Limpopo Leader - University of Limpopo
Limpopo Leader - University of Limpopo
Limpopo Leader - University of Limpopo
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
Pr<strong>of</strong>ile: Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Errol HollandA COMPLEX AND CHALLENGING TASKaAT THE BEST OF TIMES, RUNNING A HEALTHSCIENCES FACULTY IS MORE THAN A FULL-TIMEJOB. Running one with two teaching platforms – inlayman’s parlance, with two full medical schools – isan almost unimaginably complex undertaking.Nevertheless, that’s what Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Errol Holland hastaken on. On 1 April this year, he started work as theExecutive Dean <strong>of</strong> the Faculty <strong>of</strong> Health Sciences at the<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Limpopo</strong>. This means that he’s in charge<strong>of</strong> the old Medunsa medical school on the university’sGa-Rankuwa campus and that he’ll be intimatelyinvolved with the establishment <strong>of</strong> the new medicalschool currently being established in Polokwane.That’s a huge AND. However, Holland very clearlysees what could easily be considered two distinct jobsas a single challenge.‘My top priority will be to integrate the oldMedunsa with the new Polokwane,’ he says. ‘We’reall part <strong>of</strong> a single institution. We have commongoals. Our joint mission is to serve the vulnerable.I want Medunsa to be proud <strong>of</strong> being part <strong>of</strong> thePolokwane initiative. I want Polokwane to work inclose association with the needs and aspirations <strong>of</strong>health service delivery in <strong>Limpopo</strong> province.’Brave words, particularly when they are soconsciously uttered against the backdrop <strong>of</strong> the stopstartmerger, <strong>of</strong>ficially established in January 2005,between the old <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> the North and Medunsa.Holland (now 61) knows what he’s talking about.Since September 2005, he’s served as the Strategicand Technical Manager in the <strong>of</strong>fice <strong>of</strong> the Chief <strong>of</strong>Operations in Gauteng’s Department <strong>of</strong> Health, andsubsequently the <strong>of</strong>fice <strong>of</strong> Special Advisor to the MECfor Health. During his period with Gauteng, he’s donesome extraordinary things. During a period <strong>of</strong>explosive labour unrest in 2006, he served ascaretaker CEO <strong>of</strong> the Dr George Mukhari Hospital(to which Medunsa is attached), when he was obligedto pick up a personal bodyguard each morning on hisway to work. Once again stepping into the breech,Holland found himself in charge <strong>of</strong> Gauteng’s ForensicPathology Service for several months. And he wasclosely involved in the complex process <strong>of</strong> therelocation <strong>of</strong> the Pretoria Academic Hospital to theultra-modern Steve Biko Academic Hospital facilities.Holland’s experience in the administration andservice delivery side <strong>of</strong> health, as well as his extensiveacademic experience, brings a genuine depth <strong>of</strong>understanding to his new job. He was a prominenthealth activist during South Africa’s struggle years.He helped to write the ANC’s health policy documentthat appeared in the early 1990s. He also has clearideas <strong>of</strong> where he wishes to take his twin-platformedfaculty.‘Since 1994, a lot has been said about declininghealthcare standards. Some <strong>of</strong> it is true. But the overallreality is that for the first time in the history <strong>of</strong> ourcountry every individual is now within walkingdistance <strong>of</strong> free primary health care. That’s a pricelessachievement. And it’s on that foundation that thefaculty should build its contribution. There’s areawakening <strong>of</strong> a larger social consciousness, notleast in health care and medical science. The<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Limpopo</strong> is a part <strong>of</strong> this trend. It’sstated mission and vision fits us perfectly into thisglobal community that sees our common humanity asthe most valuable thing.’Holland was born in Johannesburg – both his parentswere teachers there – and did all his schooling inCoronationville. He then did two years <strong>of</strong> science atthe <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> the Western Cape before moving tothe <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Cape Town to train as a doctor. Hegraduated in 1972, returning to Johannesburg tocomplete his internship period at Coronation andBaragwanath hospitals. It was while working at thelatter that he completed a postgraduate specialistdegree in internal medicine, and then pursued hisinterest in the super-specialised field <strong>of</strong> ClinicalHaematology. He should have been transferredimmediately into the city’s only haematology unit atthat time, which was housed in the JohannesburgGeneral Hospital in Hillbrow.‘But I wasn’t allowed to work there,’ he said.When asked why, he smiled and pointed at the colour<strong>of</strong> his skin.Johannesburg’s loss was America’s gain. Hollandand his family moved to Washington DC where hehad been awarded a one-year fellowship at theGeorgetown <strong>University</strong> Medical Center. He thenmoved to the research institute <strong>of</strong> the American RedP A G E 2 2