WSU AFFIRMS IT COMMITMENT TO ADVANCING RURAL HEALTH WITH LAUNCH OF ITS RURAL CLINICAL SCHOOL

In a shared commitment to strengthen rural health and improve health outcomes in underserved communities, Walter Sisulu University (WSU) , in partnership with the Eastern Cape Department of Health (ECDoH), officially launched the Rural Clinical School (RCS) in Lusikisiki on Wednesday.

As the only second RCS in South Africa, this milestone achievement positions the province at the forefront of rural health innovation, bringing medical care and service delivery directly into the communities that need them most.

Leading the WSU delegation was Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Dr Thandi Mgwebi, who paid tribute to the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences by acknowledging the stewardship of its pioneering leaders whose dedication and foresight brought this vision to life.

Mgwebi also noted that the launch coincided with a time where societal impact was a major topic of discussion, highlighting the need for universities to be connected to the communities they serve.

“As a university of access, our commitment is embedded in our curriculum, our community engagement philosophy and institutional identity. So, this School gives practical expression to this commitment. It is sufficient to say that the RCS represents a game changing intervention in the delivery of quality healthcare services in rural communities,” said Mgwebi.

She further acknowledged the collective roles of the university, its partners, students, local municipality and the community, urging a shared commitment to ensuring the success of the programme.

In the same spirit, Eastern Cape Department of Health MEC, Honourable Ntandokazi Capa, described the establishment of the School as a practical intervention to one of the biggest challenges facing the province, access to quality healthcare in rural communities.

She noted that it seeks to change the unfortunate reality of most young doctors being trained far from communities that need them most, and only a few returning to serve.

“Instead, it brings medical training directly into rural health facilities. It places students where the need is greatest. And it builds a workforce that understands rural healthcare because they are trained inside it, not outside. This is a strategic solution and Walter Sisulu University has always understood this responsibility,” Capa said.

St Elizabeth Regional Hospital serves as the central clinical and academic hub of the RCS, with an integrated platform connected to four additional hospitals, community health centres across the region. This hub and bespoke model, Capa said, allows specialists, registrars, and students to rotate across facilities, while strengthening both service delivery and training.

Faculty Executive Dean, Professor Wezile Chitha said WSU was bringing health sciences education closer to people who are meant to benefit from it.

“The rural clinical school that we are launching here today represents an emphatic statement of intention by our faculty and university, in partnership with the provincial health department, that rural communities will not be left behind in terms of sustainable access to equitable quality healthcare services under our watch. This initiative forms part of our contribution to encouraging young future health professionals to consider a career in rural health,” said Chitha.

Academic activities officially began on 19 January 2026, with an inaugural cohort of 10 final year MBChB students who will be there for the duration of their final year.

Looking ahead, the RCS vision includes expanding nurses, clinical associates, allied health and postgraduate programmes.

By Thandeka Mgqibi