The View Point

#TuesdayTakeover: Thando Takeover

Guest: Dr Theo De Jager - Board Chair of Policy Research and Analysis at the Food, Agriculture, and Natural Resources Policy Analysis (FANRPAN)

Southern Africa is in the grip of an urgent crisis with a record-breaking dry spell lasting over 30 days scorching eight countries - Angola, Botswana, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

El Niño and climate change are fueling this disaster, inflicting severe damage to crops and livestock over the past five years. Experts highlight that the situation is dire and demands immediate attention. Widespread crop failure looms in Malawi,
Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Livestock are dying at alarming rates due to a lack of water and vegetation. The movement of desperate people and animals is spreading diseases, including those transmissible to humans with over 9000 cattle deaths being reported since October 2023. This is a humanitarian crisis demanding immediate action to negate the worsening of the suffering of communities within the SADC region. We find out from our guest this evening the extent of this problem and the urgent interventions needed. 

Guest: Dr Theo De Jager - Board Chair of Policy Research and Analysis at the Food, Agriculture, and Natural Resources Policy Analysis (FANRPAN)
Southern Africa is in the grip of an urgent crisis with a record-breaking dry spell lasting over 30 days scorching eight countries - Angola, Botswana, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
El Niño and climate change are fueling this disaster, inflicting severe damage to crops and livestock over the past five years. Experts highlight that the situation is dire and demands immediate attention. Widespread crop failure looms in Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Livestock are dying at alarming rates due to a lack of water and vegetation. The movement of desperate people and animals is spreading diseases, including those transmissible to humans with over 9000 cattle deaths being reported since October 2023. This is a humanitarian crisis demanding immediate action to negate the worsening of the suffering of communities within the SADC region. We find out from our guest this evening the extent of this problem and the urgent interventions needed.

Addressing the el niño crisis in southern africa: drought: Threatens millions in the sadc region

Guest: Dr Linda Meyer -  Education expert, and Managing Director of Rosebank College

The practice of awarding honorary doctorates indeed carries a rich tradition, recognising individuals who have made outstanding contributions to their fields or society at large. However, controversies surrounding the legitimacy of such awards have also arisen, particularly when institutions not authorised to grant degrees confer them. In South Africa, where there's been an increase in both legitimate and questionable awards of honorary doctorates, scrutiny becomes essential with the Department of Higher Education's condemnation of certain institutions for awarding honorary degrees highlights the need for oversight and regulation.

With the recurring trend of bogus institution awarding these degrees we take a moment this evening to discuss the merits and credibility of honorary doctorates. Public awareness and education about the significance of honorary doctorates can also help mitigate controversies and ensure that these accolades retain their prestige and credibility.

 Furthermore we interrogate the role of the council for higher education maintaining the integrity of honorary doctorates.

Guest: Dr Linda Meyer -  Education expert, and Managing Director of Rosebank College
The practice of awarding honorary doctorates indeed carries a rich tradition, recognising individuals who have made outstanding contributions to their fields or society at large. However, controversies surrounding the legitimacy of such awards have also arisen, particularly when institutions not authorised to grant degrees confer them. In South Africa, where there's been an increase in both legitimate and questionable awards of honorary doctorates, scrutiny becomes essential with the Department of Higher Education's condemnation of certain institutions for awarding honorary degrees highlights the need for oversight and regulation.
With the recurring trend of bogus institution awarding these degrees we take a moment this evening to discuss the merits and credibility of honorary doctorates. Public awareness and education about the significance of honorary doctorates can also help mitigate controversies and ensure that these accolades retain their prestige and credibility.
 Furthermore we interrogate the role of the council for higher education maintaining the integrity of honorary doctorates.

Understanding the rules  and policies that underpin the awarding of honorary doctorates in South Africa

Guest: Dr Caitlin Frisby - Postdoctoral Researcher and Audiologist at The Department of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology at UP

In Africa, an estimated 136 million people are currently living with hearing loss, a figure expected to swell to 337 million by 2050.  This silent epidemic has profound social and economic repercussions contributing to a global cost of untreated hearing loss estimated at US$980 billion annually.

 In Africa it is exacerbated by a dire shortage of audiologists, with fewer than one for every million people, and the prohibitive costs of hearing aids for many in low- to middle-income countries. Only 2% of those who need hearing aids in Africa wear them. It is for this reason a University of Pretoria professor of audiology in collaboration with the World Health Organisation and the hearX Foundation are Revolutionising access to hearing care by pioneering community-based hearing care initiatives in low-income communities in Kenya, as well as Khayelitsha, Gugulethu, Mbekweni, Atteridgeville and the Eastern Cape province in South Africa.

Guest: Dr Caitlin Frisby - Postdoctoral Researcher and Audiologist at The Department of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology at UP
In Africa, an estimated 136 million people are currently living with hearing loss, a figure expected to swell to 337 million by 2050.  This silent epidemic has profound social and economic repercussions contributing to a global cost of untreated hearing loss estimated at US$980 billion annually.
 In Africa it is exacerbated by a dire shortage of audiologists, with fewer than one for every million people, and the prohibitive costs of hearing aids for many in low- to middle-income countries. Only 2% of those who need hearing aids in Africa wear them. It is for this reason a University of Pretoria professor of audiology in collaboration with the World Health Organisation and the hearX Foundation are Revolutionising access to hearing care by pioneering community-based hearing care initiatives in low-income communities in Kenya, as well as Khayelitsha, Gugulethu, Mbekweni, Atteridgeville and the Eastern Cape province in South Africa.

#TuesdayTakeover: Thando Takeover

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