Working to Advance
Health Equity in Africa

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New study on mental health

Did you know that 1 in 4 South African youth experience depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder? But many don’t know about the help available to them, while those who are aware do not always get the help they need. According to StatsSA (2022), results of the South African National Youth Risk Behaviour Survey showed that 24% of youth between Grade 8 to Grade 11 had experienced feelings of depression, hopelessness and sadness, while a further 21% had attempted suicide at least once. In KwaZulu-Natal, as well as nationally, the prevalence of menta...

HEARD PhD scholarship student graduates

HEARD is celebrating the graduation of one of our students, Dr Happy Magama, who was supported in her studies through the HEARD PhD Scholarship Programme. Below are a few insights on Dr Magama's PhD journey. Your thesis topic: An analysis of the Integration of HIV and SRH Services to improve access and outcomes in Low-Income Countries with High Prevalence: A case study of Zimbabwe and Zambia. What inspired you to start your PhD: My decision to pursue a PhD was deeply rooted in my extensive experience in sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and HIV/AIDS, ...

Webinar on the US funding freeze on the 4th of March 2025

RIATT-ESA, with the support of HEARD, is hosting a webinar to discuss and reflect on the impact of the US funding freeze on global health and progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS in East and Southern Africa. Information on the Webinar: 📅 Date: 4th March 2025 🕒 Time: 12 PM SAST/ 1 PM EAT 📍 Platform: Microsoft Teams 🔗 Register here: Webinar Registration Link To read the concept note click here: RIATT-HEARD webinar....

New book out

HEARD is delighted to announce the publication of a new book which offers a critical examination of the sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) of young women and girls in Southern Africa, and the ways in which current policies and programmes aimed at improving SRHR often fail to reach the most marginalised populations. Based on theoretical analysis and empirical data gathered from studies carried out in five Southern African countries (Madagascar, Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe), the authors argue that a continued focus on HIV and interve...

HEARD Webinar on 16 October: Exploring Healthcare Professionals’ knowledge, attitudes and practices on female genital schistosomiasis

We are pleased to invite you to the next HEARD Webinar which will be presented by Ms Comfort Dede Tetteh, from the Ghana Health Service. Her webinar title is 'Exploring Healthcare Professionals’ knowledge, attitudes and practices on female genital schistosomiasis in endemic districts in Ghana: Using a mixed-method approach'.   Please find attached the webinar flyer with further details on the presentation. We look forward to you joining us!   Zoom invitation Date: 16 October 2024 Time: 10:00-11:00am Zoom link: https://ukzn.zoom...

The (Im)possibilities of Co-Producing Knowledge?

The migration project at HEARD (Health Economics and HIV/AIDS Research Division) focuses on the intersectionally situated experiences of migrant and refugee women in South Africa and how their legal, economic and social insecurities contribute to their vulnerability to poor sexual and reproductive health outcomes. The team has published extensively on migrant and refugee women's experiences with sexual and gender-based violence that often occurs on continuum for these women - at their point of origin, in their migration journey and upon arrival in South Africa. ...

HEARD students graduate with their PhDs

The month of May was a time of celebration at HEARD with the graduation of Dr Monica Ansu-Mensah and Dr Kwabena Asare who have both been supported in their studies through the HEARD PhD Scholarship Programme. Dr Ansu-Mensah’s thesis evaluated the accessibility, barriers and potential solutions to implementation/sustainability of point-of-care diagnostic testing services at the primary healthcare level in the Bono Region in Ghana. The study revealed poor availability and moderate geographical accessibility to the WHO-recommended diagnostic tests in the region....