Health professionals and other practitioners from South Africa and Lesotho, under the auspices of the Joint Bilateral Co-operation Commission are among those expected to make presentations during the five-day Science and Technology week that kicks off on Monday.

This has been disclosed by the Ministry of Communication's Department of Science and Technology, which says the theme for this year's SET week, which will be staged at the National Convention Centre, is 'Enhancement of Health through Science and Technology.'

It says participants in the event are drawn from local tertiary educational and training institutes, which include the National University of Lesotho and other health training centres, as well as selected pupils from both primary and secondary schools in the vicinity of the capital Maseru.

The overall objective of the 2007 SET week is to promote public understanding of science, engineering and technology, and it will include career guidance sessions, health professional skill sharing, exhibition on SET-infiltrated products and services and award-giving ceremony.

The SET week will kick off with an address highlighting the need for the enhancement of health sciences in a developing economy. Lesotho's perspective in this regard will be outlined by the National University of Lesotho's Faculty of Health. South Africa's experience in enhancing health
science will also come under the spotlight.

In addition, the week will see lectures being delivered on careers in health sciences, opportunities and requirements, with primary and secondary school learners being the target group. Professionals and tertiary student will also receive information on 'DNA detectives.'

NUL and the National Health Training College will also address issues involved in medical research, international and local perspective, while the ministry of Health will highlight the role of Information and Communication Technology (ICT)’ in health including e-health.

The commemoration of science as a vital aspect of human lives started in 1997 as a one-day event, and it was only in 2004 that it became a week-long occasion.

Source: LENA 05/09/2007