Faculty of Veterinary Science, Onderstepoort

19/09/2024

INVITATION TO THE 34th LECTURE IN THE UP EXPERT LECTURE SERIES ON 9 OCTOBER 2024: PROF ALAN GUTHRIE

The University of Pretoria cordially invites you to the 34th lecture in the UP Expert Lecture Series, titled: "Harnessing Molecular Techniques to Advance Horse Health." It will be presented by Professor Alan Guthrie, Director of the Equine Research Centre (ERC) in the Faculty of Veterinary Science.

Prof Guthrie (photo) is the first expert of this faculty to present the UP Expert Lecture since its inception.

The IN-PERSON event will be as follows:

Date: Wednesday, 9 October 2024
Time: 18:00
Venue: Senate Hall, Hatfield Campus, University of Pretoria

Enquiries: Contact Lynette Smith at [email protected]

Please RSVP by close of business on Friday, 04 October 2024, using the link provided here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1f6NPDaEH_mryApZaPVV5JXG1m1RIAeNcqaMyBTdgbgY/edit

For more information about this presentation, click here https://bit.ly/4deHEno

12/09/2024

FACULTY’S WILDLIFE SECTION HOSTS ANOTHER EXCITING WILDLIFE TECHNICAL WEEK

The Faculty of Veterinary Science of the University of Pretoria recently hosted its 2024 VEP Wildlife Technical Week.

Organised by specialist wildlife veterinarian Dr Jacques O’Dell and the faculty’s Wildlife Section, the annual event is a mix of applied lectures, case discussions and practical sessions. The Veterinary Elective Practice (VEP) module also forms part of the training of 5th and 6th year students of whom 41 participated in this year’s event.

Guest lecturers at the event included Dr Lufuno Netsh*tavhadulu from SANparks veterinary wildlife services, Dr Dewald Keet from the National Zoological Gardens, Dr Hendrik Hansen from Embryo Plus and Mr Craig Shepstone, owner of the Wildlife Nutrition Services company.

Sponsors of the week included Drs Michael K**k and Richard Burroughs, Wildlife Pharmaceuticals South Africa, and Motsumi Darts (a company that is manufacturing remote drug delivery systems including darts shot from a dart rifle or projector). Wildlife Pharmaceuticals also ensured that each student gets a 'goodie' bag.

The darting practical session is always good fun and this year the competition was fierce. From the three groups, eight finalists went through to sudden death rounds.

In the end, Nic Lonsdale walked away with first prize (a capture book, signed by Dr Richard Burroughs and a pole syringe sponsored by Motsumi Darts). Second prize went to Alex Schliemann (a capture book, sponsored by Wildlife Pharmaceuticals). Third prize went to Monica Boender (a cap from Motsumi Darts)

The best case study presentation was that of group 2A consisting of Danielle Arnold, Thomas Saunders, Zaid Vawda, Alex Schliemann, Scott Cuthbert, Lee van der Mast and Nic Lonsdale who gave an excellent presentation on spotted hyena capture.

Tiara Govender won the lucky draw prize (a signed copy of the book ‘Through My Eyes’, written and sponsored by Dr Michael K**k)

The organisers wish to thank all the sponsors, guest lecturers and faculty staff who made this week possible 🆚️

06/09/2024

OPVSC SINGING GROUP EXCELS IN UP’s SING IT A CAPPELA 2024 COMPETITION

The OPVSC A Ca****la 2024 singing group of the Faculty of Veterinary Science recently finished first out of all the University of Pretoria (UP) faculty houses and was the only faculty house to advance to the UP Sing it A Ca****la 2024 finals.

In early August, the OPVSC A Ca****la 2024 singing group braced the stages of the Hatfield campus with their performance titled ‘Scientia’. The play revolves around lab rats that are test subjects in a scientific study. They all have hopelessly big dreams of what they want to become one day, although never having seen the outside of a cage. After finding out they will all be euthanized as the study is discontinued, they plot their master escape plan and get their first taste of true freedom. This performance highlights the invaluable sacrifices made by lab animals to scientific advancements in human medicine, as well as drawing attention to the ethical considerations in laboratory research and advocating for a more compassionate approach to animal welfare.

