South African telco MTN has unveiled a R1.2 million multi-media centre for the training of nurses at the College of Nursing sub-campus of Grey's Hospital in KwaZulu-Natal.
Through its corporate social responsibility arm MTN SA Foundation, the telco handed over a high-tech computer laboratory with 41 computers, free data, and specialised anatomy and physiology online learning software for the more than 400 nursing students. The laboratory also has two interactive whiteboards, two laptops and two printers. Lecturers have also been trained in their use.
According to MTN SA, this is the ninth such donation in the country, and the initiative has resulted in a massive academic improvement for nursing students in challenging subjects.
Said Angie Maloka, senior manager Community Programmes at MTN SA Foundation: "It is important to learn with images when talking about nursing content. We've provided the content that is interactive. When they're speaking about the lungs for example, they'll be able to see the lungs in a 3-D scan and a 3-D image and they're able to internalise it.
"When faced with a case where someone has been diagnosed with tuberculosis, they will be able to physically and practically see how the ailment affects the lungs through the help of technology."
Maloka noted that the foundation has reaped great results through similar initiatives at other colleges.
"In other institutions we've seen a significant improvement, especially in the subjects that are difficult, like physiology and anatomy, where the average performance of 40% improved to a 90% pass rate. That is comforting for us, as we are able to say, we've contributed towards the training of nurses who are going to provide quality care to citizens."
The province's Health MEC Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo added that the timing of the donation was perfect as the sub-campus is due to receive accreditation by the Council of Higher Education and the South African Nursing Council to offer new nursing qualifications.
"The computers will contribute immensely towards the development of competent and efficient nurses who are able to use technology when they are qualified. This gesture will go a long way in the strengthening modern ways of teaching and learning of our nursing students as it fosters modern and technological teaching methodologies in the education and training of nurses.
"This is also important in terms of our programmes that we have in the country, where we are going electronic in terms of patients' records. Therefore, getting our nurses to benefit in their undergraduate training by being exposed to computer labs and also getting some of their programmes into the computer where they can easily do demos, is something that is amazing."
Maloka said the company will consider sponsoring more colleges, budgets permitting.
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