An introductory editorial to SALAD’s years-long series on the DHS in South Africa published in the South African Medical Journal.

The SAMJ, as a national journal with an interest in policy and health systems development, is an ideal portal for dissemination of evidence-informed, independent and critical approaches to documenting the current strengths and challenges of district and subdistrict health systems. This editorial serves as an announcement of a multi-year special series with the SAMJ to publish research, reviews, and in practice reflections co-written by researchers, practitioners and decision makers on a variety of DHS-related themes.