Health services and systems, rooted in human rights and social justice.

The purpose of the School is to support and train policy  makers and implementers who are knowledgeable and skilled in the principles and practice of public health

SOPH at HSR: The 8th Global Symposium on Health Systems Research

Health Systems Global (HSG) organizes a Symposium every two years to bring together its members with the full range of players involved in health systems, policy and research.

Centre of Excellence for Strengthening Health Products Safety Monitoring across Southern African countries (2 posts)

The School of Public Health and School of Pharmacy at the University of the Western Cape (UWC), in partnership with the Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium are establishing a cutting-edge Centre of Excellence (CoE).

The Hidden Dangers of Improper Medication Disposal

The holiday season is approaching and clearing out cupboards and wardrobes is often part of the to-do-list for many. However, many South Africans are unaware of how to dispose of expired or surplus medication properly and are likely to flush it down the toilet.

The University of the Western Cape SOPH hosts delegates The Federal University of Pernambuco

In the month of October, UWC hosted visiting academics from The Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE), Brazil – Prof Ana Vieira, Dr. Gustavo Gomes, and Prof. Flavia Clemente.

Health Justice is Social Justice – 2024 Annual David Sanders Lecture in Public Health and Social Justice

The University of the Western Cape School of Public Health (UWC-SOPH) and People’s Health Movement for the Annual David Sanders Lecture in Public Health and Social Justice

Jakes Gerwel Award in Public Health 2024: Dr Anita Parbhoo

A lecture by Dr Anita Parbhoo, the 2024 Jakes Gerwel Award recipient.

TUFH Africa Regional Events: Road to Ubuntu 2024: Community Processes for Local and Global Health Development: Voices of Reason

Online panel conversation on community processes for local and global health and development as part of the TUFH Africa Regional Event: Road to Ubuntu 2024 Conference .

Launch Webinar: Responsive Dialogues For Addressing Antimicrobial Resistance And Enhancing Community Engagement

Please join the launch of the modular Responsive Dialogues Guidelines developed by The School of Public Health, University of the Western Cape in collaboration with ICARS and funded by Wellcome.

Barriers and facilitators of and strategies for successful community engagement in infectious disease clinical trials in low- and middle- income countries

By: Bey-Marrié Schmidt, Carmen Späth, Myrna van Pinxteren, Primus Che Chi, Charles S Wiysonge, Joy Oliver, Christopher James Colvin

Determinants and rates of retention in HIV care among adolescents receiving antiretroviral therapy in Windhoek, Namibia: a baseline cohort analysis

By: Farai K. Munyani,  Brian van Wyk

Asking the Experts: Using Cognitive Interview Techniques to Explore the Face Validity of the Mental Wellness Measure for Adolescents Living with HIV

By: Zaido Orth, Brian van Wyk

Drivers of retention of the HIV workforce transitioned from PEPFAR support to the Uganda government payroll

By: Henry Zakumumpa, Joseph Rujumba, Marjorie Kyomuhendo, Ilyse Stempler, Woldekidan Amde

The PGD in Public Health aims to provide graduates with an overview of Public Health, with an emphasis on health sector transformation, district health services and the Primary Health Care approach. Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health (NQF Level 8) FIND OUT MORE The Master of Public Health (MPH) aims to equip graduates to: identify, quantify and prioritise health needs at population level; design, implement and evaluate Public Health interventions or programmes and policies; demonstrate leadership in transforming aspects of the health services and system; and to conduct related research. Master Of Public Health – (NQF Level 9) FIND OUT MORE At present we are offering an academically oriented doctorate by thesis only, which implies a very large research project, either written up in a full thesis, or in a format of manuscripts with a beginning and ending sections forming part of the whole thesis. Phd in Public Health FIND OUT MORE Academic Programmes

Report of Activities 2019 – 2020


We have published reports of our activities every two years for about the past twenty years.

This year we are publishing it electronically for the first time, perhaps reflecting the rapidly accelerated replacement of print with on-line resources (although I don’t think I will change my preference for reading in print). But while the electronic format will make the report easily available around the world, easily readable on mobile phones and tablets, I am also aware that the ubiquitous presence of on-line meetings, digital resources and a world of information that can be tapped any time does not mean equitable access. When we surveyed our students and short course participants last year, we learned that while access has increased substantially, bandwidth, data access and data cost, remain substantial barriers

Tackling Antimicrobial Resistance via Community-based Responsive Dialogues

This project, funded by ICARS (International Centre for Antimicrobial Resistance Solutions)  through a grant from Wellcome from February to December 2023, developed guidelines to facilitate Responsive Dialogues to tackle antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in LMIC settings.