Dear Campus Community,
On World TB Day, we join the global call of the World Health Organization: “Yes! We can end TB!” Tuberculosis remains one of South Africa’s most pressing public health challenges, with thousands of new cases and lives lost each year. At UWC, we recognise that this is not only a medical crisis but a social one, deeply affecting the communities we serve.
South Africa remains among the 30 high?burden countries for TB, HIV?associated TB, and drug?resistant TB. In 2023 alone, approximately 270,000 people developed TB, including 13,000 cases of drug?resistant TB. More than half of notified TB patients were co?infected with HIV, underscoring the urgent need for integrated responses. Despite progress through antiretroviral therapy, an estimated 56,000 people lost their lives to TB last year.
At UWC, we are solutions?driven. The South African National Bioinformatics Institute (SANBI) has become a global actor in addressing TB, building networks and collaborations across Africa and beyond. As SANBI Director Professor Alan Christoffels reminds us: “Drug?resistant tuberculosis is an active area of research, yet we should be encouraged that TB is preventable and curable. It requires our collective action with a strong focus on community involvement.”
Our research ecosystem reflects a multidisciplinary approach. SANBI’s work includes computational drug target leads and analytical tools for genetic datasets. The Department of Medical Biosciences investigates how genetically diverse strains of TB interact with host cells, while the Actinobacterial Natural Products Laboratory screens indigenous medicinal plants for novel antimicrobial compounds. The School of Pharmacy pioneers nanotechnology?based treatments, inhalable drug delivery systems, and immune?modulating therapies, while also documenting the experiences of caregivers of children undergoing treatment for drug?resistant TB.
These efforts are complemented by community outreach. Earlier this month, seven pharmacy students and two staff members joined Prof Shaheed Soeker in Klipheuwel to raise awareness about prevention, early detection, and treatment adherence. Initiatives such as these reflect our commitment to ensuring that academic excellence translates into meaningful impact for the communities we serve.
TB is preventable and curable — but only if we act together with urgency and compassion. Ending TB requires sustained collaboration, innovation, and community involvement. Through the combined efforts of our researchers, students, and partners, UWC continues to advance knowledge, strengthen public health responses, and support those most affected.
Together, we reaffirm our commitment to reducing the burden of TB and improving health outcomes in South Africa and beyond.
Kind Regards,
Professor Robert John Balfour
Rector and Vice-Chancellor
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