Vision
Our vision is to create a society where sexual health is enjoyed without fear of disadvantage or disease.
 
Mission
Our mission is to lead the way as an African academic institution acclaimed for:
•   pioneering research;
•   innovative services;
•   evidence based policy development and advocacy;
•   responsive technical support & training;
     in the field of sexual & reproductive health and HIV.

The Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute (WRHI) is a leading African academic research institution working in the fields of reproductive health, HIV, and broader arenas of infectious diseases.
 
WRHI has an extensive portfolio of research, programmatic support, policy development and technical assistance at district, national and international levels, and pursues a multidisciplinary approach, which encompasses clinical health systems and social and behavioural science often within the same projects. WRHI also has an extensive community engagement programme to impact the communities the Institute operates in, and training programmes which capacitate health care professionals nationally and on the continent  in aspects of HIV management year on year.
 
WRHI was established, initially as RHRU, in 1994 by Professor Helen Rees. This was a joint initiative between various departments at Wits University and the Greater Johannesburg Metropolitan Council. In the last 16 years, the RHRU earned an international reputation in the field of reproductive health, HIV and other related infectious diseases. Having started with a focus on reproductive health, the unit expanded its portfolio into HIV research and health service interventions.

As the complement of experienced staff increased, the WRHI has expanded its research teaching role to encompass Wits undergraduate teaching, research support and supervision to Wits postgraduates and to postgraduate students from other international institutions, and research teaching for African health professionals. The WRHI's clinical teaching supports health care professionals particularly from the public sector, and lay health care workers including counsellors and community workers, and community organisations. The research outputs have steadily increased, and since 2006 the number of academic publications has risen significantly. These outputs have improved since the unit increased its ability to successfully lead investigator driven research and to form equal partnerships in collaborative research ventures with international colleagues.

The international standing of the institute is reflected by its status as a World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre for two World Health Organisation divisions i.e. Reproductive Health and Research, and Integrated management of adolescent and adult illness section of the HIV/AIDS division. The institute has recently been approached by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, UNAIDS, to apply for a UNAIDS Collaborating Centre status. The growth in scope and stature of the institute has attracted a cadre of senior academics whose expertise spans the Reproductive Health, HIV and Infectious Diseases fields, several of whom have national and international standing. The institute's advocacy and academic work contributes to the University of the Witwatersrand’s strategic vision and to the university’s aim of creating the next generation of academics for Africa.

WRHI has its headquarters in Hillbrow in the inner city of Johannesburg, where the WRHI champions the Hillbrow Health Precinct urban regeneration project . WRHI has various other sites in Gauteng, and  presence in Mafikeng, Taung, and Klerksdorp in the North West.  While WRHI’s research and health systems strengthening work is undertaken in Gauteng and North West, the coverage and impact of the Institute’s  policy and advocacy work has given the unit  a national and international profile.

WRHI enjoys representation and participation in strategic HIV structures in the country. WRHI Executive Director, Professor Helen Rees, is currently the co-Chairperson of the SANAC Programme Implementation Committee. The Institute’s Deputy Executive Director, Francois Venter, is the chair of the 2011 SANAC Conference.