Page 69 - SAMRC Annual Report 2023-24

PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

The Luswane Loluphile project is empowering the
healthcare providers in eSwatini to improve their
provision of neonatal care, hence this project is
enabling our neighbouring country to draw on our
experience and expertise in neonatal care, which will
promote equity and dignity in health care in eSwatini.

Science for creating a
healthier society

During the reporting period, our research has been
taken out to the people/community in the following
ways:

The Luswane Loluphile project in eSwatini has helped
our colleagues in our neighbouring country to
improve the provision of neonatal care, thus helping
to save the lives of the most vulnerable members of
our society.

Various members from the unit have presented
our research findings at national and international
conferences such as the SA Aids Conference,
Pathology Research and Development (PathReD)
Congress, International Aids Society Conference,
15th International Workshop on HIV and Pediatrics
Hybrid, 5th Early Childhood Intervention Conference
in Johannesburg, 5th International Developmental
Paediatrics Association Congress (IDPA), 14th Biennial
O&G Update, and the South African Paediatric
Association (SAPA) Paediatric Conference.

We have also engaged on various media platforms
to improve the visibility of our research, including
the creation of a LinkedIn profile for our Research
Centre. This has enabled active engagement around
our research and feedback has been positive as
people learn about the latest advancements in
The routine use of Umbiflow in several health research emanating from our research unit.
subdistricts in Tshwane represents a
significant step towards the advancement In celebration of 30 years of
of equity and dignity within health. democracy in South Africa

The unit's commitment is to continue to develop
South Africans. Historically, access to ultrasound at and implement effective interventions and provide
primary healthcare level has been very limited. The relevant solutions for some of South Africa's
capability of the Umbiflow device to detect placental greatest challenges in maternal, newborn and child
insufficiency, a leading contributor to fetal growth health care. We believe that our multidisciplinary
restriction and stillbirths, is of great significance, team, comprising obstetricians, paediatricians,
especially in light of South Africa's elevated stillbirth immunologists, nutritionists and child development
rate. This ground-breaking cost-effective tool, which specialists, possesses the required expertise to
has been proven to reduce stillbirths, can be operated research and develop sustainable solutions for
by any healthcare professional, with training achievable South Africa's health challenges.
in 1-2 weeks.

SAMRC ANNUAL REPOR T 2023-24 67