Compiled by Mr. Aderemi Oyejide
Research Psychology Intern

The purpose of the trip to Ganyesa between the 10th to 14th of October 2022 was to follow up AUTHeR’s collaborations with the Primary Health Clinics, Community Health centers, and the district hospital responsible for providing public health services to people in Ganyesa and surrounding villages. Coupled with this, we utilised the trip to raise the awareness of these public health institutions and community leadership forums and structure the forthcoming PURE-SA data collection activities between 17 October – 11 November 2022. Part of the awareness activity was the distribution of mental health posters to various public health clinics, the Chief Tribunal Office, as well as shopping centres, post offices, and police service stations in and around Ganyesa.

Our engagement with various healthcare providers, community forum members, and the chief (stakeholders) yielded positive responses in preparation for the data collection activities. In addition, the presentation and handing out of mental health posters and flyers to various stakeholders received positive acceptance and applause, supporting this gesture toward spreading mental health awareness across the broader spectrum of the community. For example, the operations manager for Morokweng community health centre appreciated our visit and committed to distributing copies of the posters to other primary health clinics under her. In addition, she was looking forward to the possibility of the Morokweng community being added to the next cohort of the PURE-SA study.

Our trips to some far-distance clinics (Tlapeng, Kgokgole, and Eckron Clinics) enhanced and promoted the respect and value their management has towards NWU, particularly AUTHeR. They were delighted and sincerely appreciated the visit and delivery of posters. One of the operations managers emphasised that they rarely receive visitors from institutions or representatives from Potchefstroom or Mahikeng, and our visit will be felt and enjoyed for a long while. This strategic visit was successful as it strengthened the relationship between AUTHeR and its key stakeholders, enhancing our future health research opportunities in Ganyesa, Morokweng, and other surrounding towns and villages.  

Compiled by Mr. Aderemi Oyejide
Research Psychology Intern
AUTHeR (Africa Unit for Transdisciplinary Health Research)
Faculty of Health Sciences
North-West University
Potchefstroom Campus
Remy.Oyejide@nwu.ac.za 
www.nwu.ac.za