UB BIDS FAREWELL TO LEGAL SERVICES DIRECTOR

Yesterday the University of Botswana bid farewell to Ms Tshegofatso Grace Mogomotsi who was Director Legal Services. Ms Mogomotsi is joining the High Court of Botswana as a judge.
She was appointed Director Legal Services in April 2016 from the High Court where she was Deputy Registrar and Master of the High Court (Corporate Services) from 2012 to March, 2016.

CONFERMENT OF HONORARY DOCTORATE, AND INAUGURATION OF UB CHANCELLOR AND VICE CHANCELLOR

The University of Botswana will confer Honorary Doctorate on the President of the Republic of Botswana, Mr Mokgweetsi E. K. Masisi, during its 36th Graduation Ceremony which will be held at the UB Stadium on Saturday 13th October 2018 starting at 6am.
During the same ceremony, former Bank of Botswana Governor, Ms Linah Mohohlo, will be inaugurated as the 5th Chancellor of the University of Botswana while and Professor David Norris, will be inaugurated at the 6th Vice Chancellor.

Conferment of honorary doctorate and subsequently the inaugurations will kick start the events of the day.

Implications of policy on the needs and interests of elderly population

Despite the rapid growing ageing population of the elderly in Botswana, like the rest of the world they face uncertain future because their needs and interest are largely invisible on Botswana policy agenda said University of Botswana Head of the Department of Law.

Dr Dinokopila was speaking at the Global Innovation workshop on Ageing, Frailty and Resilience organized by University of Botswana School of Madison and the University of Birmingham (UK) on September 25, 2018 at Sir Ketumile Masire Teaching Hospital Auditorium. The objective of the workshop was to explore ageing, frailty and resilience in Botswana in the face of demographic transition. He said there are no rights that specifically speak to rights of older people to maintain and promote the rights, status, wellbeing, safety and their security leading to abusive situations such as marginalization, discrimination, neglect, isolation, poverty and depression as they age by family members Dr Dinokopila.

He said that those receiving old age grants are also open to financial abuse by other family members and may not fully benefit from this income. He said the problem is compounded by mechanisms available such as the police and social workers which are not specifically integrated to deal with specific issues affecting elderly people and lack of knowledge on their rights and financials to engage law advocates.

However their main concern for elderly population is healthcare provisions and pension said Dr Dinokopila.”Their most likely face challenges associated with ageing, such as: increased need of care for the growing older population and their families, increased demand for elderly healthcare services, increased social expenditure, greater provision of elderly household and consumptive needs; and enhanced role of older persons and focus on their needs in the political arena.

He further stated that health challenges for the elderly are worsened by small pension schemes that cover very few people due to the informality of most livelihood activities and employment. He said most societies are predominantly rural and much of the population operates outside the security of formal sector and wage-dependent markets.

He also made number of recommendations aimed at improving elderly problem such as programmes which can facilitate the awareness of ageing implications need to be implemented and strengthened. He also recommended governments should include the ageing issue in their policy planning by adapting their national budgetary provision, boosting pension and social protection schemes, targeting health care, and supporting community and family care.

Clinical Psychologist Thato Molefi said elderly people are entitled to free health care in the public health system, but they struggle to access quality care because of health system capacity constraints and age-related barriers to access.  She said Health services tend to be clinic-based and focused on acute conditions. She also said the health system does not have the capacity to deal with the complex needs of older people with multiple continuing conditions. She also added that healthcare workers may also have negative attitudes towards older people which can affect care and as a result, manageable health issues are overlooked or attributed to the ageing process, resulting in low levels of functioning, poorer health outcomes and diminished quality of life.

Meanwhile Pabalelong Hospice Sister Vinayi Chalil said the healthcare problem is critical because of the long-term chronic conditions associated with growing old, such as heart disease, cancer, respiratory, hypertension, disorders and dementia. She further stated that problems such as HIV epidemics, poor education outcomes, unemployment, and lack of access to basic services and general poverty and working age group affect the youth to provide care for their elders. “Older people’s pensions are also often shared within households to supplement other social grant and wage income,” said Ms Chailil

 University of Pennsylvania and University of Botswana develop research careers of investigators 

The University of Botswana in collaboration with University of Pennsylvania held a two days course on Grant Writing and Research Training with emphasis on Cancer in HIV Subjects as well as building research capacity in Botswana through a strong emphasis on mentoring and education on September 11, 2018 at UB Library Auditorium.

The training brought together experienced investigators from UB and UPenn with expertise in mentoring, research methodology, viral oncology, cancer therapeutics, and behavioral studies with the overall objective to help junior faculty at UB develop research skills. Mentoring/Career Development Core (Core D) holds an annual course at UB to discuss recent issues in HIV and cancer in Botswana. Candidates interested in applying for pilot grant funding are mentored on how to write a pilot grant and how to design and implement a research study. The Core D led by University of Botswana Madison Department Head Dr Oathokwa Nkomazana and UPenn Medicine/Infectious Disease Professor Harvey Friedman. 

University of Botswana Head of the Department of Medicine Dr Oathokwa Nkomazana said UB, the Government of Botswana and UPenn have worked together for 13 years to build capacity in health care, education and research in Botswana. She further stated that the Core will build upon the strong ties between UB and UPenn to help develop the research careers of investigators at UB.

