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.

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 School of Public Health and Women’s and Gender Studies, UWC Jointly invite you to a seminar

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.

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.

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

The 2nd peer-to-peer Getting Research Into Policy and Practice (GRIPP) learning event was held in Cape Town from June 24 to 27 2024.

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

APPLICATIONS CLOSE: 30 September 2024

We would like to extend our warm congratulations to Associate Professor Renier Coetzee of SOPH- UWC who has been appointed as the Deputy President of the Pharmaceutical Society of South Africa (PSSA).

The three-day validation workshop held in Cape Town from May 8-10, 2024, brought together 20 feminist – researchers, academics, implementers, and activists from 12 countries and 16 institutions in Africa.

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 .

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.

In 2024 we will offer Pharmaceutical Policy and Management and Rational Medicines Use as online semester modules from July-November 2024. These modules may be taken as individual stand-alone modules or as part of the Master of Public Health. The Pharmaceutical Policy and Management Module will introduce participants to pharmaceutical policy and management issues within health systems. It will provide a foundation for pharmaceutical policy analysis, policy development and implementation skills at country and local levels. Selected areas include quality of medical products, pharmaceutical procurement and supply, human resources, and antimicrobials.

11 May 2024

Invitation to Public Event | 11 March 2024

The SPARCS Project hosted a workshop to support increased collaboration and networking between national regulatory authorities (NRAs) and national ethical committees (NECs) on the regulation of clinical trials in Southern Africa and identify priority areas for a framework for effective clinical trial oversight in the region.

The SPaRCS Project hosted a Pharmacovigilance (PV) Systems Strengthening Workshop, 9-11 July 2023 in Windhoek, Namibia.  The workshop marked the final in a series of capacity strengthening and mutual learning workshops in the Pharmacovigilance Systems Strengthening thematic area, and was attended by fifteen participants from seven countries (Namibia, South Africa, Eswatini, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Zambia, and Belgium)

Two SOPH staff members, Hazel Bradley and Renier Coetzee, co-facilitates in a 3-week course that equips participants with the tools to understand, analyse and propose strategies for strenghtening pharmaceutical systems and their role in universal health coverage.

Invitation to Public Event

Presentation title: “When two pandemics collide, HIV and COVID-19
– A reflection on the future of public health in Africa”

We are excited to invite you to our upcoming Pharmaceutical Public Health Webinar Series, where we will be discussing the latest advancements and challenges in promoting global health through the lens of pharmaceutical public health.

In 2021 the SPARCS Project held a series of three virtual workshops aimed at strengthening the Pharmacovigilance (PV) Systems in the four countries in Southern Africa, based on an assessment of needs.

by Star Khoza, Carnita Ernest and Hazel Bradley

Since late 2021 the SPARCS Project has been developing a pilot training for Community Health Workers (CHWs) on Adverse Drug Reactions and Pharmacovigilance

Despite growing recognition, calls for gender transformation are not matched with corresponding rigorous research and learning on what it entails at scale and over time. It is common to come across published papers that merely mention the need for more gender responsive / transformative interventions/approaches but often fall short of articulating, why, how and what is needed to move the needle forward.      

At the time of Prof David Sander’s passing, he was working on an updated edition of this influential book, The Struggle for Health:

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 and the launch of the 2nd Edition of ‘The Struggle for Health’

ICARS is pleased to announce that we have selected The School of Public Health, University of the Western Cape in South Africa to undertake a new project to develop guidelines to facilitate Responsive Dialogues to tackle AMR in Low-and Middle-Income (LMIC) settings.

You are invited to a lecture and panel discussion

The School of Public Health, University of the Western Cape (SOPH), is seeing to appoint a Postdoctoral Fellows attached to the SARCHI Chair in Health Systems, Complexity and Social Change (Prof Asha George) and her collaborators, beginning as soon as possible in 2023.

The School of Public Health, University of the Western Cape (SOPH), is seeking to appoint a Postdoctoral Fellow attached to the SARCHI Chair in Health Systems Governance (Prof Helen Schneider), to advance a programme of work.

A lecture by Thembisile Zungu, the 2022 Jakes Gerwel Award recipient.

This short course is targeted at a wide range of audiences, e.g. postgraduate students, researchers, health professionals and managers, and other decision-makers

PhD candidate Catherine (Katie) Pereira-Kotze spoke to Tumelo on eNCA on Thursday 21 July 2022, about one of her PhD publications that maps out maternity protection policy in South Africa, that demonstrates the fragmentation in over 20 policy documents available.

