Page 100 - SAMRC Annual Report 2023-24

BODRU and collaborating universities have also were widely publicised nationally in several op-eds
developed a free online training platform to and in radio and television interviews. The following
enhance the medical certification of cause of death popular publications and media channel carried the
by doctors on the death certificate and to address stories: Daily Maverick, Groundup, Financial Mail,
the lack of training in the International Classification Cape Talk, SAFM, Radio 786, SABC News Channel
of Disease (ICD) principles. The programme, which 404, eNCA and Newzroom Africa.
is compatible with computers, tablets and mobile
phones, is divided into five modules and enables self- In celebration of 30 years of
learning via voice-over recordings and downloadable democracy in South Africa
reading materials. The programme is accredited for
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points Monitoring the country's health status and
by the Health Professions Council of South Africa determinants of disease is an essential foundation
for guiding policy, programmes, and practice to
(HPCSA) is available at www.deathcertification.org. improve life expectancy and quality of life. BODRU
By the end of March 2024, more than 2000 medical provides accurate and reliable estimates on the
practitioners and students had registered, with more burden, pattern and associated risk factors of
than 90% successfully completing the course. diseases in South Africa. We undertake research
Science for creating a to improve population health information and
surveillance systems; conduct methodological
healthier society research to improve the basis of burden of disease
There were two major public engagements arising (BoD) estimation and surveillance; and make BoD
from our research during the last financial year. information available for national and sub-national
The first one from the findings of the National health decision-making, policy and planning. We
Cause of Death Validation study, which highlighted have already witnessed the impact of these data
inaccuracies in the reporting of official statistics in guiding major policy decisions and responses
on injury deaths. Several media engagements and to the HIV/AIDS epidemic and most recently the
podcasts followed the publication of articles in the excess mortality arising from COVID-19. We remain
committed to our multi-disciplinary approach
South African Medical Journal calling for changes to to advance the provision of health measures,
be made to the death certificate. On a practical level, mortality estimates, health informatics and sentinel
the unit continues to pioneer training in improved surveillance.
certification of cause of death by medical doctors. The
second major engagement centred on the release As we celebrate 30 years of democracy, we remain
of the first study on male homicide in PLOS Global committed to the organisation's and the country's
Public Health, which was part of a collaboration with transformation agenda as attested to by our capacity
the Gender and Health Research Unit. The findings development programmes.

BODRU hosts the World Health Organization- Attendees at the High Level Planning Meeting
Family of International Classifications for the next South African Demographic and
Collaborating Centre – maintaining Health Survey, Pretoria.
WHO international classifications.

98 SAMRC ANNUAL REPOR T 2023-24