Page 38 - SAMRC Annual Report 2023-24
P. 38

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
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