scholarly journals Are They Qualified and Trained to Manage Disasters?

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (s1) ◽  
pp. s102-s102
Author(s):  
Kevin Rowe-Rowe

Introduction:In the South African environment, the possibility of lack in the disaster response education and training fraternity was attempted to be mitigated with legislation. The National Disaster Management Framework (2005:162-169) states that national, provincial, and municipal organs of state need to plan, organize, and implement training programs relevant to their respective areas of responsibility. The South African Disaster Management Act (South Africa, 2002:19) encourages a broad-based culture of risk avoidance and the promotion of disaster management education and training throughout South Africa.Aim:As an organ of the state and a role-player in disaster management the Free State Emergency Medical Services (FS EMS) is responsible for making strategic decisions. Managers and supervisors are obliged to be trained and educated in disaster management. The study ascertained whether managers and supervisors are being trained and educated in disaster management as required by legislation.Methods:The project made use of quantitative data whereby fifty EMS managers and supervisors in the Free State Provincial Government (FSPG) were assessed by using a questionnaire.Results:The study found that 66% of the respondents did not receive training to equip them to fulfill their disaster management functions. The remaining 34% indicated that they did receive aspects of disaster management training.Discussion:Based on the quantitative scores for the different indicators, the research found that there are shortcomings in disaster management qualifications and training among the EMS supervisors and managers in the FSPG EMS. However, the findings make it clear that there are several positive aspects in the already established practice of disaster management education and training in the FS EMS. The results indicated that there is an opportunity for revision and improvement that will contribute and empower the FS EMS managers and supervisors to meet legislative requirements towards disaster management training and education.

2006 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 93
Author(s):  
CE Draper ◽  
L Grobler ◽  
GA Kilian ◽  
LK Micklesfield ◽  
EV Lambert ◽  
...  

Objective. The aim of this study was to create an inventory of fitness facilities in South Africa, their location, equipment and services offered, and the demographics, education and training of the staff working in these facilities. Design. A total of 750 facilities were identified, and descriptive data were gathered from 442 facilities (59%) with the use of a questionnaire administered telephonically and via the website of the Sports Science Institute of South Africa. Setting. The study was initiated by the Sports Science Institute, and the results were presented at the 4th Annual Discovery Vitality Fitness Convention on 4 May 2006. Results. Results show that the industry comprises mainly independent facilities (68%). All types of facilities were found to be located mostly within urban areas, and reported providing services to just less than 2% of the South African population. Facilities offer a wide range of equipment and services to their members. Of the fitness-related staff at facilities, the majority were reported to be young (18 - 25 years, 55% of male, and 49% of female staff), and in terms of racial proportions most staff were white (males 40% of total staff and females 33% of total staff).Less than a quarter of fitness-related staff hold university qualifications, and just over 80% of instructors hold qualifications aligned with the National Qualifications Framework. The importance of education and training of staff was emphasised by respondents. Conclusions. This report highlights the widespread value of assessing the fitness industry, particularly within the context of the rise of chronic diseases in South Africa and government initiatives to promote healthy lifestyles. South African Journal of Sports Medicine Vol. 18 (3) 2006: pp. 93-104


Curationis ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
T Khanyile

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is a fairly new concept in South Africa, and hence different people have different views about RPL . Through this paper, an attempt is made to shed some light on the historical background as well as the philosophical and theoretical underpinnings of RPL . It is hoped that this information will help those nurse educators wishing to experiment with RPL to have a better understanding of how the concept came about. The relevance of RPL to the Unified model of nurse training proposed by the South African Nursing Council is also discussed.


1998 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 4-7
Author(s):  
Josephine Andersen

Legislation in South Africa now provides for the inclusion of arts and culture and adult literacy in the education system and art libraries can help promote this Government initiative by distributing their resources widely. The Library of the South African National Gallery is playing an unusual and non-traditional role in helping redress past inequities. It uses visual art, with its concern with expression and communication, to encourage adult learning and stimulate articulacy by encouraging learners to ‘read’ texts from the mass media and visual artworks in order to develop skills in all kinds of literacy. SANG’s project shows how language and artworks can be linked together productively, contributing to the basic education and training of adults.


