Medical Education for South African Blacks (MESAB) was a 501(c)(3) organization that operated from 1985 to 2007. MESAB was a collaborative effort by Americans and South Africans to support the training of black South Africans in the health professions in an effort to improve health care for the black African population of South Africa. MESAB provided scholarships for black South African students at 26 South African universities and technikons, along with sundry training initiatives in community health clinics. MESAB was founded in 1985 by retired diplomat Herbert Kaiser and his wife Joy Kaiser and closed its doors in 2007. At the time of MESAB's founding, South Africa's apartheid policies dictated separate health facilities for blacks. These facilities were underfunded, underequipped, and understaffed compared with those provided to whites.
From 1985-2007, MESAB's scholarship program provided a total of 11,243 grants (or, "bursaries") to needy students at 26 South African universities and technikons. In addition:
It pioneered South Africa's first mentor program to help students succeed. 6,000 students received guidance at 17 South African universities and technikons.
It supported advanced training for nurses in midwifery and neonatal care.
It encouraged and contributed to university rural outreach programs.
Its palliative care initiative promoted and supported home-based care for dying AIDS victims and training for doctors in palliative care.
It established awards for academic and professional achievement by black health professionals .
Founding contextedit
MESAB was founded by Herbert Kaiser, a retired diplomat, and his wife Joy. They believed that additional black health professionals would immediately improve access to health care and that these new caregivers would play a greater role in formulating health policy and become leaders in a post-apartheid future. In 1984 there were fewer than 350 black doctors in a black population of over 20 million. Blacks comprised 70% of the population, but only 3% of all doctors were black.[1] The following statistics illuminate the problem:
Black life expectancy was 15 years less than for whites.
Maternal mortality was ten times greater for blacks than for whites.
Infant mortality was as high as 190 babies compared with 13.4 for white infants.
Deaths under the age of four: 55 percent of all deaths among blacks compared with 7 percent for whites.
Limited access to health care meant that blacks were dying from preventable diseases like TB, typhoid, gastroenteritis, and measles that were virtually eliminated in the white population.
Occupancy rates of 150% at hospitals for blacks were common, which often meant one in the bed and one on the floor.[1]
Board structureedit
The US Board of Directors was drawn from the worlds of medicine, academia, civil rights organizations, and business. Its role was to establish broad policy guidelines and raise funds. The first Chairman of the Board was Donald Kennedy, then president of Stanford University and former Director of the Federal Food and Drug Administration. He was succeeded by Dr. Louis W. Sullivan, president of the Morehouse School of Medicine and former US Secretary of Health and Human Services.
The South African Council recommended and administered MESAB programs, among them financial aid and personal counseling. Its first Chairman was Professor Phillip V. Tobias, the noted paleoanthropologist and long-time opponent of apartheid. He was succeeded by Professor Mervyn Shear, who was followed by Dr. Nthato Motlana, a civic leader in Soweto and a close associate of Nelson Mandela. Council members were leaders of medical, educational, business, and community organizations.
^ abvan Rensberg, H.C.J.; Mans, A. (1982), Profile of Disease and Healthcare in South Africa, Palo Alto, CA: Academica, ISBN9780868741543
Further readingedit
Figuero, Angelo. "Paying a debt – with interest." San Jose Mercury News, 15 August 1994.
Greene, Elizabeth. "Healing the Scars of Apartheid." The Chronicle of Philanthropy, 20 October 1992.
Kaiser, Herb and Joy Kaiser. Against the Odds: Health & Hope in South Africa: The story of Medical Education for South African Blacks. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2013.
Hodek, Ambassador Robert. . Foreign Service Journal, July/August 2013: 62.
Niekerk, J. P. de V. Van. "21 Years of Bursaries for Black Medics." South African Medical Journal, Vol. 96, No. 7 (2006).
Reed, William. "Business Exchange." Capital Spotlight, 5 April 1990.
Simon, Janine. "Thoughtful human beings should help fund medics." Johannesburg Star, 30 May 1995.
"South Africa lauds P.A. couple for helping medical students." San Jose Mercury News, 12 January 1996.
Williams, Adrienne Oleck. "Local Group sends Jewish and black doctors to South Africa." Washington Jewish Week, 8 September 1994.
Wren, Christopher S. "U.S. Helps Black South Africans Get M.D.'s." New York Times, 5 May 1991.
