About Walter Sisulu
Get in touch
Email Address:
Contact Numbers:
Mthatha: 047 502 2100
Butterworth: 047 401 6000
East London: 043 702 9200
Potsdam: 043 708 5200
Chiselhurst: 043 709 4000
3. Good Health and Well-being
iYunivesithi Walter Sisulu demonstrates significant commitment to SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being, leveraging its Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences to transform health outcomes across the predominantly rural Eastern Cape. Through innovative community-based medical training, cutting-edge public health research, and strategic clinical partnerships, Walter Sisulu plays a vital role in addressing regional health disparities.
Research on Health & Well-being
- Oesophageal Cancer Epidemiology & ECAS Mobile App. Read the story. The Cancer Epidemiology Research Group (CERG) at Walter Sisulu developed the ECAS Mobile Application for early oesophageal cancer screening. Designed specifically for high-prevalence rural regions like the Eastern Cape, the application evaluates patient risk based on exposure to known risk factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, and dietary habits. During a community outreach in Willowvale, CERG screened 48 patients using the app. The initiative was nationally recognised as one of the top impact case studies by Universities South Africa (USAf).
- Excellence in HPV & Cervical Cancer Research. Read the story. Dr Zizipho Mbulawa from the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology was named one of the top 10 productive Human Papillomavirus (HPV) researchers in Africa, advancing critical public health disease prevention.
Health Profession Graduates & Clinical Education
- Integrated Longitudinal Clinical Clerkship (ILCC) Programme. Read the story. Fifth-year medical students at Walter Sisulu are placed directly in rural Eastern Cape hospitals for 20 weeks, strengthening local health delivery while acquiring hands-on rural clinical experience. A structured induction process for fifth - and sixth-year medical students facilitates a smooth transition into bedside practical training, enhancing clinical competence and patient care standards.
- Prof Xaba-Mokoena Women-in-Health Club. Read the story. Established in honour of founding dean Professor Marina Xaba-Mokoena, this initiative creates a deliberate leadership pipeline to mentor female medical and health sciences students for roles in research, clinical innovation, and institutional leadership.
- Short Learning Programmes (SLPs) for Healthcare Workers. Walter Sisulu delivers targeted Short Learning Programmes designed to upskill working nurses and local healthcare professionals with practical skills tailored to regional health demands.
Health Collaborations, Outreach & Student Services
- Rural Healthcare Partnerships (SAMHS & Provincial Health). Walter Sisulu partnered with the Eastern Cape Department of Health and the South African Military Health Services (SAMHS) to deploy medical graduates—including Cuban- trained cohorts—into under-resourced rural hospitals to bridge the healthcare disparity gap.
- International Medical Mobility (Medical University of Graz). Read the story. Supported by EU Erasmus+ funding, Walter Sisulu established a bilateral exchange framework with the Medical University of Graz (MUG) in Austria, hosting European medical students for clinical rotations in Eastern Cape facilities.
- "Welcome Back to Care" Outreach Campaign. Led by the Public Health Department at Walter Sisulu in collaboration with the Civic Centre Clinic, this outreach targeted Mthatha communities affected by severe flooding, successfully reconnecting "lost to follow-up" (LTFU) HIV and TB patients with ongoin g treatment.
- Student Wellness & Prevention Campaigns. The Health Services Unit ran the "First Things First" wellness campaign alongside Higher Health, TB/HIV CARE, and the Eastern Cape Liquor Board, engaging trained peer helpers to promote sexual health awareness, HIV/AIDS testing, and substance abuse prevention.
- Psychosocial & Student Mental Health Support. The Student Counselling Unit offers mental health awareness campaigns, stress management workshops, exam coping sessions with relaxation yoga, and peer - mentorship structures across all campuses.
This account is drawn from the iYunivesithi Walter Sisulu Sustainability Impact Progress Report, prepared against the Times Higher Education Sustainability Impact Ratings methodology.
The Sustainable Development Goals icons are United Nations marks, used here for information. The content of this publication has not been approved by the United Nations and does not reflect the views of the United Nations or its officials or Member States. Read the Sustainable Development Goals.
