NEWS

Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in twinning agreement to train pharmacy technicians

The Pharmacy Department at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NNMU) signed a twinning agreement on Friday, 24 May 2013, with Americas St Louis College of Pharmacy (STLCOP) to strengthen South Africas pre-service training capacity in the discipline of pharmacy care. The twinning of the two institutions was facilitated by the American International Health Alliance (AIHA) Twinning Centre. Three pharmacy professors from St Louis in Missouri visited NMMU to help strengthen the training programme for pharmacy technicians to address the countrys human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) epidemic. Dr Shirley-Anne Boschmans and Mrs Teri-Lynne Fogarty of NMMU will visit St Louis in the second half of this year to continue the collaboration. Research shows that South Africa needs approximately 2 500 new pharmacy technicians each year to meet the demand for HIV and AIDS drug distribution and medical care. NMMU is the first university to train pharmacy technicians. Presently, it has 69 pharmacy technical assistant students. Once these students have completed the one-year Higher Certificate programme (PTA), they can register for the one-year Advanced Certificate programme that enables graduating technicians to deliver care with indirect supervision in a primary healthcare setting, and will provide the healthcare system and pharmaceutical services with much-needed pharmacy support personnel. Ultimately, this will help to improve the quality of health care provided to all South Africans. The St Louis College of Pharmacy received an $80 000 grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the US Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief for the one-year project. The school matched the grant with its own funds. We are honoured to assist NNMU in building up its capacity to educate pharmacy technicians and strength the education that students receive there, said Ken Schafermeyer, Director of International Programs, STLCOP. South Africa has been devastated by the AIDS crisis. This puts a lot of pressure on the health system, so theres a shortage of qualified health personnel, and especially pharmacists. What theyre trying to do is create a new, mid-level practitioner who can work with some indirect supervision and have more autonomy. Prof Schafermeyer says that the American professors expect to learn from their colleagues in South Africa. Pharmacy students will join the team on future trips to South Africa. The partnership has been equally well received by NMMU. This partnerships aim is to support NMMU in strengthening its curriculum and building capacity. This will be achieved by mentoring the staff of the department to develop their expertise in the teaching
(Left to right): Jo Seoka, Michael Gogwane, Sybil Seoka, Geoff Rogers, Kim Simmons, Ken Schafermeyer, Lorraine Osman, Kevin Mallinson and Amy Tiemeier

Pharmacy technician training received a boost through a twinning agreement with Americas St Louis College of Pharmacy to strengthen the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University curriculum and mentor staff. At the signing were (back, from left): Teri-Lynne Fogarty, PTA/PT Programme Coordinator; Prof Vic Exner, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences and Pharmacy Department Head, Dr Shirley-Anne Boschmans; with (front from left): John Capati, Country Director American International Health Alliance Twinning Centre; Prof Thoko Mayekiso, Acting Vice-Chancellor and Prof Ken Schafermeyer, Director, Office of International Programmes, St Louis College of Pharmacy

and assessment of students, while ensuring that a high quality of experiential learning is provided to students. The ultimate aim is to optimise healthcare outcomes, such as improved drug supply management, by increasing the number and quality of pharmacy technicians and pharmacy assistants in the Eastern Cape and further afield, said NMMU Health Sciences Dean, Prof Vic Exner. The team who visited South Africa included Prof Ken Schafermeyer, Amy Tiemeier and Kim Simmons from STLCOP, Dr Kevin Mallinson from the Goldfarb School of Nursing, and Michael Gogwane from the AIHA. Dr Sybil Seoka, past President of the PSSA, and Lorraine Osman, Editor of the South African Pharmacy Journal, were privileged to meet with them in Pretoria, after their successful trip to NMMU.

S Afr Pharm J

58

2013 Vol 80 No 5