Page 62 - SAMRC Annual Report 2023-24

settings locally, regionally, and internationally. The interactive and encouraged families to share and ask
results of these trainings have been the effective questions about their children’s health. Following
empowerment of clinical teams entering into the the session, attendees were encouraged to provide
paediatric research space establishing cohort studies feedback to the staff organisers to enable them to
and by ensuring consistency of clinical procedures tailor feedback sessions in the future.
across multi-country consortiums.
In celebration of 30 years of
Within the DCHS, staff planned two public
engagement events to provide relevant feedback democracy in South Africa
on lung health outcomes to families of children The unit is committed to doing cutting-edge research
born pre-term. Over 110 families attended across that develops strengthened strategies for child
the study sites and included feedback including health in major areas of burden in low and middle-
i) findings from the study; ii) education on pre-term income countries. The unit is focused on developing
birth and lung development; and iii) discussion better preventive, diagnostic and management
on the long-term risks for lung health in pre-term strategies for children with the greatest need, to
babies. The mode of communication was made promote equity in child health globally. The unit is
appropriate and accessible by all attendees and also committed to capacity development in Africa so
included information communicated in the language as to train and mentor the next generation of African
preference of the family groups. The sessions were leaders in child health.

Child and Adolescent Lung Health Research Unit attending the Induced Sputum Training.

Children at the Langabuya Primary School, Paarl, Western Cape.

60 SAMRC ANNUAL REPOR T 2023-24