The Western Cape Government Department of Health and Wellness (WCGHW), Khayelitsha Eastern Sub-structure (KESS) is hosting its 2025 Research Day “Health and Harmony: Ecosystems, Equity, and Evidence for Sustainable Well-being” on 31 October 2025 in partnership with the University of the Western Cape. The event aims to create a dynamic and inclusive forum that bridges public health practice, academic research, and community engagement; reinforcing the two institutions’ shared dedication to research excellence and health equity.

The event will serve as a strategic platform to:

• Promote knowledge sharing by facilitating the exchange of research findings between healthcare professionals, scholars, policy makers, and the broader community.
• Strengthen networks between KESS, researchers and communities by showcasing research initiatives led by KESS staff and affiliated researchers.
• Highlight various interdisciplinary collaborations within the sub-structure.
• Support early-career researchers by providing mentorship, networking opportunities, and professional development for health system staff, postgraduate students and emerging researchers.

Research Day Theme and Context

The theme for the conference “Health and Harmony: Ecosystems, Equity, and Evidence for Sustainable Well-being” draws on the National Department of Health’s 2025-2030 Strategic Plan, the Western Cape’s Healthcare 2030 vision; and key priority areas within KESS.

To encourage an inclusive and diverse engagement, abstracts are invited under the following research categories:

• Infectious diseases – Research on the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and control of communicable diseases including, but not limited to, tuberculosis and HIV.
• Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) – Research on the prevention, detection, treatment, and social determinants of various diseases that are not transmitted between humans including, but not limited to, diabetes, hypertension, cancer, and mental health concerns.
• Health systems strengthening – Research on improving the organization, financing, and governance of health services including efforts to improve implementation, policy, supply chain management, quality improvement, innovation, health coverage, and health equity.
• Community engagement – Research on the active involvement of community members as partners/stakeholders in health priorities, designing solutions, implementing programs, as well as community ownership of health and grassroots health efforts.

The final conference programme will be formally announced at the beginning of October 2025. It is expected to include an opening session with a keynote address followed by a series of thematic sessions with oral presentations from authors of accepted abstracts. Up-to-date information on the programme can be found on UWC’s website.

Call for Abstracts; and Guidelines for Abstracts

Interested participants are requested to submit abstracts in alignment with the four research categories outlined above.  We welcome all types of research contributions, including studies with data, theoretical papers, literature reviews, real-world examples, and ongoing research projects.  Submissions will be accepted until 25th August 2025, at KHAYELITSHA AND EASTERN SUBSTRUCTURE (KESS) RESEARCH DAY: 31 October 2025.

Please note that an abstract must:

• Be a maximum of 300 words, structured to include: background, approach (methods), findings (results), and conclusion.  A template is attached as a guide to assist in drafting the abstract.

• Be based on research conducted within the period, 2023-2025 in the Khayelitsha and Eastern Sub-structure.

Submitted abstracts will go through a review process.  By submitting an abstract, authors consent to conference organizers storing and disseminating content from the abstracts and subsequent presentations.

Registration:

Attendance is free, but registration is required. Registration details will be shared soon.

For any queries please email:

KESSResearchCommittee@westerncape.gov.za