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10 December 2004

Chancellor of MEDUNSA
Vice Chancellor
Members of the Senate
Council Members
Students and the University community at large
Distinguished guests
Ladies and Gentlemen

It is indeed a great honour and privilege that I address this congregation of MEDUNSA on this important day. This day is of particular significance for this institution not only because you are celebrating your 23rd graduation ceremony but also because it is the last graduation of this institution as MEDUNSA.
Programme Director, the Ministry of Health joins the chorus of fellow South Africans who are extremely proud of your achievements since this institution was established in 1976.

INDEED you have leaved up to your mission statement which boldly proclaims: "We empower the educationally disadvantaged community of Southern Africa by providing excellent community oriented tertiary education, training and research in the health and related sciences and we promote services at all levels of health care in our community"

This is most commendable indeed, and can be observed through implementation of outreach programmes within South Africa as well as collaboration with a number of SADC countries outside our borders.

It seems like yesterday when MEDUNSA first opened its gates to young students almost 28 years ago. But your impressive record is unparalleled.

Programme Director, MEDUNSA's achievements can be best understood within the institution's proper historical context. When MEDUNSA was established back in 1976, the main purpose was to cater for the underprivileged communities of this country. The initial intention of the apartheid masters was to produce some form of "barefoot black doctors" who would not be able to compete fairly with their counterparts.

This move was strongly resisted and I am proud to say that to date MEDUNSA has managed to compete very well with other medical schools.

MEDUNSA is currently a major producer of medical doctors from previously disadvantaged communities. I am proud to say that this institution today continues to lead in the provision of health professionals who stay to serve the country at the rate of 95% retention. Many of these doctors are more than happy to serve their communities both in urban and rural areas where health services are much needed.

The university's contribution towards addressing scarce skills in the health sector over the years is beyond question. Indeed you have performed beyond expectations - to think that by the end of this ceremony this institution would be short of only three graduates to reach the 10,000 mark - this is an achievement worth celebrating indeed.

It is worth noting that the field of Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery has the highest number of graduates, 3266 (35%). I am pleased to note that 120 recipients of diplomas have been trained in the management of HIV and AIDS. There is a great need for training of health workers to support the implementation of the Comprehensive Plan for Management, Care and Treatment of HIV and AIDS.

South Africa is faced with a complex burden of diseases of poverty, tuberculosis, water-borne illnesses, infant and maternal mortality, respiratory diseases, diabetes, sexually transferred infections, AIDS, cancers, mental disease and others. It is therefore important to broaden our programmes to ensure that our graduates are able to respond adequately to the health care needs of the people.

Programme Director as we review the rich history and achievements of this institution we should allow ourselves also to be bold enough to review some of the shortcomings and challenges needing attention.

One particular notable area in the history of MEDUNSA that requires some attention and perhaps review is around the veterinary science school. Since its establishment in 1982, the MEDUNSA faculty of veterinary was very different from its counterpart based at the University of Pretoria, which boasted a long history and a world-class animal hospital.

Indeed, up until the 1980's veterinary education in South Africa had been available only to white students with the result that the profession was not well established in black communities. Attempts to admit black students to the University of Pretoria since the 1970's met with a number of difficulties including stringent entry requirements and failure to promote this profession amongst historically disadvantaged communities.

Ten years into our democracy, the Veterinary Science remains one of the most marginalized and neglected professions at MEDUNSA - with only 8 graduates recorded in May 2004.

Another area where I feel we need to improve is in the field of pharmacy. Pharmacists are the scarcest skill in the country and I would encourage all pharmacy schools to pitch enrolment levels higher so as to meet our requirements with regard to health care delivery.

The Medicine Control Act, which is coming into effect in different phases, increases the demand for this profession. It requires that medicines be handled by people with necessary skills to ensure safety and good quality standards. Compliance with many of the provisions of this Act is dependent on availability of qualified pharmacists and properly trained dispensing health professionals.
Since the release of the report by the National Working Group to the Minister of Education - there has been positive developments regarding the restructuring of higher education to ensure better access and equity.

We are confident that the institutional efficiency that will come with MEDUNSA's merge with the University of the North will translate into better provision of higher education and ensure that we improve the supply of skilled personnel not only in health related professions but in other fields as well.

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate those who have been appointed to the top management positions of the new University of Limpopo. I would like to mention in particular the new interim vice chancellor, Prof Mahlo Mokgalong and the principals of the two campuses, Dr Andile Dyasi (Medunsa Campus) and Prof Peter Franks (Turfloop campus). I hope that you will utilise these positions to ensure that the process of merging the two institutions runs smoothly and is success.

Programme Director, since its inception in 1976, MEDUNSA has always been at the forefront in reaching out to the disadvantaged and marginalized communities. Besides Gauteng province, MEDUNSA also services the North West, Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces. Collaborations with Free State province in the area of dentistry have also started.

Outside the borders of South Africa, this university occupies a prominent position within the African continent and has students in many parts of Africa. Although there is a significant number of undergraduate students particularly from the SADC countries, most students are enrolled in postgraduate studies particularly the Masters in Public Health Programme. I understand that SADC students actually form 7,6% of the total MEDUNSA student population in 2004.
Over and above this, the international office of MEDUNSA services students and embassies all over Africa. Students come from countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Angola, Burundi, Kenya and Malawi. Most of the collaboration with the African countries gained momentum during the period when the government of South Africa was in the leadership position of SADC. This will inevitably be expanded as part of this country's responsibility towards the goals and objectives of NEPAD.

In conclusion, I would like to challenge MEDUNSA with regard to more innovative recruitment strategies into its undergraduate programmes predominantly from underserved rural areas.

Our greatest problem remains the difficulty in deployment of skilled health professionals into rural areas. Research from countries such as Canada, Australia and others indicates that recruiting from rural areas yields a greater number of health professionals that are more inclined towards servicing the rural areas. If we look at more innovative ways in selecting candidates from such areas, we stand a better chance of progressively addressing the challenge of attracting and retaining health professionals in rural areas.

I trust that I can continue to rely on MEDUNSA to be more creative on this initiative with regard to its subsequent intakes of undergraduate students. This should include creativity in the area of training of midlevel health workers, in particular the Medical Assistants

I wish to congratulate and extend my best wishes to all graduates today. Go out there and serve our communities with dignity, respect and high level of professionalism. South Africans need your service. Your commitment to improve the health of the people of this country is very much appreciated.
I would also like to thank the management and academic staff of MEDUNSA for the excellent work done thus far and best wishes for the future.

I wish you all a merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and indeed a safe and prosperous festive season.

Thank you

Issued by: Department of Health
10 December 2004
Source: Department of Health (http://www.doh.gov.za)