Media statement

The SA Medical Research Council is participating in the Department of Science & Technology's annual Science Week from 12 - 19 May 2006 at the following venues:

1. Bergville, KZN
2. MTN Science Centre, Canal Walk, Cape Town
3. Qwa Qwa, Eastern Cape
4. Delft - MRC, Cape Town

The MRC's stakeholder relations' and community liaison division is participating and hosting these four projects with the idea to get learners and members of the community interested in medical science. The MRC's mandate is to do medical research and part of our mandate is to take our science and our scientists to the remote parts of our country, says Khalipha Ramahlape, project coordinator.

In Bergville, KZN, a team will be dispatch to present workshops on the DNA, enzymes, HIV, Malaria and TB and these workshops and exhibitions is taking place at the Bergville Farmers Hall. Members of the community are welcome to attend these sessions which starts from 09:00 to  daily

Professor Valerie Corfield will be hosting similar workshop for learners at the MTN Science Centre at Canal Walk. An addition to this project, will be our Telemedicine project. They will be explaining how technology can be used to better medical science as well as assist it. Professor Corfield writes that her own involvement is an exhibition running daily called "the skin you're in as well as the DNA detective workshop".

At the MRC's Delft premises learners from neighbouring schools will be attending the week long workshop sessions at the Indigenous Knowledge Systems Research Unit - that deal with traditional medicines.