Author(s):  
Andisiwe Diko ◽  
Wang Jun

Aims: Maize is of great significance in the national food security of South Africa. Maize production levels in South Africa continue to decline, further deteriorating the situation of increased food insecurity, unemployment and increased poverty levels in the face of increasing population. This paper investigated fundamental variables influencing maize yield in the South African major maize producing regions. Study Design: A multi-stage stratified sampling method was employed to select maize producing farmers in the major maize producing provinces, namely Mpumalanga, Free State and North West provinces of South Africa. Furthermore, three districts were selected from which maize farmers were then selected. Methodology: Using linear multiple regression for a sample of 202 maize farmers, maize yield as a dependent variable was regressed against land size, fertilizer usage, labour, herbicides and seeds as independent variables. The paper employed the Cobb-Douglas production function to estimate parameters. The data obtained from the field were subjected to analysis using inferential statistics using SPSS v20. Results: The study showed that fertilizer, labour, and herbicides used in the production of maize in the study area were positively and statistically significant at a 5% confidence interval (P<0.05) with elasticity coefficients of 0.55, 0.47 and 0.198 respectively. The independent variables computed in the model had positive elasticity coefficients indicating a direct positive relationship between the input variables and maize output. The study also revealed that farmers in the study area were applying fewer amounts of fertilizer than the recommended rates per hectare. Conclusion: The study recommends that the South African government should supply inputs to maize farmers at subsidized rates to promote correct application rates and attain higher yields.  The promotion of good quality extension services to foster good agricultural practices in the production of maize is also recommended.


Author(s):  
Anél Du Plessis ◽  
Oliver Fuo

This article responds to the tension inherent in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa 1996 which lists ‘the environment’ proper as a function of national and provincial government. The authors discuss one of the arguments raised in the recently decided case of Marius Nel and Others v Hessequa Local Municipality and Others (2015) with particular emphasis on what the court’s reasoning adds to the growing body of jurisprudence on local government’s authority to govern environmental matters and the need for cooperative environmental governance in the South African context. The article features an overview of the relevant facts and findings in the Hessequa case, followed by a discussion of the implications of the court’s judgment.


Curationis ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
BG Morolong ◽  
MM Chabeli

The South African education and training system, through its policy of outcomesbased education and training, has made competency a national priority. In compliance to this national requirement of producing competent learners, the South African Nursing Council ( 1999 B) require that the beginner professional nurse practitioners and midwives have the necessary knowledge, skills, attitudes and values which will enable them to render efficient professional service. The health care system also demands competent nurse practitioners to ensure quality in health care. In the light of competency being a national priority and a statutory demand, the research question that emerges is, how competent are the newly qualified registered nurses from a specific nursing college in clinical nursing education? A quantitative, non-experimental contextual design was used to evaluate the competence of newly qualified registered nurses from a specific nursing college. The study was conducted in two phases. The first phase dealt with the development of an instrument together with its manual through the conceptualisation process. The second phase focused on the evaluation of the competency of newly qualified nurses using the instrument based on the steps of the nursing process. A pilot study was conducted to test the feasibility of the items of the instrument. During the evaluation phase, a sample of twenty-six newly qualified nurses was selected by simple random sampling from a target population of thirty-six newly qualified registered nurses. However, six participants withdrew from the study. Data was collected in two general hospitals where the newly qualified registered nurses were working. Observation and questioning were used as data collection techniques in accordance with the developed instrument. Measures were taken to ensure internal validity and reliability of the results. To protect the rights of the participants, the researcher adhered to DENOSA’S (1998:2.2.1) ethical standards of research. A descriptive statistical method of data analysis was used in this study. Findings revealed that newly qualified registered nurses were not competent. The highest score obtained was 51 % and the lowest score was 22% with an average score of 34.05%. The results concerning the implementation of the phases of the nursing process indicated that participants were fairly competent in terms of knowledge, skills, attitudes and values of assessment. Participants had very little knowledge of nursing diagnosis and were not competent on the skills of diagnosis. Participants lacked basic knowledge, skills, attitudes and values of the nursing process. They lacked critical thinking skills in their approach to providing quality patient care. The recommendations of the study relate to improving the system of clinical accompaniment, reviewing the clinical facilities where learners are allocated, reviewing the implementation of the curriculum, the methods of teaching and the quality assurance mechanisms that are in place. Further research is recommended on competence of newly qualified registered nurses at other nursing colleges or similar context.


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