Academic institute

Wits RHI

The Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute (Wits RHI) was established by Professor Helen Rees in 1994 to support the new South African government formulate and implement new national policies around sexual and reproductive health. Wits RHI aim is to:

  • Understand pathways for intervention

  • Improve access to quality services

  • Expand prevention and treatment choices

  • Generate data for policy and programming

  • Build research capacity to expand generation and application of evidence

Wits RHI is part of the Faculty of Health Sciences and the largest research institute of the University of the Witwatersrand. Wits RHI is a UNAIDS and South African Medical Research Council (MRC) collaborating centre as well as a United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) strategic partner.

Health Economics and HIV and AIDS Research Division (HEARD), University of KwaZulu Natal

HEARD conducts applied research to support development interventions aimed at mobilising evidence for impact in health and HIV in the SADC and east Africa region. HEARD is based at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in Durban, South Africa and collaborates with a range of institutional and individual partners spanning the globe. HEARD supports UNAIDS, the SADC Secretariat and Parliamentary Forum and South African and African leadership in responding to issues of health, development and HIV.Mission

To inspire health and development strategies, policies and practices that improve the welfare of people in and beyond Africa.

General Objectives

To improve private and public sector understanding of the socio-economic impacts of HIV and AIDS through an applied research focus

  • To promote multi-sectoral responses to the impact of HIV and AIDS

  • To develop the practice of health economics and social/behavioural science

  • To train business and community leaders, professionals and government officials in the strategic planning for the management of HIV and AIDS and other health issues

  • General Principles

  • Effective interventions through sound socio-economic, social and behavioural analysis and interdisciplinary research

  • The transfer of skills

  • The sharing of knowledge

  • Capacity building

  • Research utilisation