The Food Environment Research group (a collective from Department of Dietetics and Nutrition, School of Public Health and the DSI/NRF Center of Excellence in Food Security) at the University of the Western Cape under the leadership of Prof Rina Swart is seeking Post-doctoral Research Fellows to work on the PURE and gut-microbiome studies.

The School of Public Health recently began work on two exciting aspects of a global research project focusing on gender transformative approaches to improve sexual, reproductive and maternal health in Africa.

Accredited Online/Distance Learning Modules (1-semester) in Pharmaceutical Policy & Management, and Rational Medicines Use will be offered at the University of the Western Cape (UWC), South Africa.

After almost 2 years working together, the SPaRCS team finally met for our first in-person meeting in Cape Town in March 2022

The Food Environment Research group (a collective from Department of Dietetics and Nutrition, School of Public Health and the DSI/NRF Center of Excellence in Food Security) at the University of the Western Cape under the leadership of Prof Rina Swart is seeking Post-doctoral Research Fellows to work on several studies related to the food environment in South Africa.

The School of Public Health, University of the Western Cape seeks to recruit three (3) full-time Postdoctoral Fellows beginning from January 2022.

The School of Public Health, University of the Western Cape seeks to recruit a full-time doctoral candidate from January 2022. The doctoral candidate will be required to register at the University of the Western Cape, and will work on a 3-year project funded by the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC).

A webinar Series hosted by Dr Anam Nyembezi from the 21st October till the 28th October

Dr Sinesipho Jojo, Deputy Director of the People’s Health Movement South Africa (PHM-SA), delivered the 2021 David Sanders Lecture in Public Health and Social Justice, speaking about Opportunities not to be missed from COVID-19 for the National Health Initiative (NHI).

The 2021 virtual Research Recognition Awards celebrated UWC’s achievements and milestones in Research and Innovation.

A webinar Series hosted by Dr Martina Lembani from the 29th September till the 10th November

Dr Sulakshana Nandi is from Chhattisgarh State in India, where she is the State Convener of the Public Health Resource Network, a national non-governmental network for research, advocacy and capacity building in public health.

Dr Sinesipho Jojo delivers the 2021 David Sanders Lecture

The School of Public Health (SOPH) at the University of the Western Cape invites you to a 5-part webinar series introducing rapid reviews and scoping reviews in the field of Public Health and Health Systems research.

Oxfam Policy Management hosted a webinar on ‘Universal Health Coverage in India: Critical Areas of Policy Reforms and Research for Better CHW Engagement’ on 15 July 2021.

People’s Health Movement (PHM) Health Systems Thematic Circle hosted the webinar on “The struggles of Community Health Workers at the Covid frontline: Essential but Unrecognised” on 20 July 2021.

You are invited to a Lecture by Ms Sinesipho Jojo: Deputy Chair of the People’s Health Movement

I wanted to engage with a comprehensive way of understanding public health problems, and devise new ways to measure performance that enhance the co-accountability of multiple sectors for health outcomes.

I wanted to engage with a comprehensive way of understanding public health problems, and devise new ways to measure performance that enhance the co-accountability of multiple sectors for health outcomes.

Western Cape Health Department welcomes new Red Cross Children’s Hospital CEO

MIND MATTERS: Lessons from past crises for child and adolescent mental health during COVID-19

All three participating countries- Thailand, Brazil and Ghana are exemplars in enabling universal access to primary health care.

“South Africa’s public health system faces a number of challenges – and we need leaders to solve them, not just managers. That’s one of the lessons COVID-19 has helped drive home – and it’s one we all need to learn.”

The Eastern Cape Department of Health has appointed seasoned administrator and medical doctor, Rolene Wagner as the new Superintendent-General, effective from August 1 2021.

The School of Public Health, University of the Western Cape seeks to recruit a full-time Postdoctoral Fellow beginning from September 2021. The Postdoctoral Fellow will be required to register at the University of the Western Cape, and will work on a 3-year project that aims to strengthen community engagement in public health research in South Africa.

Webinar Wednesday, 12 May 2021, 14:00-15:30 South African Standard Time. Keynote speaker: Dr Helen Ndagije (Director: Product Safety, National Drug Authority, Uganda)

COVID-19 is providing challenges for us all! Pharmacy, Clinical, Laboratory and Public health professionals have been involved in maintaining existing health services, including access to quality pharmaceuticals during the COVID crisis.

In this one-hour webinar, Asha George and Mary Kinney from University of the Western Cape in South Africa provide an overview of health policy analysis.

