
#WomenofSU: SU paediatrician helps children to thrive
When one evaluates our educational outcomes, it seems that South African children are at a cognitive disadvantage to their peers in both developed and developing countries. Studies show that about 80% of children in Grade 4 are not able to “read for meaning".
Dr Miemie du Preez, a paediatrician at Stellenbosch University's Tygerberg campus, believes that healthcare practitioners can play a leading role in the advancement of literacy and educational outcomes.
She started the Tyger Reach Out and Read (ROAR) initiative at the Tygerberg Hospital to expose babies to books and reading from a very early age. She tells us more:
Tell us more about the Tyger ROAR initiative?
The Reach Out and Read project at our Tygerberg campus is based on a similar ROAR initiative in the United States with doctors and primary health care practitioners handing out picture books to disadvantaged children from birth and prompting parents to share books with their children.
We started this initiative at Tygerberg in 2015 and it aims to improve the interaction between parents and children as well as exposing them to printed matter. Doctors, medical students and nurses are active in handing out the books.
Who are the beneficiaries of this project?
All pregnant mothers receive a nursery rhyme book in their native language when they reach week 36 of their pregnancy. They are encouraged to start reading or singing to their unborn babies. We also give books to children visiting the outpatients' ward or who are admitted to hospital. In addition to this, we also have stocked mobile bookshelves at our waiting rooms with volunteers and medical students helping out to read the books out loud or rotate it between wards.
What is the success rate of this project thus far?
We found that parents are very keen on participating. In general, parents would like their children to read or read to their children, but they often lack the financial means to buy books. Parents are also more likely to read to their children if advised to do so by medical personnel.
Currently, we are the only hospital with a reading initiative. The books are unique as they were specifically developed for this project and have a “Script to Read" and referral to the library included as well as reading tips to make reading fun.
What motivates you to run this initiative?
I am passionate about our children and their untapped potential and believe all of us are responsible for helping them achieve their potential and dreams. It is wonderful to see the joy on their faces when they receive their books and to see the parents' enjoyment to share books. I realise daily how privileged I am to work with infants and their parents.