Partners and Collaboration

UP has a range of transdisciplinary projects that help to promote healthy lives and well-being within a local, continental and global context. Click here to read more

Teaching and Learning: Curriculum Transformation

Teaching and Learning platforms need to be purposefully transformed to graduate learners who are able to connect across disciplines. By creating opportunities for transdisciplinary research and practical interaction, it allows our trainee health professionals a greater understanding of their role and contribution to society. Click here to read more.

Community Outreach

Nutrition

The Covid-19 crisis brought attention to inequity that exist in our society and increased the risk for malnutrition. In vulnerable communities the nutrition status will be affected, and the malnourished will be more susceptible to a virus such as Covid-19. In many developing countries Covid-19 led to a health and nutrition crisis combined with a socioeconomic crisis. This reinforced the importance of being able to access water, sanitation, primary care and opportunities for work and education close to home. The COPC embarked on a five year food system research project, in collaboration with various partners including the UP departments of Family Medicine, Public Health, Dietetics, Architecture, Engineering, Veterinary Science and Agriculture, the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) Centre of Excellence in Food Security at UP’s Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, the Agricultural Research Council (ARC), Tebelo NPO, Living Word, and SA Cares with the launch of the Imvelo(from the Earth) Urban Food Systems at Living Word Pretoria East Congregation.

 Research and Education

Imvelo Food System - UP Interdisciplinary Initiative Helps Create Food Security for Vulnerable Communities

Students' Research Report - Moreleta Park Integration Project Research Report 2020

Dr. Ellenore Meyer - UNICEF ONE HEALTH FOR CHANGE (UP-UOH) A UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA PROJECT 

Sports and Exercise

The Faculty of Health Sciences is also host to the Sport, Exercise Medicine and Lifestyle Institute (SEMLI).  SEMLI is not only a research institute with the aim to address lifestyle and non-communicable diseases in a primary health care approach, but also is the host of a clinical facility that is open to the public.  The trans- and interdisciplinary approach include disciplines like Sports Medicine, Physiotherapy, Biokinetics, Human Nutrition and Dietetics, and others.

Maternal and Infant Health Care

The UP/SAMRC Research Centre for Maternal, Fetal, Newborn and Child Health Care Strategies research focus is developing and implementing effective interventions in maternal, new-born and child health care at primary and secondary levels of care.

This grant will allow expansion on early learning programmes by exposing children and teachers as well as community health workers to critical thinking skills development through playful learning with Lego and through robotics.

Together with the UP’s Community Oriented Primary Care unit the unit embarked on community outreach programmes that will focus on three key areas aimed at sustainable improvement: health, nutrition and education. This project aims to reduce maternal and infant mortality rates through improving access to essential and comprehensive medical maternal and child health services, and to train community health worker/health care providers and teachers of all the early learning centers in the informal settlement. This g will support and develop mothers and children to be able to self-actualize physical well-being and emotional strength/psychological well-being. We are also looking to improve overall health through nutritional education and cognitive development of mothers and children so as to encourage critical thinking, self-care and early learning by training the future trainers.

Staff and Student Wellbeing

Mental Health and Wellbeing

Free counselling services are offered to registered students by the Student Counselling Unit (SCU). In addition to mental health matters, the SCU offers career counselling, career assessment and a cognitive development programme / cognitive training, free of charge.  Hospital admissions are arranged free of charge. Medical intervention is limited but free in appropriate cases.  A 24 hour toll-free telephone crisis line is available to all students. This is run in partnership with the university counselling unit where student’s problems can be followed up face to face.