In memory of Sheryl Cordon

The Soph Programme handbook provides detailed information about all our academic programmes.

The persistent challenges in public health in the Eastern Cape, highlight the critical role of leadership.

This year marks 20 years since activists and comrades across the world joined us in the first People’s Health Assembly in Bangladesh in 2000 and the PHM journey began.

Have countries learned lessons on how to build on communities in dealing with health and social issues?

Phase one of the 6th Global Symposium on Health Systems Research (8 – 12 November 2020) ends on a high.

Watch the 30-minute live-streamed HSR2020 launch event that took place on 5 November featuring a welcome from HSG Chair, Asha George, and contributions from Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (WHO Director General), and members past and present of the Emerging Voices for Global Health.

The COVID-19 outbreak has been a sharp reminder that there are many complex problems facing our society

Involved 15 new public health PhD students, based in SA, Uganda, Namibia and Kenya; health professionals, managers, academics, UN workers, activists; a mix of part-time and full-time.

This report has been compiled by a group of public health and health system players, engaged in thinking, researching, policy-making and advocacy on community health systems (CHS).

This annual report is dedicated to the memory of David Sanders, founding member, inspiration and guide for the Peoples Health Movement.

As public health researchers and educators in a city currently experiencing a seemingly runaway COVID-19 epidemic, we are increasingly being approached to provide our ‘expert’ opinion on the reasons for this.

New book with contribution from SOPH colleagues out! Health for the People: National Community Health Worker Programs from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe New book with contribution from […]

In order to support the COVID response across the country, we thought there might be some value in sharing some of the many, many, many blogs and short pieces that present COVID-related experiences that are less well publicized in the mainstream global media.

In light of the accelerating Corona/COVID-19 crisis, and the announcements made by the president on 15 March

Rather than large, sterile and clinical self-isolation centres, let’s imagine for a moment, that everyone who couldn’t self-isolate at home could be accommodated within their neighbourhoods — in an environment that was designed not to transmit Covid-19, while also being familiar, humanised and conducive to social and community bonds.

Congrats to all our graduates – PhD, 16 Masters, and 27 postgraduat diploma.

In light of the accelerating Corona/COVID-19 crisis, and the announcements made by the president on 15 March

The People’s Health Movement published a new book celebrating David Sanders’ work and legacy.

Drastic action is needed to ensure a better future for South Africa’s children, by Mark Tomlinson, Asha George, Tanya Doherty The WHO-UNICEF-Lancet commission on redefining and […]

SOPH hosts its 2020 Summer School, 10th-28th February. Postgraduate students receive introductory blocks for the core study modules as well as a general orientation to academic study, distance learning and information literacy.

Emeritus Professor David Sanders celebrated in a special issue of the Brazilian Journal Salude em Debate.

Emeritus Professor David Sanders’ life and works celebrated at the Prince Mahidol Award Conference 2020

After careful consideration we have had to decide to suspend this year’s winter school programme.

The recent publication of the National Health Insurance Bill in South Africa has provoked vigorous debate.

This podcast is with Journal Development and Communications Officer, Natasha Salaria and Professor Asha George – University of the Western Cape and Chair of Board at Health Systems Global.

Mr Siraaj Adams received the 2019 Jakes Gerwel Award! Siraaj delivered a lecture entitled “Transforming Public Health using Digital Health, the journey so far…”.

Advocate Adila Hassim discussed how we value the life and dignity within and beyond the health system.

The South African Medical Research Council with the National Department of Health, hosted a two-day UHC symposium attended by the National Department of Health, representatives from the SAMRC, health researchers, provincial health departments, international non-governmental organisations and front line health workers.

The Declaration of Alma Ata and the movement it inspired was aspirational and ambitious.

The annual conference of the Public Health Association of South Africa (PHASA) took place from the 17th-19th of September in Athlone, Cape Town, with the theme The Right to Health: 25 years into our constitutional democracy.

Hundreds turned out to UWC’s School of Public Health to pay tribute to the late David Sanders

Since news of David Sanders’ sudden and untimely death broke on Saturday morning the tributes, messages and condolences via emails, whatsapp, phone calls, Facebook and Twitter have not stopped pouring in.

We, the School of Public Health at the University of the Western Cape, condemn the physical and verbal attacks on our foreign sisters and brothers from Africa in the strongest possible terms.

Are the essential structures and attitudes in place to honour the active roles of communities in health and support them? Are our health systems really calibrated enough locally and do theyinvest in public health grounded in communities?