“Through this Core, we will introduce two novel programs at UB, including year-out options for medical students to participate in mentored research projects, and career mentoring for those UB trainees and faculty that are interested in biomedical research. We also offer pilot grant funding for two mentored research pilot projects annually at P125, 000 each that links a UB Faculty member with a scientific mentor from UB and UPenn,” said Dr Nkomazana

Biomedical research participants were trained on the following topics: Ethical Conduct of Research, Protection of Human Subjects, Manuscript and Grant Writing Skills, Research Methodology, Data Analysis, and Biostatistics. Other activities that unfolded during the event include review of research methodology for UB staff membered that has been offered the grant by UPenn to conduct the study on cancer in HIV Subjects in Botswana.

Highlighting the on the background of Cancer and HIV Botswana, UB Faculty of Medicine, Department of Family Medicine and Public Health Lecture Mr Billy Tsima said   Risk of cancer is not only seen in immunosuppressed HIV patients but also in organ transplant patient. He added that HIV may not necessarily be the direct cause of the cancers as it is not known to be oncogenic, however the virus is known to induce the production of various cytokines and growth factors, which can act as growth promoters.

He also said HIV immunosuppressed patients seem to have higher rates of virus-associated cancers (compared to general population). HIV immunosuppression reduces patient’s ability to fight other viruses including oncogenic virus and thus leading to cancers such as cervical cancer and liver cancer.

Shanghai Normal University in the Republic of China donated 138 Books on China and Chinese learning to the University of BotswanaS

Shanghai Normal University in the Republic of China donated 138 Books on China and Chinese learning to the University of Botswana on September 13, 2018 in order to strengthen their relations and introduce more about the history and culture of China to both teachers and students of UB.

When presenting the donation to the University of Botswana at the UB Library, Shanghai Normal University Director Library Professor Liu Mingang said in the future they hope to have established a Botswana Information Centre in Shanghai Normal University Library to provide more information to support China’s research and study of Botswana to enhance the cooperation between the two Universities governments. He added that for that to be achieved they also need the input of UB Library.

Professor Mingang further stated that the cooperation between the two will also help teachers and students for both institutions to know about each other through exchange projects. He also highlighted that both China and Botswana are Developing countries, however China has developed rapidly in recent years which was based on learning form countries around the world including Botswana and its people.

“After returning to Shanghai, we will report to the relevant departments of our University and actively promote the exchange of teachers and students mentioned by both parties during our discussion,” said Professor Mingang.

He also expressed his gratitude towards UB Library management for the arrangements made and virtuous operations of the library including the internal arrangements and the divisions of the work of the Librarians.

The University of Botswana Dean Faculty of Humanities Professor Chebanne expressed his gratitude to Shanghai Normal University for strengthening their collaboration by donating books in colors to learn and learn better. He said it symbolizes a dedication of a good and healthy relationship between the two institutions and represents knowledge of which is what they want to treasure.

“It is a good investment because books are the heart of the library and those who love knowledge must also love the library. It is the gesture which is significant not the number,” said Professor Chebanne.

The University of Botswana Library Services Director Mr Edwin Qobose said the two institutions have signed a binding agreement to have long investment agreement to strengthen their collaboration. He also said it is an excellent donation because it is hard to find suppliers of them locally.

BUIST Postgraduates Association acquire skills and knowledge from UB (SGS) to improve administration

A delegation from Botswana University of Science and Technology (BUIST) Postgraduates Association visited the University of Botswana Postgraduates Association on August 27-29, 2018 to acquire knowledge and skills on their sustainable attainment of decent headship.

The delegation comprised of Acting Chairperson Ms. Mmoloki Makoba, Secretary Genaral Mr Gratitude Charis, Assistant Secretary General Confort Ramakgala, Financial Secretary Mr Wiseeman Ruwona, and additional members Ms Lesego Masutlha, Mr Resego Phiri, Mr Nyoni Kevin, Mr Bakang Kaekane.

Speaking at the meeting Ms Makoba said they found it very fit to benchmark on UB SGS association to learn from them how they manage to attain good sustainable governance of their association, their strength, funding opportunities to help incoming up with innovative ways of improving and develop  their unstable postgraduate association to be efficient and productive.

She also added that they want to strengthen relations with UB SGS association by collaborate in many ways across institutions to shared ideas and experience to better serve the students and make education more affordable and therefor more accessible at high level.

Meanwhile, Acting Director Student Welfare Ms Mabe said it very vital for both institutions to collaborate to learn from each other to better achieve the mission of helping all students by working cooperatively rather than separately.

She added that dipper collaboration of both institutions can spur innovation by bringing together group of people who have different ideas, approaches, experiences and areas of expertise to create a fertile environment for generating new concepts and methods.

“It's time to share what we know about how to serve students better, so that the beneficial effects of innovation can multiply rapidly across academic cultures, and across the diverse student populations striving for a Postgraduate studies across both institutions,” said Ms Mabe.

The delegation also visited Deans for faculty of Sciences and Engendering as well as Deputy Vice Chancelors.