Boitekanelo College unveils a new programmme: Clinical Technology
Mothusi Jowawa | Thursday March 5, 2015 18:08
This past week, the institution engaged stakeholders and the media at its unveiling of the brand new and all important Clinical Technology programme which is currently only available at three universities in South Africa.
“We have realised that the local healthcare is in dire need of clinical technologists as there are only three people qualified in this field and were employed by the government.
However, as we speak, the entire three have left government in the lurch for greener pastures with two of them in private practice and the third working in South Africa.
The belief is that the introduction of this qualification will boost the local healthcare system and some of our graduates can be exported to neighbouring countries who are also in need of this special skill,” the Managing Director of Boitekanelo College said in his remarks to open the forum.
Dr Mampane added that the institution has done extensive research and market survey to establish the need for graduates of this programme and the prospects are in abundance.
Professor J.K Adam from the Health Profession Council of South Africa was one of the invited dignitaries at the event.
She stated; “A clinical technologist is someone who works solely with specialised equipment used in healthcare facilities. They can either work independently in private practice or as part of a medical team under the supervision of a specialist or Doctor.
In South Africa, we have established standards which are used to determine whether the practitioner can operate in their own private practice or will require working under supervision,” The seven areas of specialisation in clinical technology are: cardiology,, pulmonology, critical care(ICU), nephrology, reproductive biology, perfusion and neurophysiology.
The field of clinical technology is one delicate and important aspect in the provision of quality healthcare in both the private and public health institutions. Clinical Technologists operate complex medical equipment performing among other important duties, monitoring of patients, performing various tests and calibration of the equipment.
One of the few Batswana clinical technologists Annah Thase who has joined Boitekanelo College as the Programme Coordinator spoke fondly about the profession as well as the opportunities that it presents.
The programme is in high demand the world over with no chance of one becoming jobless after graduation. In South Africa, clinical technologists are offered while they are still students.
Clinical technologists are very important to the Emergency as well as the Intensive Care Units of hospitals, said Dr J.J Mkubwa from the Princess Marinnah’s Intensive Care Unit. Since Annah Thase resigned, the hospital is still without a clinical technologist.
“It is very important to have clinical technologists in the ICU because we need to keep the patient under close monitoring and there is medical equipment designed for that job.
Clinical technologists are required to be constantly on call, we need to have people who have a passion for helping patients at whatever time they are called in to assist because the job is very demanding,” Dr Mkubwa said.
At the end of forum, all those in attendance were in agreement that there is an urgent need to have the qualification offered in the country looking at the situation on the ground currently.
Senior representatives from the Ministry of Education appreciated the knowledge gained from the forum as it would empower them further in career counselling for learners who are about to enter tertiary level education.