your services?

A: Students are happy that health services are offered on campus, saving them from having to wait in long queues at primary healthcare clinics and hospitals. Students are seen on an appointment basis, usually within an hour, at a time that suits them. There are no queues or bookings for emergencies.

Q: Are your services well-known, accessible and communicated effectively?

A: At present, we are not accessible to students on the ML Sultan campus. These students attend the clinic on the Ritson or Steve Biko campuses. Services are communicated at orientation and events, and information is also available on the DUT website.

Q: What are the costs involved in paying a visit? Is it open to outsiders or just currently registered students?

A: The services are exclusively for registered DUT students and there are no costs to access treatment. Consultations with the medical doctors are also free.

Q: Do students get to do their practical medical training at the clinic?

A: The training is not offered for Medical interns, however, a limited number of students from the Health Sciences Department have been accommodated. Students from other departments at DUT, e.g. Public Relations, are also offered an opportunity to fulfil the requirements for Work Integrated Learning (WIL) and are placed at the campus clinics.

Q: What advice or tips would you give current and past students in terms of maintaining good health?

A: Maintain good health by: • Know you and your partner’s HIV status and practice dual protection • Do not succumb to peer pressure • Balance your social life and studies • Eat a balanced diet • Attend the clinic annually for basic screening, e.g. blood pressure and pap smears • Have routine HIV testing every three months

Q: Issues of concern

• The current SARS-CoV 2 Pandemic • An increase in the number of students presenting with mental illness from anxiety-related issues and depression to more serious conditions

CONTACT DETAILS In order to make an appointment, attend the clinic or call: Tel: 031 373 2223 Gate 5, Steve Biko Campus (opposite the Sports Centre)