For the preliminary performances the group, this year consisting of 17 members, competed against all the UP faculty houses and Tuks residences. The finals took place on 9 August 2024 where they competed against residences (Curelitzia, House Mags, House Ukuthula, Mopane, Madelief, Invicta, Erica, Dregeana, College, Nerica, Vividus and Blossom Delight). Although they were not awarded a prize in the finals, their achievement is something to be really proud of.

The annual Sing it A Ca****la event is organised by the Student Culture Committee (STUKU) of the University of Pretoria which focuses on providing support to residences, day houses and faculty houses with their culture events and activities on behalf of the Student Representative Council (SRC) 🆚

02/09/2024

UP FACULTY OF VETERINARY SCIENCE SHINES AT 21st SASVEPM CONGRESS

The Faculty of Veterinary Science of the University of Pretoria made a significant impact at the 21st Southern African Society for Veterinary Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine (SASVEPM) Congress. Held from 21 to 23 August 2024 at the Lagoon Beach Hotel in Cape Town, this prestigious event saw outstanding contributions from faculty members, students, and staff.

Prof Chris Marufu of the Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases (DVTD), who serves as the SASVEPM Vice President, played a key role in organizing and steering the congress. His leadership underscored the faculty's commitment to advancing the mission of the society and was pivotal to championing veterinary epidemiology and preventive medicine in the region.

Prof Nenene Qekwana, head of the Department of Paraclinical Sciences delivered a compelling keynote address on antimicrobial resistance, further highlighting the faculty's expertise in veterinary research and influencing policy formulation. His presentation on antimicrobial stewardship in the African context, was met with enthusiasm, adding considerable value to the congress's academic discussions.

A highlight of the event was the achievement of Ms Tshenolo Mbaba, a PhD student in Production Animal Studies, who won the Best Poster Award. This accolade is a testament to the high-quality research being conducted within the faculty, and it underscores the potential of emerging scholars at the University of Pretoria.

The congress also featured a series of presentations from staff and students from all 5 academic departments of the faculty, showcasing a diverse range of research topics and innovations in veterinary epidemiology. These contributions reinforced the faculty's position as a leader in veterinary education and research in Africa.

As one of the partners of the 21st SASVEPM Congress, the Faculty of Veterinary Science demonstrated its ongoing commitment to fostering collaboration and advancing veterinary science both regionally and globally. The strong presence and active participation of its members at the congress have set a high standard for future engagements 🆚

23/08/2024

FACULTY HOSTS YET ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL FACULTY DAY

The Faculty of Veterinary Science annually hosts its Faculty Day on the Onderstepoort campus. It is a proud tradition which aims to highlight the research activities of the faculty as well as exposing young researchers, postgraduate and final year undergraduate students to a conference environment when presenting their research in the form of oral presentations and a poster session.

It also provides an ideal opportunity for industry and our loyal sponsors to meet with our staff and to engage with our post- and undergraduate students as well as our alumni.

The exciting event is always marked by various highlights and 2024's, opened by the Dean of the faculty, Prof Vinny Naidoo was no exception.

An inspirational keynote lecture by Dr Mark Penning, alumnus and Vice President of Disney's Animals, Science and Environment team at Disney's Animal Kingdom in Orlando, Florida, captured the attention of those present. The title of his lecture was 'Animal Wellbeing beyond private practice – combining art and science.'

Joining the Walt Disney company in 2012, Dr Penning currently provides vision, leadership and strategic direction to a team of over 1000 animal care professionals, story-tellers, and conservationists.

The successful day was concluded with the Faculty’s annual prize giving event to honour our top Faculty researchers.

Congratulations to the winner of the Researcher of the Year award for 2024, Prof Lyndy McGaw and the rest of the Top 10 researchers in the Faculty:

Rest of Top 10 Researchers:

2. Prof Peter Thompson

3. Prof Geoffrey Fosgate

4. Prof Henriette van Heerden

5. Prof Leith Meyer

6. Prof Vinny Naidoo

7. Prof Luis Neves

8. Prof Marinda Oosthuizen

9. Prof Musafiri Karama

10. Shared position: Prof Amelia Goddard and Prof Anita Michel

Congratulations also to the Emerging Researcher of the Year, Dr Josef Hanekom.

