Curriculum Review Workshop

On the 4th-6th May 2010, the Ibn Sina Institute of Tibb held a Course Curriculum Review Workshop in Johannesburg, to ensure that the Unani-Tibb University Programmes are in keeping with International standards.
Of the many activities of the Institute, the training material for Unani-Tibb doctors was designed by the Institute in collaboration with Jamia Hamdard- India, Hamdard University- Pakistan with input from Aligarh University and the Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine. In November 2002, the completed training material was reviewed extensively by Prof. Hakim Hannan (Hamdard University, Pakistan), Prof. Jamil Ahmed (Jamia Hamdard, India) and appropriate recommendations were made before the commencement of training at the University of the Western Cape in 2003.
This year’s review was in preparation of the 2011 academic year wherein arrangements are underway to extend training to the Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine at the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal (UKZN) as well as the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT). As there have been considerable amendments to the training modules over the past years, in an effort to provide students with the highest quality training, the Institute initiated a comprehensive Curriculum Review Workshop for the purposes of meeting the objectives of the aforementioned academic Institutions.
The review panel included representatives from the Allied Health Professions Council of South Africa (AHPCSA), local Academics, as well as International experts in Unani-Tibb from leading Institutions in India and Pakistan.
The outcomes of the Review have been most promising with representatives adding a wealth of insight and expertise to the curriculum. The feedback given has been very positive and the Institute feels confident that the training programmes are in keeping with local and international standards.

Representatives at the Curriculum Review Workshop:

  1. Dr Solly Ebrahim  -  Chairperson of Review: Member of Professional Board Ayurveda, Chinese Medicine and Unani-Tibb (PBACMU) - AHPCSA
  2. Prof Rashid Bhikha -   Chairperson: Ibn Sina Institute of Tibb
  3. Dr Hakim Abdul Haq  -  Consultant – Unani-Tibb lecturer and Physician (seconded from Hamdard University, Pakistan, 1998)
  4. Dr Amina Ather  -  Director: Indian Foundation for Rediscovering Traditional Knowledge, Bangalore, India
  5. Prof Aftab Saeed  -  , Director: Hamdard Research Institute of Unani Medicine (HRIUM), Faculty of Eastern Medicine, Hamdard University, Karachi, Pakistan
  6. Prof Shakir Jamil  -  Head: Department of Molejat (Medicine), Faculty of Unani Medicine, Jamia Hamdard University, India
  7. Prof Anis Ahmed Ansari  -  Head: Department of Kulliyat (Philosophy), Faculty of Unani Medicine, A. K. Tibbiya College, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh
  8. Dr Flangeni Manxiwa  - Chairperson: South African Tibb Association (SATA) -  Member of PBACMU (AHPCSA)
  9. Mr Shafick Hassan  -  Head: Nursing – CPUT  (Facilitating Unani-Tibb)
  10. Prof Anthony Staak*  -   Deputy Vice Chancellor – Academic - CPUT
  11. Dr Louis Mullinder*  -  Registrar – Allied Health Professions Council South Africa
  12. Dr. Radmila Razlog*  -  Head Dept of Homeopathy  -  University of Johannesburg
  13. Prof Nceba Gqaleni  -  South African Research Chair: Indigenous Health Care Systems Research, Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine – UKZN
  14. Prof Indres Moodley  -  Director: Health Outcomes Research Unit, School of Family & Public Health, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine – UKZN
  15. Dr John Glynn  -  Pharmacom Consultancy

 

* Attended the opening session on 4th May 2010 only.
 Please  click here for article by Candes Keating in conjunction with Shafick Hassan of CPUT.

 


On the 20th March 2009 the Ibn Sina Institute of Tibb marked an important milestone when R2Million was awarded to the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal Foundation (UKZNF) for the construction of the first African Traditional Medicine Laboratory.

Over the next five years, the Institute has committed a further R5 million.

This comes after a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Institute and the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal Foundation (UKZNF) in February 2008 to facilitate the promotion and practice of Unani-Tibb, together with African Traditional Medicine and is in support of the initiative led by UKZN's Prof Nceba Gqaleni- Chair in Indigenous Health Care Systems. Prof Gqaleni, a leading scientist at the Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine and his team have conducted basic and applied research into traditional medicine and African healthcare systems.

In 2007 Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine was awarded a Research Chair on Indigenous Healthcare Systems from the Department of Science and Technology. The mission of the chair is to promote African Traditional medicine through excellence in research and to become a centre of choice for traditional health practitioners, indigenous knowledge holders and scientists for research of African Traditional Medicine. Training will include short courses, bridging modules and undergraduate courses. The MoU between the Institute and UKZN will facilitate the inclusion of Unani-Tibb training at UKZN. Of significance is the fact that Unani-Tibb and African Traditional Medicine share many common philosophical principles and practices.

For the Institute this milestone is an initiative in the upliftment of Traditional systems of medicine in Southern Africa. It is anticipated that within the next two years the training of Unani-Tibb at undergraduate and Postgraduate level will commence at the UKZN.

 

 

LAUNCH OF TIBB MEDICAL CENTRE, SURREY ESTATE, ATHLONE

The Tibb Medical Centre, was launched at the Saartjie Baartman Centre for Women and Children, Klipfontein Road, Surrey Estate on 17 July 2008.   Officially opened by   Premier Ebrahim Rasool, the Centre is a huge milestone for Tibb in South Africa. Special guests at the launch included Sheikh Igsaan Taliep; Vice Rector of the International Peace University of South Africa, Mrs Debbie Drake-Hoffman Registrar of the Allied Health Professions Council of S.A., Dr James Campbell; Acting Head of the School of Natural Medicine from the University of the Western Cape, Ms Patricia De Villiers; Deputy Director: Health Promotion- Department of Health and Ms Synnov Skorge; Director- Saartjie Baartman Centre for Women & Children.   Various other NGO's and Government Departments were also represented.

The Clinic will be offering much needed medical services to victims and survivors of gender based violence, many of whom are women and children seeking help at the Saartjie Baartman Centre.   Tibb doctors are also available to assist the surrounding communities, offering holisitc treatment for all illnesses. Other therapies such as Cupping and Aromatherapy Massage will also be offered at the Tibb Medical Centre.

In addition, the Medical Centre will also be used as a training site for Unani-Tibb students currently studying at University of Western Cape,School of Natural Medicine.

Strategically situated on the borders of Surrey Estate (a middle income group) and Gugulethu, Manenberg and Heideveld on the Cape Flats (an area with extremely high rates of crime, gangsterism, child abuse, unemployment, substance abuse and domestic violence), the Centre is located to serve Tibb's ideologies of Social Resposnsibilty as well as to offer effective Medical Solutions to a wide array of social and economic sectors.

There are few resources available in the surrounding areas and as a result Tibb will play an important part to bringing affordable, natural healthcare to the area.

 

For further information contact:
Caroline Davids on:
021 638 4487;
e-mail carolined@tibb.co.za .