Wits RHI

Wits RHI Wits RHI is a renowned African institute in a world-class African University tackling the continent's health challenges through science and innovation.
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Wits RHI addresses some of the greatest public health concerns affecting our region, focusing on HIV/TB, sexual and reproductive health, and vaccine-preventable diseases.

10/03/2026

Are you passionate about public health?

Wits RHI invites Johannesburg Region F community members to join the Community Advisory Board (CAB). This is an opportunity to make a real difference! Share insights, support HIV, TB, maternal & child health initiatives, and strengthen researcher-community engagement.

Apply online: https://forms.office.com
Apply manually: https://tinyurl.com/y3fztv8v

Health regulators from across the continent recently gathered for the African Regulatory Leadership Programme, led by th...
10/03/2026

Health regulators from across the continent recently gathered for the African Regulatory Leadership Programme, led by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Wits RHI and hosted at the Wits Business School. The meeting marked the programme’s second cohort, bringing together seven African leaders dedicated to strengthening regulatory systems in their respective countries. Over four days, participants exchanged insights, addressed shared challenges, and explored ways to advance transparent and collaborative regulatory leadership across Africa. The programme featured leaders from the World Health Organization (WHO), the European Medicines Agency , and the African Medicines Agency (AMA), along with other leading health regulatory experts who shared valuable perspectives and practical experiences.

Over the coming year, the cohort will continue their leadership journey through mentorship, collaboration, and peer learning until September 2026. They will also join a growing network of alumni working collectively to strengthen regulatory excellence across the continent and support countries in progressing toward WHO regulatory maturity level standards. - University of the Witwatersrand Wits Faculty of Health Sciences

Today, we celebrate the remarkable women leading Wits RHI. Our directors, senior clinicians, and emerging researchers ar...
08/03/2026

Today, we celebrate the remarkable women leading Wits RHI. Our directors, senior clinicians, and emerging researchers are driving scientific excellence, innovation, and real-world impact.

Across every level of our institute, women are advancing African-led research, mentoring the next generation, and shaping solutions that strengthen health systems and improve lives. We honour their leadership, resilience, and lasting contributions to science and society.

We are thrilled to announce that Wits RHI’s Dr Faeezah Patel, Senior Medical Officer from our Maternal & Child Health Te...
26/02/2026

We are thrilled to announce that Wits RHI’s Dr Faeezah Patel, Senior Medical Officer from our Maternal & Child Health Team, has been selected as a member of the 2026 WomenLift Health Southern Africa Leadership Journey. This transformative year-long program is designed to provide exceptional women leaders with the essential tools, confidence, and networks to overcome leadership challenges and enhance their impact in the global health sector.
Dr Patel has been recognized as one of just 30 outstanding women leaders in global health from a range of sectors and disciplines, highlighting her significant contributions and remarkable leadership potential.
To learn more about Dr Patel and other selected members of the 2026 WomenLift Health Southern Africa Leadership Journey, visit: https://www.womenlifthealth.org/2026-southern-africa-cohort/

Exciting News!
We’re excited to introduce the 2026 WomenLift Health Southern Africa Leadership Journey cohort! We proudly welcome these 30 exceptional women leaders who are driving meaningful change and shaping the future of global health across the region.

Over the next 12 months, these trailblazers will embark on a truly transformative leadership experience. Through deep reflection, courageous vulnerability, and authentic connection, they’ll gain new tools, strategies, and a powerful support network to strengthen their voice, presence, and impact.

At WomenLift Health, we believe lasting transformation happens when the voices and experiences of women from all backgrounds are elevated and championed. Join us in celebrating these remarkable leaders as they begin an inspiring journey toward creating the mindset shifts needed for bold, impactful change in global public health.

Meet our 2026 cohort: bit.ly/SACohort2026

Wits RHI’s Implementation Science team, together with CHAI Global and country teams in Kenya and Zambia, engaged nationa...
25/02/2026

Wits RHI’s Implementation Science team, together with CHAI Global and country teams in Kenya and Zambia, engaged national leadership and technical partners to assess readiness for introducing Lenacapavir (LEN). Kenya and Zambia are among the first four countries to roll out LEN in the public sector, with Zambia launching on World AIDS Day 2025 and Kenya set to launch on 26 February 2026. Through Unitaid’s investment, Wits RHI and CHAI reaffirmed their commitment to support Ministry-led, equitable rollout by providing targeted technical assistance aligned to evolving national priorities, underscoring the central role of country leadership in driving successful LEN introduction.