OTHER WINNERS

Best Undergraduate VRE Oral Presenter - Le Roux Pepler

Best Postgraduate Poster - Megan Antrobus

Runner-up - Khanyisane Ndwandwe

Best Postgraduate Oral presenter - Dr Andeliza Smit

Runner-up - Dr Yolandi Rautenbach

To VIEW more photos of the event, click here: https://bit.ly/4fWbUGq

16/08/2024

UP RESEARCHERS DISCOVER OPTIMUM WAY TO MONITOR BLOOD OXYGEN LEVELS IN IMMOBILISED RHINO

New research by scientists at the University of Pretoria (UP) has shown that pulse oximeters, originally designed for humans, can be used to monitor the blood oxygen levels in rhinoceroses that are immobilised or under anaesthesia – by attaching them at an unusual site: the rhino’s ‘third eyelid’.

“The third eyelid is a crescent-shaped fold of the outer eye structure which forms a thin, semi-transparent ‘blinking’ membrane over the eye,” explains Dr Thembeka Mtetwa, an early-career comparative physiologist of UP’s Faculty of Veterinary Science.

Immobilising rhino for dehorning or relocation is becoming a routine procedure for wildlife veterinarians working on the frontline to protect these animals from poaching. However, during these procedures, the rhino’s lungs and heart may not respond well to the potent immobilising drugs.

“The drugs can negatively affect cardio-respiratory function; this can cause blood oxygen to drop to dangerously low levels,” Dr Mtetwa says.

While the risks are managed as carefully as possible during these procedures, one of the greatest challenges to date has been identifying a reliable, field-friendly means of monitoring the animal’s blood oxygen levels. Monitoring these levels is essential for making important decisions, such as whether to administer drugs to stimulate breathing or to give oxygen to the rhino.

That is why UP researchers have been working to adapt the use of existing technology and testing it in the field to find an appropriate solution.

Up until now, scientists and vets have typically been monitoring the blood oxygen levels of immobilised rhinos with blood gas analysers and pulse oximeters – which are designed for humans, not for a 1.5- to 2.5-tonne rhino – without any certainty of their reliability. Dr Mtetwa explains that these oximeters are not that different to the kind a doctor might attach to your finger to measure your blood oxygen levels. They provide a real-time reading of the oxygen levels in the blood.

“To give the pulse oximeters the best chance of working, we had to think carefully about where to place them on the rhino’s body – where the animal’s skin and membranes aren’t too thick,” Dr Mtetwa says.

The team discovered that the rhino’s ‘third eyelid’ proved to be the most reliable site to attach the pulse oximeter.

“In humans, the third eyelid is that little pink structure snuggled in the corner of your eye that is barely noticeable – it is vestigial and has no function,” Dr Mtetwa explains. “But in rhinos, it is, of course, much larger, and it contains lots of small blood vessels. It’s also quite noticeable in dogs, cats and other animals; it functions to protect and clear the eye of foreign bodies when it closes, and to help keep the eye moist.”

The new research by Dr Mtetwa and her collaborators – UP and the Faculty’s Professor Leith Meyer, Director of the faculty's Centre for Veterinary Wildlife Research, wildlife vet and physiologist; experimental physiologist Prof Ned Snelling (Faculty); wildlife vet Dr Peter Buss of SANParks; wildlife vet Dr Annette Roug (Extraordinary Lecturer in the faculty); and ecophysiologist Dr Ashleigh Donaldson (Faculty alumnus) – was recently published in the journal BMC Veterinary Research. The group tested the reliability of different pulse oximeters at various attachment sites on the body of an immobilised rhino.

Prof Meyer, who has more than 20 years of experience in wildlife chemical immobilisation, came up with the novel idea to test the feasibility of placing the device on the third eyelid.

“The colour, moisture and capillary refill time of the external mucous membranes of the body are good indicators of hydration, circulation and the overall health of the animal, and are typically good sites to place a pulse oximeter probe,” he says. “However, making use of these membranes on a rhino can be challenging due to their thickness and poor accessibility in some locations of the body, like the mouth. That’s why we decided to explore the mucous membranes of the third eyelid as an alternative option. Luckily, it turned out to be a good idea!”

“The great thing about the rhino’s third eyelid is that it is relatively thin,” Prof Snelling adds. “It has lots of blood vessels close to the surface, and it’s easy for vets and vet nurses to access it.”

