2026 SOPH PhD Induction Series Wraps Up SuccessfullyThe PhD induction series took place from 4 February to 9 March 2026, drawing participation from 19 pre-doctoral and newly registered doctoral fellows. The series consisted of six two-hour thematic sessions facilitated by the SOPH PhD programme support team.FIND OUT MOREUWC-SOPH Hosts Productive PhD Writing RetreatThe UWC School of Public Health (SOPH) held its annual PhD writing retreat in September 2025, welcoming 21 doctoral candidates. FIND OUT MOREStrengthening Global Partnerships: UWC Dietetics Academics Complete Erasmus+ Exchange at Ankara UniversityTwo academics from UWC's Department of Dietetics and Nutrition recently completed an Erasmus+ funded reciprocal exchange visit to Ankara University in Türkiye. The visit strengthened academic collaboration, identified new research opportunities, and provided valuable insights into innovative nutrition education, hospital...FIND OUT MOREUWC-SOPH Contributes to the 2nd Public Health Diplomacy Summit in MemphisUWC-SOPH’s Prof Olagoke Akintola, Dr Woldekidan Amde, and Dr Anam Nyembezi attended the 2nd Public Health Diplomacy Summit, an engaging platform for dialogue and collaboration, hosted by the University of Memphis School of Public Health from 23–25 March 2026.FIND OUT MORE
The SoPH is partnering with the World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA) and the Public Health Association of South Africa (PHASA) to host the 18th World Congress on Public Health in Cape Town, September 6-9, 2026.
After over three years of collaboration, the GT4Africa collective held its concluding webinar on 21 August 2025 to take stock of its journey and celebrate milestones.
On Tuesday, 23 February, the School of Public Health, NACOSA, Hope Africa, and Triangle Project, together with representatives from civil society and government departments working on sexual and reproductive health (SRH), gathered at Bertha House to celebrate the launch of a new South Africa gender glossary.
As part of a three year collaborative research project (the “Learning Partnerships to Support Gender Transformative Innovations for Adolescents’ Sexual and Reproductive Health in South Africa”) the School of Public Health, University of the Western Cape, NACOSA and H.O.P.E Africa, in partnership with the Triangle Project, has developed a local gender glossary.
A new Special Series in Global Health Action—led by SOPH through theCountdown to 2030 project—assesses how the Global Financing Facility (GFF) has shaped national priorities, investments, and accountability for women’s, children’s, and adolescents’ health.
On the 8th April 2025, I had the opportunity to present my PhD research, which explored the impact of COVID-19 on adolescents with HIV in peri-urban Cape Town, with a focus on their resilience and vulnerability using photovoice methodology.
Final Year PhD candidate Charné Petinger reflects on her experience presenting at IAS 2025 in Kigali, Rwanda, where she showcased her participatory research with adolescents living with HIV. In this piece, she shares key lessons learned from the global HIV conference, which emphasizes the importance of community-led approaches, innovation and resilience- and offers a powerful reminder that person-centred, equity-driven research belongs at the heart of all public health work.
Globally and in South Africa, young people face significant sexual and reproductive health (SRH) challenges. In South Africa, young people (15-24) represent a significant proportion of people living with HIV and women were disproportionately affected.
The Western Cape Government Department of Health and Wellness (WCGHW), Khayelitsha Eastern Sub-structure (KESS) is hosting its 2025 Research Day under the theme “Health and Harmony: Ecosystems, Equity, and Evidence for Sustainable Well-being” which will take place on 31 October 2025.