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DUT PLANTS ITS OWN ROSE ON Homeopathy DAY Waheeda Peters
Pictured: DUT’s very own rose.
Dr Samual Hahnemann was a leader, a visionary and a man with a purpose. He devoted his life to the creation of a system of medicine that was gentle, did not cause harm, and cured individuals of their disease processes, rapidly and safely. Born on the 10th of April 1755 in Germany, he spent his early years studying and practicing medicine, alchemy and eventually leaving its practice to translate texts as he was disillusioned by the medicine of his time. He envisioned a safer treatment method that didn’t involve practices such as bloodletting that often resulted in greater suffering for his patients.The values he held of integrity, honesty, compassion and his use of creativity and innovation, resulted in the birth of Homeopathy.
Homeopathy is an alternative and complementary approach to medicine focused on holistic cure of an individual, considering the physical, mental and emotional symptoms. Everyone is given a remedy that is tailor made to their needs and allows for true healing to occur. Over two hundred years later and Homeopathy is a worldwide phenomenon, practiced and regulated in many countries around the world.
Thirty-four years ago,the demand for Homeopathy grew within South Africa, resulting in the first accredited syllabus to teach Homeopathy at the Durban University of Technology (DUT), then the Technikon Natal. Since then, DUT has provided a platform that pioneered Homoeopathic education renowned worldwide for its research, quality and community service. The Homoeopathic Department strives to teach its students the fundamental principle of “healing without harming” and providing students with essential skills in the rigorous five years to successfully open their own practices.
After the past three years of very little interaction, the trauma and despair brought by COVID19 and its effect on DUT students, it was essential to breathe a new air of life to motivate and inspire them in their journey through Homeopathy. This year, South Africa was honoured to be chosen by the international body of Homeopathy called the Liga Medicorum Homoeopathica Internationalis (LMHI) to host the World Homeopathy Celebration for homoeopaths globally in association with our national body, the Homeopathic Association of South Africa (HSA).
Giving more insight into the World Homeopathy Celebration was Shraddha Sirpal, a technician from Homeopathy.
She relayed that the department was proud to celebrate the life and work of Dr Samual Hahnemann by an event hosted by the Department of Homeopathy, attended by the president of the Liga Medicorum Homoeopathica Internationalis (LMHI), Dr Altunay Agaoglu, the president of the HSA, Dr Bianca de Canha, Alumni from around KwaZulu-Natal, staff and Homoeopathic students of all years. She commented that the event was opened, and a welcoming address was made by Dr Silvana Nienaber who spearheaded the organisation of the festivities at DUT. Students and staff made pledges in support of Homeopathy by writing their goals and promises in their commitment to serving the profession and their patients, as lecturers committed to excellence in the teaching and learning.
This was followed by an address from Dr Agaoglu who assured students that they belong to an international community and that we must all work together to reach our common purpose. She also understood the concerns, difficulties and plights of our students and aimed to inspire them to go above and beyond in their service.
“My visits to the homeopathy department at DUT was also fascinating. I was impressed by the state-of-the-art facilities and high-quality education provided to the students. As an LMHI member, the HSA is working tirelessly to promote the development of homeopathy in the country and its integration into the healthcare system. It gives me great hope for the future of homeopathy in South Africa,” said Dr Agaoglu.
This was followed by a passionate, encouraging talk by Dr de Canha, who held out a helping hand to any student in need. She spoke of the real challenges faced by students, the lonely path of research and all the moments where the journey seems never ending and filled with despair, yet how it is possible to take those moments and use them as a springboard to catapult you to greatness. She ensured students that they have a family of homoeopaths around South Africa and they all need to work together to assist one’s communities and be the face of change to the healthcare system. She was most impressed by the facilities and vast dispensary that DUT has and commended the excellent work done within the department.
Head of Department, Prof Ashley Ross gave a virtual guided tour through Germany in the life of Hahnemann from his place of birth, studies, and homes and all the events that would have inspired Hahnemann to create a system like Homeopathy.
The event was then moved to the Horticulture gardens with the unveiling of the Homoeopathic Rose. Created by the HSA in collaboration with Ludwig’s Roses – a cross pollination of a German Rose, a tribute to the founder of homeopathy, Dr Samuel Hahnemann, grown on South African soil which is symbolic of the growth of Homeopathy in South Africa. It was planted by a 5th year student Suzan Mbonambi, the president of the LMHI and Prof Ross in the horticulture gardens as a collaboration and amalgamation between departments.
The students had an opportunity to share their experiences, to make their pledge and to be part of a moment of history for Homeopathy in South Africa to inspire them to be the leaders of tomorrow, and always will watch as the rose blooms and thrives through the years within DUT.
Siphesihle Mchunu, a fourth-year Homoeopathic student, says that he will never forget the experience of being part of an international event, the planting of DUT’s very own rose, and the speakers that made him feel proud of our profession, and the encouragement to continue the work by the father of Homeopathy, Dr Hahnemann.
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