Page 38 - SAMRC Annual Report 2023-24
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SAMRC STRATEGIC RESEARCH PROGRAMMES
HEALTH PROMOTION
& DISEASE PREVENTION RESEARCH PROGRAMME 1
PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAMME
To conduct research using a life course approach to healthy lifestyles, early diagnosis,
and cost-effective prevention and management of diseases through health promotion.
UNITS THAT CONSTITUTE THIS PROGRAMME
1 Antimicrobial Resistance and Global Health 6 Mental Health, Alcohol, Substance Use and Tobacco
Research Unit (ERU)
Research Unit (IRU)
2 Centre for Health Economics and Decision 7 Microbial Water Quality Monitoring Research Unit (ERU)
Science-Research Unit (ERU)
3 Environment and Health Research Unit (IRU) 8 Non-Communicable Diseases Research Unit (IRU)
4 Hypertension and Cardiovascular Disease 9 Risk and Resilience in Mental Disorders Research
Research Unit (ERU) Unit (ERU)
5 Masculinity and Health Research Unit (ERU) 10 Rural Public Health and Health Transition Research
Unit (ERU)
PROGRAMME STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
• To contribute towards the body of evidence by • To assist the National Cancer Registry in producing
gaining a better understanding of how factors such cancer surveillance statistics and cancer trend reports.
as nutrition, physical activity, mental health, healthy • To translate research results into health and education
behaviours, environment and stress factors affect life policy, the practice of healthcare professionals, and
expectancy. the configuration of health and education systems.
• To be a leader in scientific research by contributing to • To develop interventions that affect and address poor
new knowledge in the area of health promotion and nutrition, lack of physical activity, excessive alcohol
disease prevention. intake, and risky sexual behaviours.
• To train and mentor high-quality postgraduate • To add to evidence-based interventions that
students and postdoctoral fellows who can compete investigate factors affecting life expectancy.
in the science, health and/or education sectors locally • To train and educate healthcare staff and community
and abroad to advance the cause of health promotion members to manage, control and reduce the
and disease prevention. incidence of non-communicable diseases.
36 SAMRC ANNUAL REPOR T 2023-24