University of Cape Town
Faculty of Health Sciences
Department of Paediatrics and Child Health
Transformation Action Gr
up
RED CROSS WAR MEMORIAL CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL
department of paediatrics and
CHILD HEALTH
PAEDIATRICS:
Mitchells Plain Health District
PAEDIATRICS & Neonatology:
New Somerset Hospital
GROOTE SCHUUR HOSPITAL NEONATAL UNIT
MOWBRAY MATERNITY HOSPITAL
Victoria Hospital
Who we ARE?
The Transformation Action Group (TAG) was established in 2015 by the head of department and is comprised of members of the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health at the University of Cape Town. Whilst the primary site is based at Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital (RCWMCH), the committee includes representatives from other hospitals, divisions and disciplines that fall under the University of Cape Town, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health. TAG also works closely with RCWMCH management to foster an institutional cultural change.
MEMBERS
INITIATIVES this Year
Fun-Run
Raised money to contribute toward renovating the facade of the department in keeping with the ethos of transformation and inclusivity. We raised R 15 000 as a starting point, recognising that we have a long way to go. It was also a great team building exercise to foster departmental spirit, unity and health living. We had engagement from staff at different hospitals, departments and disciplines.
Dear colleagues
Please join for a mid-week night run to raise funds to improve the face of the fifth floor ICH building - all ideas welcome.
The goal is to have a "departmental hub" that is welcoming & inclusive for all.
Please click the link below to join the team.
May
Dress as crazy & colourful as you can.
10th
Wednesday
19h30
Start time
Simons Restaurant, Groot Constantia
Each runner will need to pay for the cost of their run. However, we will get a 10% discount if we run as a team. Please click on this link if you are keen to join the team, by Monday the 17th April so that we have an idea of who is interested to create a fundraising page and register as a team.
Should be great fun and I hope to see you all there!
NIGHT RUN
Women’s Day
In honour of Women's Day on the 9th August 2023, together with Child Advocacy, we decided to support Section 27 - a public interest law centre that seeks to achieve equality and social justice in South Africa. The contribution would have gone toward providing workshops to school aged children regarding their sexual and reproductive health rights and the effects of sexual violence. Through education, the aim of Section 27 is to empower both girls and boys on their sexual reproductive rights and provide supportive and safe avenues for reporting sexual violence and ultimately reduce the rates of teenage pregnancy and improve reporting rates in these vulnerable groups in South Africa.
BIOSKETCHES
This initiative was started in 2022 with the aim to create a platform to facilitate interpersonal, social, and academic interactions, collaboration, and mentorship - to be referred to by individuals, managers, and heads of departments. It was meant to be a brief, living and iterative document that could be edited during the career of the individual.
The aim is to include all staff in the department across the platform.
Voices
The “VOICES” sessions were introduced in 2015 with the aim to address issues of institutional climate and to open avenues for discussion around important topics pertaining to race, gender and sexual orientation.
The VOICES format has traditionally involved two guest speakers, the first to set the intellectual landscape and raise any controversies with the second speaker usually a member of the department who speaks about real life experiences. However, the aim is to avoid being too prescriptive but to empower the speakers to utilise the hour as they see fit to effectively communicate their key messages.
The VOICES sessions occur on a Wednesday morning between 08h00 and 09h00 and draw a large audience of between 100-250 guests which include full professors, hospital managers, undergraduate students and staff from a diversity of disciplines: We have had two sessions this year that were both very well attended.
This year the first “Voices” session was on Climate Change which together with Child Advocacy we hope to make a priority in the Department, particularly in light of the Climate Change Bill that was released this year.
The second voices session was an enlightening and well received talk by our junior doctors regarding their experiences.
1st March 2023:
Voices Session TAG in Collaboration with Child Advocacy.
Matthew Chersich: Climate change and children: impacts and adaptation options.
Louis Reynolds: Climate Change and Health
12th July 2023: "Voices from Junior Doctors." Andrea Budge, Layla Lombard, Charl Botha, Ilhaam Samaai, and Cara Van Niekerk.
Transferrable Successes
The Department of Paediatrics and Child Health (DPCH) were chosen by the Faculty of Health Sciences to present two benchmarks that were identified from the 2022 annual Transformation Report pertaining to “Staff Access, Support and Success.” The presentations were in the form of virtual webinars to allow other departments to gain insight into why, how, and who was involved in each Department’s success and contribution to furthering transformation in the faculty.
The two specific benchmarks identified from the DPCH were:
Mowbray Maternity Hospital Neonatal mentorship for neonatal medical officers
Groote Schuur Hospital Neonatology mentorship for medical officers and funding for nurses to attend conferences.
Congratulations should go to the phenomenal team of medical officers at both these hospitals who presented excellently.
Website created by Shakti Pillay 2nd September 2023