Friends of Mosvold Scholarship Scheme (FOMSS)

As a response to this problem, the Friends of the Mosvold (FOM) Trust established a locally based scholarship scheme in 1998. The trust has provided scholarships for 4 new students each year. They initiate career open days at the hospital twice a year to expose school leavers to career opportunities in the health sciences. Once students are selected in part by a three-member community group, they are given personal mentorship that includes Peer HIV educator training by the Aids Training and Information Centre (ATIC) before being allowed the opportunity to study at a variety of tertiary institutions in the country.

In order to complete their studies, students are fully financially supported for their study fees, accommodation, book allowance and other costs by the FOMSS. Students’ progress is monitored telephonically and through a visit to their campuses twice every year. Students are expected to work at least four weeks a year at their district hospital, for which they are paid. This initiative is made possible through strong partnerships with the local community in the selection and support of students, the Dept of Health (DOH) in the provision of health care and the funding of bursaries with local work back commitment, Dept of Education in support for the open days and the selection committee and local universities. Currently the FOMSS is directly supporting scholars across 16 disciplines including Environmental Health, Dentistry, Optometry, Social Work, Radiography and Nutrition.

Innovation

Such bursary schemes, that are strongly community-based, are vital to combating a dearth of health professionals in the country. According to their own situational analysis in 2006, the vacancy rate of 41% for medical officers and community service doctors, and a 46% vacancy rate for professional nurses, and a 55% vacancy rate for Senior Medical Officers, indicate an urgent need for training medical staff committed to serving the rural areas.

Effectiveness

Open Days are regularly held at all five hospitals in the Umkhanyakude District. Since inception over 1800 local scholars have attended, with over 1000 school leavers participating at the Mosvold Hospital alone. Each December for the last four years, AIDS awareness /lifestyle courses have been run for all Mosvold students. Since 1998, 105 students have been awarded scholarships and 33 of those have graduated. 55 students are currently in their programme, 13 of those funded by the provincial DOH and one by the KZN Dept of Labour. 45 of these students have passed their exams for 2007 (compared to the national norm of 20-25%), including 13 who have graduated. A post-graduate programme has been instituted as an incentive for aspirant students.

Poverty Impact

Rural communities now have resident medical professionals who help to address the backlog in healthcare in rural clinics and hospitals. FOMSS further helps to cultivate positive role models in a profession that is often inaccessible to rural communities.  

Sustainability

The project is largely funded by corporate social investment. In 2007, they received R1 817 400 from various international and national funders that include R400 000 from Swiss SA Co operative Initiative and R300 000 from the Oppenheimer Trust. The FOMSS budget for 2007 amounts to R3.1 million and R2 million is allocated to provide 40 students with a scholarship of R500 000 per annum. Every year FOMSS fundraises to supplement their reserve fund to ensure that students, who have difficulty raising funds, complete their studies.

Replication

The FOMSS can be a model for staffing all hospitals in South Africa. It has already been replicated at hospitals in the North West Province, Mpumalanga and other hospitals in the Umkhanyakude sub-district.

Partnerships

• AIDS Training and Information Centre
• Dept of Health
• Dept of Education
• National Universities

Visit www.umthomboyouth.org.za for more information