November 09, 2023
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Medical Education for South African Blacks MESAB was a 501 c 3 organization that operated from 1985 to 2007 MESAB was a collaborative effort by Americans and South Africans to support the training of black South Africans in the health professions in an effort to improve health care for the black African population of South Africa MESAB provided scholarships for black South African students at 26 South African universities and technikons along with sundry training initiatives in community health clinics MESAB was founded in 1985 by retired diplomat Herbert Kaiser and his wife Joy Kaiser and closed its doors in 2007 At the time of MESAB s founding South Africa s apartheid policies dictated separate health facilities for blacks These facilities were underfunded underequipped and understaffed compared with those provided to whites Contents 1 Accomplishments 2 Founding context 3 Board structure 4 Funding 5 References 6 Further readingAccomplishments editFrom 1985 2007 MESAB s scholarship program provided a total of 11 243 grants or bursaries to needy students at 26 South African universities and technikons In addition It pioneered South Africa s first mentor program to help students succeed 6 000 students received guidance at 17 South African universities and technikons It supported advanced training for nurses in midwifery and neonatal care It encouraged and contributed to university rural outreach programs Its palliative care initiative promoted and supported home based care for dying AIDS victims and training for doctors in palliative care It established awards for academic and professional achievement by black health professionals Founding context editMESAB was founded by Herbert Kaiser a retired diplomat and his wife Joy They believed that additional black health professionals would immediately improve access to health care and that these new caregivers would play a greater role in formulating health policy and become leaders in a post apartheid future In 1984 there were fewer than 350 black doctors in a black population of over 20 million Blacks comprised 70 of the population but only 3 of all doctors were black 1 The following statistics illuminate the problem Black life expectancy was 15 years less than for whites Maternal mortality was ten times greater for blacks than for whites Infant mortality was as high as 190 babies compared with 13 4 for white infants Deaths under the age of four 55 percent of all deaths among blacks compared with 7 percent for whites Limited access to health care meant that blacks were dying from preventable diseases like TB typhoid gastroenteritis and measles that were virtually eliminated in the white population Occupancy rates of 150 at hospitals for blacks were common which often meant one in the bed and one on the floor 1 Board structure editThe US Board of Directors was drawn from the worlds of medicine academia civil rights organizations and business Its role was to establish broad policy guidelines and raise funds The first Chairman of the Board was Donald Kennedy then president of Stanford University and former Director of the Federal Food and Drug Administration He was succeeded by Dr Louis W Sullivan president of the Morehouse School of Medicine and former US Secretary of Health and Human Services The South African Council recommended and administered MESAB programs among them financial aid and personal counseling Its first Chairman was Professor Phillip V Tobias the noted paleoanthropologist and long time opponent of apartheid He was succeeded by Professor Mervyn Shear who was followed by Dr Nthato Motlana a civic leader in Soweto and a close associate of Nelson Mandela Council members were leaders of medical educational business and community organizations Funding editFunding for MESAB came from corporate foundation and individual donors Major contributors included Peter Bing Peter Kovler George Soros David Tabatznik Bristol Myers Squibb Coca Cola Co Ford Motor Company Henry Schein Inc Hewlett Packard Johnson amp Johnson Kaiser Permanente Kellogg Foundation Levi Strauss amp Co Pfizer the Starr Foundation and USAID among many others Over its 22 years of operations MESAB raised over 27 million to help over 10 000 black students enter the health professions Its graduates are now doctors nurses dentists pharmacists and other skilled caregivers responding to the health needs of all South Africans especially those of black communities previously denied access to healthcare References edit a b van Rensberg H C J Mans A 1982 Profile of Disease and Healthcare in South Africa Palo Alto CA Academica ISBN 9780868741543Further reading editFiguero Angelo Paying a debt with interest San Jose Mercury News 15 August 1994 Greene Elizabeth Healing the Scars of Apartheid The Chronicle of Philanthropy 20 October 1992 Kaiser Herb and Joy Kaiser Against the Odds Health amp Hope in South Africa The story of Medical Education for South African Blacks CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform 2013 Hodek Ambassador Robert rev of Against the Odds Foreign Service Journal July August 2013 62 Niekerk J P de V Van 21 Years of Bursaries for Black Medics South African Medical Journal Vol 96 No 7 2006 Reed William Business Exchange Capital Spotlight 5 April 1990 Simon Janine Thoughtful human beings should help fund medics Johannesburg Star 30 May 1995 South Africa lauds P A couple for helping medical students San Jose Mercury News 12 January 1996 Williams Adrienne Oleck Local Group sends Jewish and black doctors to South Africa Washington Jewish Week 8 September 1994 Wren Christopher S U S Helps Black South Africans Get M D s New York Times 5 May 1991 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Medical Education for South African Blacks amp oldid 1158942678, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