“Our findings highlight the importance of using appropriate monitoring techniques in large immobilised animals like rhinos, which have unique anatomical and physiological characteristics,” Dr Mtetwa says. “This new research improves our ability to provide care and ensure the well-being of rhinos in the field.” 🆚

26/07/2024

05/07/2024

Professor Chris Marufu earns NRF Rating for his outstanding research in veterinary parasitology. His dedication to understanding and mitigating the impact of parasites on animal health is pivotal for ensuring global food security and supporting sustainable agriculture. Read more about his incredible journey and impactful worky: https://ow.ly/G1Hj50StSp7

03/07/2024

WE JUST LOVE SUCCESS STORIES

Recently we reported on a kudu bull that was rescued by wildlife vets of the faculty's wildlife clinic. The story had a successful ending when the kudu was released in the Groenkloof Nature Reserve after he recovered from his wounds. You can watch a short video of his release here. For photos of some of the preparations for his journey to freedom led by wildlife veterinarian Dr Jennie Hewlett and assisted by veterinary nurses and students, please click here https://bit.ly/4cpWg3H

24/06/2024

FACULTY'S WILDLIFE CLINIC REMOVES UNUSUAL VISITOR TO SOSHANGUVE'S NEW MAGISTRATE'S COURT

When a male baboon suddenly appears in the middle of a construction site, it can create quite a stir. That was exactly the case when the faculty's wildlife clinic recently received an urgent phone call from Soshanguve's police service about a baboon on the premises of Soshanguve's new magistrate's court.

Specialist veterinary wildlife veterinarian, Professor Katja Koeppel together with final year veterinary students, Ashleigh Pienaar, Gina João and Andrew Robson soon were at the scene where the baboon was locked in one of the partially completed rooms and was hiding on a ventilation duct.

The baboon was then darted after which it ran onto the roof and fell asleep there. The construction team and the building's security staff were all assisting to remove the baboon from the roof. It was carefully carried over the roof and downstairs and brought back to the wildlife clinic of the faculty's Onderstepoort Veterinary Academic Hospital (OVAH) where it recovered.

According to Prof Koeppel the entire construction team was caring and concerned about the welfare of the baboon and it was great to work with them.

On Friday the healthy baboon was released into the custody of the Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital who has the necessary permits to transport and release him.

Because the baboon was spotted in four different places in Soshanguve he was released in a nature reserve in Mpumalanga. Watch a video of the release here: https://bit.ly/3XAx1XW 🆚

18/06/2024

FACULTY WILDLIFE VETERINARIANS RESCUE KUDU BULL

Early on Friday morning the Faculty's wildlife clinic was contacted about a vagrant kudu bull wandering on Airport Road in Doornpoort, Pretoria.

The Faculty dispatched its wildlife vets to the area as soon as possible. At the scene there were already numerous vehicles and people but fortunately the bull was relatively calm and he made himself comfortable behind a bush.

According to specialist wildlife veterinarian Dr Jacques O'Dell, who was at the scene, the bull had some minor injuries and some bleeding was noticeable on its mouth. Members of the Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD) then temporarily halted traffic so that Dr O'Dell could dart the animal.

After a preliminary examination a decision was taken to transport him to the wildlife clinic's boma at the faculty for observation and treatment of his wounds. Still under general anesthesia, the kudu was transported to the faculty on a member of the public's truck while the TMPD escorted the truck and the vets to Onderstepoort.

According to Dr O'Dell the kudu is doing well where he is currently in the wildlife clinic's boma. His wounds were mainly caused by his attempts to get through some fences.

The kudu will be released into the Groenkloof Nature Reserve later this week if he has recovered from his injuries.

The treatment of wild animals is expensive. If you want to contribute towards the care of the kudu or any other cases you can make a donation as follows:

Bank: ABSA
Account number: 4064380892
Reference number: A1E594/03600 🆚

14/06/2024

Our vet team is the best led by Prof Katja Koeppel at Faculty of Veterinary Science, Onderstepoort!! They have developed puppets to help train vet students (and us) how to take blood samples from tricky species like ground-hornbills and other endangered bird species they may meet.
# vet

13/06/2024

FFLYING HIGH: Molecular biologist/virologist Prof Celia Abolnik of UP’s Faculty of Veterinary Science has been rated as a C1 researcher by the National Research Foundation. Read more: https://ow.ly/tbLQ50SfjwR

28/05/2024

REMINDER: Undergraduate applications for Faculty of Veterinary Science, Onderstepoort programmes close on 31 May 2024. No late applications will be accepted. Apply now: https://www.up.ac.za/online-application. Applications for all other programmes close on 30 June 2024.