2 Days to Go . From Denver,Wits RHI is joining global experts at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infec...
20/02/2026

2 Days to Go . From Denver,Wits RHI is joining global experts at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections. Our research is making waves on the international stage. Get ready to follow the latest in and science.

📍Breaking stigma, empowering choices. Our latest EMPOWER study shows how adolescent girls & young women in Johannesburg ...
19/02/2026

📍Breaking stigma, empowering choices. Our latest EMPOWER study shows how adolescent girls & young women in Johannesburg and Mwanza navigate HIV prevention with . Despite stigma, resilience wins. Read more: https://bit.ly/4rZe1OS

Shaping Africa’s Health Future. Wits RHI Prof Helen Rees took part in the 39th African Union Assembly in Addis Ababa, j...
18/02/2026

Shaping Africa’s Health Future. Wits RHI Prof Helen Rees took part in the 39th African Union Assembly in Addis Ababa, joining the Presidential Roundtable on Local Manufacturing, supporting the launch of ACHIEVE Africa, and moderating a panel on vaccine & biologics development. Africa’s health future is in action. Read more: https://bit.ly/4aUPZ1D

📢From Joburg to Rome. The countdown is over – the 9th Global Conference on Novel RSV Preventive & Therapeutic Interventi...
16/02/2026

📢From Joburg to Rome. The countdown is over – the 9th Global Conference on Novel RSV Preventive & Therapeutic Interventions kicks off tomorrow, 17 February, in Rome, Italy. We’re proud that Wits RHI Professor Lee Fairlie, Director of Maternal and Child Health, will be presenting an e-poster on the Abrysvo rollout in pregnant women, sharing key lessons from the OptiMVacc_SA study. Get ready to catch the latest insights and innovations from in RSV prevention research. Resvinet Foundation

Congratulations to Ms Precious Matsoso. We’re thrilled to celebrate her inclusion in Nature’s 10 and the TIME100 Health ...
13/02/2026

Congratulations to Ms Precious Matsoso. We’re thrilled to celebrate her inclusion in Nature’s 10 and the TIME100 Health List 2025 recognising her as one of the world’s most influential voices in health.

Find out why they're on the TIME100 Health 2026 list.

Wits RHI Professor Helen Rees on BBC: The Impact of the US Funding Cuts. Prof Rees, spoke to the BBC about the profoun...
12/02/2026

Wits RHI Professor Helen Rees on BBC: The Impact of the US Funding Cuts. Prof Rees, spoke to the BBC about the profound impact of the abrupt US HIV funding freeze. She highlighted how this sudden loss has weakened critical HIV services almost overnight in South Africa. Learn more about her insights: https://bit.ly/46LQ4lP Listen to her BBC radio interviewto: 29:30-mark https://bit.ly/4rKvGK3

Address

22 Esselen Street, Hillbrow
Johannesburg
2001

Opening Hours

Monday 08:00 - 16:30
Tuesday 08:00 - 16:30
Wednesday 08:00 - 16:30
Thursday 08:00 - 16:30
Friday 08:00 - 16:30

Telephone

+27113585300

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Our Story

Wits RHI was founded in 1994 by Prof Helen Rees. In consultation with the democratically elected South African government, she founded the Reproductive Health Research Unit (RHRU) at the University of the Witwatersrand.

Recognising that the old health research agenda did not address the needs of all South Africa’s citizens, a new research agenda was developed aimed at shaping new health policies. As co-author of the Maternal, Child and Women’s Health policy, Prof Rees established RHRU as a research and training institution focused on sexual and reproductive health and later HIV as an emerging epidemic at that time. The work then combined clinical, epidemiological, health systems and behavioural research to help formulate national health policy.

A small RHRU team worked from Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto, supported by grants from the Kaiser Foundation and the UK’s Department for International Development. The RHRU’s partnering organisations included the Medical Research Council, and international agencies such as Family Health International. In 2005 the organisation moved from Soweto to Hillbrow in inner city Johannesburg as it expanded its work to include a much closer relationship with both the City of Johannesburg and the Gauteng Department of Health.

The RHRU’s early research focused on contraceptive access, microbicide development, safe abortion, and female condom development. Key to this early work was the establishment of partnerships with local communities where the Unit’s work was taking place.