The landscape of e-cigarette politics and research is highly contested, given the enormous financial stakes at play.

SOPH current students, alumni and academics had a productive period at the PHASA 2019 conference.

Like many public health practitioners, I first got to know David Sanders through his book, ‘The Struggle for Health’. I read it in 1991, six years after it was published. I still have that book, and it sits in my current office.

Amid the huge gap that has been left by David’s death, most intensely for his family, the outpouring of tributes and messages is testament to the countless individuals he influenced across the corners of the world.

David Sanders, an internationally renowned paediatrician and public health researcher, has spent fifty years involved in struggles for health in Zimbabwe, the UK and South Africa.

The sudden and unexpected death of public health activist and teacher Professor David Sanders has left the health community in South Africa and beyond saddened, but determined to make sure that they continue his work.

Since news of David Sanders’ sudden and untimely death broke on Saturday morning the tributes, messages and condolences via emails, whatsapp, phone calls, Facebook and Twitter have not stopped pouring in.

We must build an equitable, unified and sustainable health system that delivers good-quality healthcare to all according to need rather than means (an important distinction that lies at the heart of much of the debate).

Digital technology is revolutionising our daily lives. Mobile devices monitor our movements, marketing algorithms guide our consumption and social media shape our worldviews and politics.

Based on research on the real-life tasks and challenges faced by policy-makers and managers in taking CHW programmes to scale, and drawing on conceptual and empirical literature on governance,5 this brief presents a framework structured around a set of key questions to ask in assessing the governance of CHW programmes.

The School of Public Health (SOPH) has been hosting continuing professional development short course programmes since its inception in 1992.

The 41st Short Course School came to an end today. Eight courses were offered over three weeks (1st to 19th July). the courses were attended by 164 participants from 12 countries, representing 36 health and health-related professions.

SOPH report of activities 2017/18 Our biennial report is out! In this report we account for our work during 2017 and 2018, highlighting some of the […]

Advocate Adila Hassim discussed how we value the life and dignity within and beyond the health system.

This project develops a strategy to support and strengthen Community Health Workers (CHWs) in preventing Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD’s) in South Africa through interprofessional learning.

This is an exciting time for public health and pharmacy professionals to build their skills in Pharmaceutical Public Health.

When a country gains independence from a colonial power, it does not mean that all the effects of colonialism automatically disappear.

Our Summer School Programme was held between 11 Feb and 1 March 2019. We offered to our students short introductory courses and general orientation to academic study at no extra charge.

Prof Uta Lehmann, Director: School of Public Health and Prof Ernie Kunneke, HOD: Department of Dietetics and Nutrition cordially invite you to the launch of a dedicated breastfeeding room for UWC staff, students and visitors to our main campus.

The School of Public Health in the Faculty of Community & Health Sciences has an international reputation as a leading provider of post-graduate learning, teaching and collaborative research.

Dr Amir Aman, Ethiopian Minister of Health, delivered his lecture entitled “Ethiopia: Health Sector Policy and practice” at the School of Public Health, University of the Western Cape on 14 December 2018.

Dr Amir Aman honored with the Jakes Gerwel Award in Public Health he Annual Jakes Gerwel Award in Public Health, made possible through a grant by […]

The 2018 recipient of the Jakes Gerwel Award was Dr Amir Aman Hagos, now the Minister of Health of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia who graduated with an MPH in 2013.

Prof Anthony Costello delivered the 2018 Annual David Sanders lecture entitled “The Social Edge: The Power of sympathy groups for health and sustainable development”.

Civil society mobilization and policy dialogue for health equity and accountable national and global governance for health.

HSG: A call to Astana: Health must not remain a privilege of the powerful alone, by Asha George Forty years on from the Alma Ata declaration, […]

Professor Asha George has been appointed as Chair of Health Systems Global – the first international membership organisation fully dedicated to promoting health systems research and knowledge translation.

We are reminded on a daily basis of failures in our public health system: strikes, stock-outs, critical vacancies, vulnerable patients left to die, cancer patients without treatment, dilapidated and poorly equipped facilities, rampant corruption and wholesale capture of provincial health departments.

Four of South Africa’s top public health systems academics last month sent a letter to President Cyril Ramaphosa as the country grapples with finding solutions for our struggling health services.

Due to unforeseen circumstances and the current protests and unrest in Ethiopia, which require Dr Amir’s presence, he is unable to travel to Cape Town.

