Wits Initiative for Rural Health Education receives international recognition

Through the Talloires Network, the annual prizes awarded by the MacJannet Foundation serve to recognise university programmes globally that are achieving excellence in student engagement initiatives and ongoing public service efforts.

Says Nontsikelelo Mapukata-Sondzaba, co-ordinator of WIRHE, "We are honoured to be acknowledged by the international community for our efforts."

Recruiting disadvantaged students for health science programmes

Founded in 2003, the project's aim is to recruit disadvantaged students from rural areas into health science programmes and support them to become health professionals. It started as a pilot programme with nine students supported by seed funding and in 11 years, has grown to include more than 50 students with funding provided by the North West provincial government.

When students are accepted into the programme, they are required to a sign a commitment that upon completion of the programme and their necessary medical training, they will return to their communities. They are also required to return to participate in community engagement activities in their home communities during vacations. The hope is that through this connection with the community, a culture of service is nurtured so that the contracts become unnecessary.

High pass rate

A challenge for students coming from rural backgrounds is adapting to the academic standards of the university. However, with the support of the WIRHE programme, both academic and personal, the pass rate of students in the programme is around 90%, which is much higher than the average for students from similar backgrounds without this level of support. Many of the WIRHE programme's graduates are now professionals working in rural public hospitals in their districts of origin.

Testament to the success of the programme, recent WIRHE graduate, Dr Justice Mautjana explains, "I learned through the scholarship that, no matter how bright you are, it takes people who care to change your life. As the former students of the WIRHE, we are grateful for what the scholarship has done for our community and the skills it has empowered us with as we re-build our community from the foundations of poverty, violence and drug abuse."

Professor Ian Couper, director of the Centre for Rural Health adds, "It is gratifying that our efforts over the last decade are being acknowledged, although ultimately the success of the graduates of our programme is what brings the greatest rewards. The struggles of disadvantaged, rural origin students to fulfil their dreams to train as health care professionals in order to serve their communities inspire and encourage us."

"The WIRHE is completely dependent on funding from external donors to function. The costs of running the programme are much greater than the costs of the student bursaries provided by the North West province. Staff members involved are in academic positions, so the grants go directly to student support and not to salaries. This award brings with it a huge sense of accomplishment and under these circumstances is a remarkable achievement," concludes Professor Couper.