27/05/2024

17/05/2024

Tune in to kykNET channel 144 on DStv this Sunday, 19 May 2024 at 20:00 when the Faculty's Prof Gerhard Steenkamp, world famous for his maxillofacial dentistry work on wild animals, will feature on the next episode of 'Bewonder & Bewaar’ with English subtitles, hosted by award winning presenter and producer, Bonné de Bod.

*You also stand a chance to win amazing prizes, including a getaway for two to the exclusive Jock Safari Private Lodge worth R50 000 🆚

22/04/2024

FACULTY'S PROF ANITA MICHEL NOMINATED IN LIFETIME AWARD CATEGORY OF THE PRESTIGIOUS NSTF-SOUTH32 AWARDS

Congratulations to Professor Anita Michel (photo) for being nominated in the Lifetime Award category of the prestigious National Science and Technology Forum’s annual NSTF-South32 Awards. Prof Michel is from the Faculty's Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases (DVTD) and Visiting Professor at Utrecht University's Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.

Additionally, she leads the Faculty’s World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) Collaborating Centre for Training in Integrated Livestock and Wildlife Management.

Prof Michel has dedicated her professional career to researching bovine tuberculosis, a zoonotic and economically devastating disease of livestock.

The Lifetime Award recognises and celebrates an outstanding contribution by an individual over a period of 15 years or more. Prof Michel will be competing as finalist in the 2023/2024 NSTF-South32 Awards at South Africa's “Science Oscars" gala event on 11 July 2024.

The Faculty is delighted to see Prof Michel’s outstanding contributions being recognized and we enthusiastically support her success.

The NSTF Awards were established in 1998 as a collaborative effort to recognise and promote outstanding contributions to science, engineering and technology (SET) and innovation by SET-related professionals, teams and organisations in South Africa (SA). This includes experienced researchers, engineers, innovators, science communicators, engineering research capacity builders, and organisational managers/leaders, as well as data and research managers 🆚

18/04/2024

20/03/2024

ATTENTION ALL STUDENTS IN THE FACULTY: WIN PRIZES BY WATCHING THE SERIES 'BEWONDER & BEWAAR'

Don’t miss 13 incredible episodes of the second season of 'Bewonder & Bewaar' with English subtitles, also featuring the Faculty’s own Prof Gerhard Steenkamp.

From Namibia, to America to the best National Parks in South Africa… if you’ve ever wanted to see cutting edge wildlife research on the ground, they take you right there!

The premiere episode of the second season of ‘Bewonder & Bewaar, and this time with English subtitles, airs this Sunday night 24 March at 20:00 on kykNET channel 144 DStv.

Let them know what you thought of the episode after the show on the kykNET page and stand a chance to win!

WIN - * a getaway for two to the exclusive Jock Safari Private Lodge worth R50 000
* a copy of the book ‘Kruger Self-Drive, Routes, Roads & Ratings’

20/03/2024

🐾 Calling all Grade 9 - 12 learners! Join us for an exciting in-person Faculty Information Session (Open Day) at the Faculty of Veterinary Science, Onderstepoort Campus on Friday, 5 April 2024.

Get ready to explore the world of veterinary science!

Register now: https://ow.ly/amgX50QVkVl

We can't wait to see you there! 🐶🐱🐮

29/02/2024

UP UNVEILS LARGEST CT SCANNER FOR VETERINARY PRACTICE IN SOUTH AFRICA

The University of Pretoria's (UP) Onderstepoort Veterinary Academic Hospital (OVAH) has recently revealed the largest CT scanner ever used in veterinary practice in South Africa, made possible by a generous R13 million donation from the Roy McAlpine Charitable Foundation.

Given that the Faculty of Veterinary Science at UP is the sole veterinary school in the country and the second oldest on the continent, the state-of-the-art scanner will undoubtedly advance the training of veterinary specialists, clinical research capabilities, and innovation coming from UP. Part of the donation was used to make some changes to the existing CT room to accommodate the new and bigger Siemens Somatom Confidence 64 Slice CT scanner with a sliding gantry (a gantry that runs on a set of rails).