Emeritus Professor Thandi Puoane receives the PHASA Public Health Innovation and Lifetime Achievement Award Emeritus Professor Thandi Puoane receives the 2018 Public Health Innovation and Lifetime […]

NHS reforms need to pay attention to capacity development and learning and the process of implementation.

The Life Healthcare Esidimeni tragedy is one of the most significant violations of health and human rights in post-apartheid South Africa.

The People’s Health Movement South Africa (PHM-SA) welcomes the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill in that it confirms Universal Health Coverage (UHC) through a single payer system as the platform for the delivery of health care.

Prof Anthony Costello delivered the 2018 Annual David Sanders lecture entitled “The Social Edge: The Power of sympathy groups for health and sustainable development”.

Dr Raffaella Ravinetto delivered a public lecture entitled “Systems, policies and practices for medicines quality assurance throughout the supply chain” on 17 July 2018.

SOPH launched guide on building public health capacity through a short course professional development programme SOPH launched its latest resource “Building public health capacity through a […]

Seminar held on ‘Reducing stunting through Multisectoral Efforts in Sub-Saharan Africa’

According to a study by researchers at UWC’s School of Public Health, Community Health Workers play key functions in promoting diabetes disease control through education, support and advocacy.

Dr Arthur Heywood delivered a presentation entiteld “The History of HISP – from UWC to the world…”! at SOPH Journal Club on 11 June 2018.

The overall aim of this project is to optimise the impact of an intervention to improve family functioning and support on individual health.

The School of Public Health (SOPH) at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) has been hosting continuing professional development short course programmes since its inception in 1992. In the past few years we have often been asked by colleagues in schools of public health and similar institutions, both in South Africa and in other parts of the continent, what it takes to set up and continue running such a large and sustained programme in an academic institution; why interest does not wane; and how we manage the focus, substance and logistics of this programme. This guide endeavours to respond to these questions – to assist those university colleagues who are considering the development of similar continuing professional development programmes in the health and related social sectors, both in South Africa and further afield.

Congratulations to all our April 2018 graduates! 7 PhD, 27 Masters, and 22 Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health.

The battle to curb diabetes and other chronic illnesses got a boost when the School of Public Health from the University of the Western Cape (UWC) and the South African Christian Leadership Assembly (SACLA) launched the Sivile Senza Lifestyle Africa programme last month.

This is an exciting time for public health and pharmacy professionals to build their skills in Pharmaceutical Public Health.

SOPH hosted a warm reception on Monday 19 Feb 2018 to bring together Masters and Postgraduate diploma students, who are taking part in the Summer School, and SOPH academic and admin staff.

PHM Global steering council meeting taking place in Bangkok from the 28th to the 31st of January 2018.

The 2017 Award was presented to 2002 graduate Dr Rolene Wagner, a medical doctor and, from December 2012, the CEO of Frere Hospital in East London, South Africa.

Prof. Hoosen Coovadia addressed in his lecture the concepts of fairness, equality and equity with a focus primarily on the stratifcations based on race, gender and the private/public dichotomoies.

In 2017 we combined the ceremony at which the Jakes Gerwel Award in Public Health for Outstanding Contribution in the field of Public Health was awarded with a symposium on ‘Public health perspectives on the crisis in higher education’ – in the wake of the #Fees must Fall movement and debates on decolonising higher education.

CHEPSAA’s online open access modules – Introduction to Complex Health Systems (ICHS) and Introduction to Health Policy and Systems Research (IHPSR) – now have a presence in 61 countries across the world.

SOPH hosted a seminar on International Perspectives on the Role of Embedded Research in Health Systems on 23 November 2017.

UWC and Umeå (U2U) held HPSR capacity building workshop in Cape Town UWC-Umeå (U2U) held a productive capacity building workshop (20-24 Nov 2017) in Cape Town […]

SOPH Alumnus Wins 2017 Chancellor’s Outstanding Alumnus Award SOPH Alumnus, Dr Amir Aman Hagos, wins 2017 Chancellor's Outstanding Alumnus Award for making a significant contribution to his […]

A Health Policy and Systems Research Reader on Human Resources for Health launched at the Fourth Global Forum on Human Resources for Health in Dublin. #HRHForum2017

The event was convened by the Socio-Economic Rights Project (SERP), Dullah Omar Institute, University of the Western Cape on 5 October 2017 at the School of Public Health.

SOPH colleagues contributed to a new thematic series on the International Journal for Equity in Health.

SOPH delegates return after a productive PHASA 2017.

The School hosted a warm reception today to honor its August 2017 graduates, three PhD and one Masters.

