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MAGUBANE’S BOOK EXPLORES LOVEIN THE ERA OF
and so on. I am pleased that UFC’s response to COVID-19 brought together different kinds of inputs to the research enterprise,” said Prof Bawa.
In her acceptance speech, Prof Marks extended her appreciation to UFC’s team, which comprises predominantly women who are committed to engaged research. Marks noted that UFC, by its very location in the University, is transdisciplinary. She noted that UFC’s response during COVID-19 lockdown was possible because of the ongoing support she and her team receive from the University and the autonomy that is granted in honouring academic freedom and knowledge expertise. DUT, she said, provides latitude to explore and experiment, allowing for creativity, knowledge generation and model building.
During COVID-19 lockdown, UFC worked with network partners in reducing the social, health and economic impact of the pandemic on the most vulnerable population groupings – homeless people who use drugs. At the core of this response was a recognition of their fundamental human rights and dignity. Providing assistance in dealing with forced withdrawal also minimised the possibility of homeless people being vectors of COVID-19 transmission.
The project began in an underground parking lot in Moses Mabhida Stadium where a group of social scientists, public health specialists and a specialist psychiatrist provided medical and psycho-social assistance to 260 homeless people in moderate to severe states of withdrawal from heroin. As Prof Marks explained, withdrawal from any type of opioid is extremely traumatic, more so when it is forced during a pandemic lockdown.The team she led operated seven days a week from the rst day of lockdown in the homeless safe spaces
and this service now runs at Bellhaven Harm Reduction Centre. Prof Marks added that she was extremely honoured by the award, which she accepted on behalf of both her team at the UFC and the implementation project team made up of social science researchers, medical doctors, psychiatric specialists, law enforcement specialists and public health specialists. She said that the monetary prize will be used to digitise the Bellhaven Harm Reduction Centre data system to improve systems and to provide easily accessible de-identi ed
data for research.
This is one of the many prizes received by Prof Marks and her team.Their accolades include DUT Chancellor andVice-Chancellor awards for engagement and research excellence, and the DUT Data Day Award. In December 2020, Prof Marks won the rst DUT Community Engagement Staff of the Year Award, and the Bellhaven Harm Reduction Centre won the 2020 Community Engagement Project Award. They have also been recognised as a top ‘Good Hood’ initiative by the South African Cities Network, who will be pro ling this project nationally.
DUT’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Engagement Professor Sibusiso Moyo congratulated Prof Marks and her team for receiving this prestigious award.
Prof Moyo said: “Thanks so much for all the hard work and for putting DUT on the map. It is well deserved considering how much work has been consistently taking place in partnership with all our quad-helix partners.”
Simangele Zuma and Prof Monique Marks
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