To perform a CT scan, done to visualise an entire area of the body (e.g., head and neck), the patient usually is placed on a table that moves through the gantry, which works well on smaller animals such as dogs. To be able to perform CT scans of the limbs as well as the head and neck of large animals like horses or buffalos, a CT scanner with a sliding gantry is required, allowing the gantry to move along the body of the animal, either in standing position or placed on a static table.

“As a referral and research centre the Faculty of Veterinary Science at UP and the OVAH have to be at the forefront of diagnostics,” Professor Themba Mosia, UP Interim Vice-Chancellor and Principal said.

“A certain subset of cases are dependent on CT (computed tomography) for time and cost-effective diagnosis of suspected conditions. These include but are not limited to, small animal cases with suspected nasal pathology, equine cases with suspected dental and sinus pathology, and small animal cases with intra-thoracic and -abdominal vascular anomalies. We are grateful and commend the Roy McAlpine Charitable Foundation for helping us purchase a machine that allows us to obtain high-quality, diagnostic images at a reduced scan time. It increases throughput and improves diagnostic accuracy, to the benefit of the patient, client, and clinical team.”

Scotland-born Roy McAlpine, Founder of the Roy McAlpine Charitable Foundation, said the donation of the funds represents an example of how public-private partnerships can play an important role in enhancing our educational and other key institutions. “The importance of protecting our environment and wildlife for future generations cannot be underestimated”, McAlpine said. “I have been fortunate in having lived in this country throughout my adult life. It has given me a wonderful life for which I am very grateful. In founding this Foundation, my aim was, and remains, to give something back.”

Prof Vinny Naidoo, Dean of Faculty of Veterinary Science, and Dr Paul van Dam, Acting Director for the Onderstepoort Veterinary Academic Hospital (OVAH), said as with modern training facilities, imaging has been core to what can be done, making the generous donation of the funds by the McAlpine Foundation to procure a state-of-the-art CT scanner an opportunity to advance to the next level of diagnostic imaging, especially since the OVAH is the only veterinary facility in Africa with such advanced equipment for both patient care and specialist training.

The faculty has been training veterinarians since 1920, with the graduating class at the end of 2024 set to be the 100th class graduating with the BVSc degree. When the faculty was started, the country was grappling with many veterinary diseases and animal welfare was really non-existent.

Over the years, the veterinarians who graduated from the Faculty have gone on to assist our agricultural and companion animal sectors to develop and become what we see today, being the production of food that is good, sound, and wholesome to us and pets becoming members of the Family.

To support the training of veterinarians and the subsequent need for veterinary specialist services like surgery, internal medicine, anesthesiology, and radiology, as animal care needs in the country advanced, the university developed a tertiary care hospital on its Onderstepoort Campus that, while totally funded by the university and Department of Higher Education, can still compete favourably with any medical hospital in the country 🆚

26/02/2024

FACULTY'S 2024 FEEDLOT CHALLENGE IN FULL SWING

The Onderstepoort Feedlot Challenge of the Faculty of Veterinary Science kicked off with a bang on 2 February 2024.

We would like to thank all our sponsors, ZOETIS, AFGRI, TAL-TEC and Plaas Media, for making this amazing teaching and learning opportunity possible.

Follow us on Facebook to see all the fun and learning. Enjoy the video (credit: Plaas Media) 🆚

20/02/2024

FACULTY STUDENTS SECURE FIRST PLACE IN UP'S 1nSYNC COMPETITION 🏆

Despite an absence of about 10 years from UP's annual 1nSync competition, our students, together with Health House (Faculty of Health Sciences) achieved the monumental feat of securing first place in this year's competition, the biggest event of the University of Pretoria (UP) for first year students.

The 1nSync competition takes place on the Hatfield campus. Different faculties, residences, day houses and other structures participate in this event. It is a singing and dancing competition where each group chooses a theme which their performance will address. This year the Faculty of Veterinary Science students collaborated with Health House and chose the theme, One Health.

This theme was inspired by the fact that both faculties are connected by this concept while our students have to receive a strong foundation of what One Health is all about. Participants are given a week to prepare and the external culture representatives, Naudine Bakkes from the Onderstepoort Paraveterinary and Veterinary Student Commitee (OPVSC) and Esona Siphango from Health House made sure that our first year nurses were thoroughly prepared for their performance which took place this past Saturday on 17 February 2024.

The Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences (NAS) and EBIT faculty were second with the Faculty of Education in third place 🆚