The 20th edition of the South African Health Review was released this month.

The School of Public Health (SOPH) at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) hosted a two-part workshop series with sister institutions in Africa and the global South in May and October 2015 to explore emerging opportunities for expanding access to, and delivery of, post-graduate training in public health for people working in or managing health services/systems. Various distance-based delivery modes were explored, including web-based and e-learning technologies, with focus on workplace-based learning and creating authentic learning opportunities for students.

This Guide is geared towards public health researchers and educators, specifically those focused on post-graduate public health education, who are developing courses and their accompanying resources for blended and distance learning. However, the process that is outlined is generic and can be used and/or adapted for other fields.

We ask that you acknowledge the original source in line with the OER guidelines described on page 2 and that you share your adaptations with us in the interest of refining and developing this as a useful resource for all. Feedback about your own experiences can be emailed to the School of Public Health, University of the Western Cape at: soph-comm@uwc.ac.za.​

#SOPHWinterSchool2017 has ended on a high. Three weeks of 14 short courses, and 307 participants from over 11 countries.

Seminar held on ‘Public Health Perspectives on the crisis in higher education’ at the 2016/17 Jakes Gerwel Award hosted by SOPH on 7 July 2017.

New book: Revitalizing Health for All: Case Studies of the Struggle for Comprehensive Primary Health Care Edited by Ronald Labonté, David Sanders, Corinne Packer, and Nikki […]

The Faculty of Community & Health Sciences has an international reputation for innovative teaching, learning and research, in programmes which are; inter-professional, community-based, and service-learning orientated. Within this framework, the Faculty of Community and Health Sciences is committed to ensure the School of Public Health’s reputation as a leading education provider for postgraduate programmes.

In March 2017, in response to reports of acute hunger on our campus, and knowing that large numbers of students were going to class on an empty stomach, the School of Public Health started offering students a basic breakfast twice a week.

SOPH honored its April 2017 graduates (26 Masters, 1 PhD, and 13 PGD) with a special reception attended by SOPH staff, and graduates’ families.

Two weeks ago, in response to reports of acute hunger and a huge accommodation crisis on UWC campus, caused by BIG delays in NSFAS funding allocations, and problems in the allocation of students to residences or private accommodation, the SOPH started a multi-pronged initiative to help students

The National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa, in partnership with the Swedish Foundation for International Cooperation in Research and Higher Education (STINT)

SOPH leading a global initiative to develop a reader on HRH research A core team of researchers with varied disciplinary backgrounds, regional experiences and familiarity with […]

SOPH launched its student food initiative called NUTRITION ONE STOP on 23 March 2017.

The SOPH Bulletin is a means to provide news about developments at the School – including new exciting projects, what staff has been doing and also some reflections from the staff.

Please join us and add your voice to USAID’s side session on expanding essential health services to marginalized groups in low- and middle-income settings.

Faraz Khalid, a 2016 Emerging Voice for Global Health and a PhD candidate at Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, USA, shares his reflections on 2016.

CHESAI​ is a collaborative of health policy and systems researchers based in the Western Cape, South Africa.

From 14-18 November 2016, 2,062 delegates from 101 countries assembled in Vancouver, Canada, for the Fourth Global Symposium on Health Systems Research on the theme of ‘Resilient and responsive health systems for a changing world’.

South Africa is a middle-income country of around 55 million people, two thirds of whom live in urban areas.

As pointed out in the policy paper, Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs) are a global concern, as is the obesity epidemic.

An environmental health practitioner by training, Anne Mutunda works as a water and sanitation health surveillance officer with Akros in Zambia.

The 2016 Lecture was delivered by Prof Sundararaman from the School of Health Systems Studies at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, India.

Evans Sagwa is the Country Director for the USAID-funded SIAPS and SCMS projects in Nambia, implemented by Management Sciences for Health (MSH).

The 2015 Annual David Sanders Lecture was delivered by Dr Mary Bassett, Commissioner of Health of New York City.

The second Jakes Gerwel Award in Public Health by the UWC School of Public Health was made to Dr Saadiq Kariem.

Prof Richard Laing delivered the Annual David Sanders Lecture 2014: “Access to Medicines: the Struggle Continues”

Dr Kirstie Rendall-Mkosi receives the first Jakes Gerwel Award in recognition of her demonstrated leadership in areas of teaching, research and community engagement in health promotion, health systems research and primary health care.

Shula Marks was born in Cape Town; she emigrated to the UK in 1960 and received her doctorate from the University of London in 1967.