Human Rights in the Dietetics Curriculum at the University of Stellenbosch

1. Human Rights in the Dietetics Curriculum at the University of Stellenbosch Presenter: Baheya Najaar RD(SA)

2. Acknowledgements • Lesley London • Laurel Baldwin-Ragavan • hhrnet-Listserve • Liesbet Koornhof

3. Background • Focus – Community Nutrition • May 2005 - Health and Human Rights course • HPCSA • October 2005 - HR & ethics as part of a community nutrition module • Presentation – experience & challenges professional, a lecturer and as an individual

4. On completion of the H & HR training course • My concerns – as a lecturer • Frank nature, heritage – barrier • Desperately - course in diplomacy 111 !!! • Frowned upon by colleagues & students • Did I know enough ?

5. On completion of the H & HR training course My reactions a professional • Violations everywhere • Persistent overwhelming feeling -failed my patients • Balance human rights, ethics and limited resources • Not doing enough for my patients

6. Demographics STUDENTS • III year student profile in 2005 (n=23) • females ~21yrs old • 21 were white, 1 Indian and 1 black (Swazi) student • SA citizens except 1 black student & 1 white student from Namibia TEACHING STAFF • Minority group

7. Advice from colleagues-before presentation of module • A white colleague should present the lectures • Adapt case studies for nutritional content • Be prepared for negative reaction • Allow people to express themselves

8. Theme contents: Ethical issues in Community Nutrition • Period: 2 weeks-9 hrs • Outcome of HPCSA, to prevent similar violations from re-curing in the future • Basic ethical principles & philosophies • Health and human rights • Apartheid era and the impact on health • Excerpts from TRC • Institutional transformation • Health faculties submissions to TRC • Ethics in e-health

9. Service Platforms

10. Rural Service Platform UKWANDA • 100km from campus in Worcester

11. AIM • To train health professional -Rights conscious; thus render better service • Questioned government policy • Prepared to deal with the any ethical dilemmas occurring in the workplace • Cognizant all of the factors which contributed to poverty in SA

12. Patients: Poverty Levels

13. Lecture Format- 2005 • Formal • Debates: Language policy of US • Case studies - H & HR training • Journals • Newspaper cuttings • Readings • Discussions ……lots of discussion • Site visit district 6 museum • Evaluation

14. Students reaction to lectures • Students requested personal account of my experience during apartheid era • Students questioned the evidence of TRC commission - gross violations • ‘Echo’ –did not happen in their time, not their problem • Uncomfortable in dealing with the political issues

15. My Expectations • Students did not query the absence of submission to TRC by US Faculty of Health Sciences • Institutional change - last 11 years students did not discuss rate of change at US

16. Surprises • Lack of interest of students for political sections of theme • Mentally & Emotionally taxing • Preparation time • Personal involvement • Debrief

17. Evaluation 2005 • Lickert scale • 7 questions • General comment • Overall lecturer was well prepared , lecture was presented well

18. General Results evaluation 2005 • 2 absent • 3 abstained from evaluation altogether • 5 no general comment • 1 requested more detail on the internet • 1 response was overall positive • 1 interesting but should not be included for exam purposes • 2 language issues- notes only in English • 2 detail interesting, lectures fast paced • 6 commented on material included; irrelevant ,to exclude from module

19. Some of the General comments ‘ Sekere aspekte voel ek het niks met my beroep te doen nie en ek is nie volkome opgelei om die situasies te hanteer nie’ ‘ Etiek is ‘n baie wye aspek en ek voel dat daar moet vir ons kursus by relevante onderwerpe in etiek gehou word. Daar is aspekte uitgelok wat eerder kon gebly het en baie mense ontstel het omdat niks met ons te doen het nie! Etiek in hospitaal, besigheid en internet is relevant vir die kursus’

20. Rewards 2006 “This year (2006) for the first time I experience that our final year students do not have the attitude that we are just always giving help and support in the community, but it is not appreciated. They now understand the reasons for apathy and sometimes negative attitude from members of the community, and they don’t let this discourage them. They seem to be positive and motivated to try their utmost to work at finding solutions to the problems that affect nutrition and relate to Human Rights and the MDG’s.”

21. Rewards 2006 • IV yr some students can argue Human Rights issues and its relevance in society • Personal growth • Resource limitations • Greatest challenge –having to deal with the health professionals of today • Hopeful for the society we live in and Dietetic Health Professionals of tomorrow

22. Some of the General comments ‘Very interesting especially since first time exposure to this topic. Little bit rushed’ ‘ Lecturers were interesting & lecturer was well prepared and knew what she was talking about’

23. Some of the General comments ‘Ek verstaan nie regtig wat die politieke gebeurtenis met ons as dieetkundiges te doen het nie’ • ‘There were topics and information which I don’t think had anything to do with the course, module and Dietetics field’