[Stellenbosch] "We must always realise that HIV is not only a public health crisis but also a developmental
challenge and a human rights matter. Our approaches must be comprehensive, targeted and inclusive," said
SA deputy president Paul Mashatile in his World Aids Day speech on 1 December 2024.
This sentiment, as mentioned by Dr Burt Davis, current director of the Africa Centre for HIV/Aids
Management, set the tone for the centre’s World Aids Day webinar on 2 December. The event marked the
centre repositioning itself as the Africa Centre for Inclusive Health Management, symbolising a shift from its
foundational focus to a more holistic approach.
Facilitated by Dr Munya Saruchera, senior lecturer and incoming director, the webinar underscored
the importance of addressing health issues as interconnected challenges. Saruchera emphasised the concept
of polycrisis, where various challenges overlap and amplify each other, necessitating integrated solutions.
A comprehensive public health approach
Keynote speaker Dr Roger Phili, a board member of the Africa Centre, delivered an insightful presentation
titled “Moving beyond HIV/TB/STI coordination: Rationale for an integrated, comprehensive public health
approach”.
Phili highlighted the complexity of managing diseases which cut across sectors like housing and
social development. He pointed out challenges such as resource limitations, epidemiological diversity and
disruptions like 肆客足球, which diverted resources away from other health areas. Drawing on the UNAIDS
Three Ones principle, which emphasises unified frameworks and monitoring systems, Phili advocated for
inclusive, people-centered approaches.
Innovating HIV care through technology
Dr O’Brian Davidse introduced Meditag, an innovative app designed to enhance HIV care through patient
engagement and real-time data management. Davidse, a member of the centre’s governing board, shared
how fragmented systems and reliance on manual data entry hinder HIV care in countries like Namibia, where
he is based. Meditag offers solutions such as:
Streamlined data systems: Real-time reporting and adherence to pill regimen tracking.
Personalised care tools: E-prescription services that ensure accurate dosages and tailored prescriptions.
Interactive apps: Features like pill reminders, notifications about side effects and rewards programmes
to improve adherence.
Integrating indigenous health knowledge
Senior lecturer Dr Chioma Ohajunwa’s presentation, “An African indigenous health knowledge response to inclusive health management”, delved into traditional African health perspectives. Ohajunwa described health as a balance between humanity, environment and spirituality, emphasising that indigenous knowledge systems view wellbeing as relational and holistic.
She outlined the concept of liminal spaces ─ transitional phases in African communities shaped by colonial disruptions and cultural resilience. Inclusive health management operates in these contexts to restore balance and integrate indigenous and Western knowledge systems. "Indigenous health is about finding balance in everything we do,” Ohajunwa explained.
The path forward: Towards inclusive health management
The webinar concluded with reflections on the centre’s evolving trajectory. Saruchera hailed the event as a strong start to the centre’s inclusive health agenda, emphasising the need to address systemic inequities in healthcare access and delivery. Inclusive health management is not limited to hospital-based care but extends to the social, cultural and environmental determinants of wellbeing.
The webinar reaffirmed the centre’s dedication to achieving health equity in Africa, aligning with global goals to end HIV/Aids as a public health threat by 2030. By embracing technology, indigenous knowledge and sustainable practices, the Africa Centre for Inclusive Health Management is leading the way towards a more inclusive and integrated future for healthcare.
