The annual Public Health Association of South Africa (PHASA) Conference took place from 6–9 April in Worcester, convening public health professionals from across South Africa, the continent, and beyond. This year’s theme, “Partnerships for Public Health: Sculpting a Healthier Future Together,” highlighted the importance of collaboration to build equitable and sustainable health systems.
The Aurum Institute’s Operation Phuthuma team contributed meaningfully to this national dialogue, with four members of the Quality Improvement (QI) team—Dineo Nono, Dikeledi Mosehla, Miles Matlala, and Florence Muvirimi—presenting six posters across several thematic sessions. These focused on interventions that improve HIV and ART service delivery in diverse district contexts.
The team’s presentations shared practical strategies that led to improved retention in care, enhanced ART initiation through extended hours, reduced missed appointments, and strengthened leadership engagement. These context-sensitive, scalable solutions contribute directly to South Africa’s broader public health and HIV care goals.
Reflecting on the experience, Dineo Nono, QI Coach, said:
“PHASA was an eye-opener. It tackled deep-rooted issues in public healthcare—like the impact of GBV on HIV treatment and the gaps from our past. It was a valuable space to rethink how we build a fair and inclusive health system.”
Florence Muvirimi, QI Advisor, added:
“PHASA highlighted the power of partnerships in public health—especially the need for community voices to shape policy. It reinforced the importance of a bottom-up approach, which we’ll carry forward as we include clinic committees in our quality improvement work.”
Participation in PHASA 2025 reinforced Aurum’s commitment to data-driven, contextually responsive solutions that directly address gaps in HIV service delivery. It also demonstrated the organisation’s leadership in health systems strengthening—an essential component of broader public health goals.
