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I am delighted to be able to present this report at the end of a period of dramatic change and exhilarating growth for the Reproductive Health Research Unit. Within its seven year history, the Unit has grown from a small team to a large organisation with multiple funding sources. Today we find ourselves well placed to become a model South African research and training institution - one that reflects the diversity of South Africa, focuses applied research on national reproductive health priorities, and is linked strategically with national, regional and international organizations. The following are but a few milestones and notable achievements of which we are very proud:
The Unit now manages more than 40 research and training programmes, many with national and international links. Thus the RHRU family has had to grow by 60% between 2000 and 2002. In contrast with its modest beginnings, the Unit is now has a staff complement of over 100 staff comprising doctors, nurses, research scientists, field workers and others from a variety of disciplines. We anticipate growing by another 40% in 2002. It was a welcome relief for the rapidly growing Unit when we moved into new, spacious offices in late 2001. This move was made in conjuction with the Perinatal HIV Research Unit, and generously supported by the hospital administration. The two units are establishing a centre that includes space for clinical care, a laboratory, a resource centre, a training venue and offices for research. This building will form the heart of the Chri Hani Baragwanath Hospital Research Towers, which is a coming together of the major research groups in the field of HIV/AIDs and sexual and reproductive health to achieve greater collaboration and synergy. RHRU's budget has doubled from 2000 to 2001 with continued growth of 20% projected for the coming year. As a result, new systems, procedures and policies have been developed to support the important work that the Unit performs. These included a live budgeting system, video banking, an enhanced RHRU website, a new intranet for improved internal communications, an improved data management system, and a project information system for improved archiving and access to project research findings. In order to provide better financial and human resource support in terms of providing donor reporting and processing motivations, the Wits Health Consortium, our legal entity, has recently set up an office at the Unit. During this period we reaffirmed our mission to continue to build the RHRU into an internationally renowned South African institution, respected for its global contribution to the improvement of sexual and reproductive health. This mission was lent substance through the Visioning Exercise undertaken in 2000. Two Strategic Planning retreats held more recently concretised the Visioning Exercise resulting in the development of a strategic plan for the period 2002 to 2005. This phase is nearly complete and we take pride in developing strategic structures appropriate to our new form. The Unit has also just established an external Strategic Advisory Committee. Its membership includes a mixture of well-respected community members, government representatives, and experts from relevant academic disciplines (particularly the University of the Witwatersrand). It is hoped that this Committee will provide the Unit with strategic advice and support, and facilitate networking opportunities both nationally and internationally. The first meeting will take place in mid-2002.
Since our last report, the RHRU has continued to maintain its high international reputation as evidenced by the announcement that two very large grants (cooperative agreements) were awarded to the Unit by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the UK Department for International Development (DFID). These grants will further strengthen our technical and organisational and enhance our ability to support the South African government, private sector and civil society organizations' ability to deliver quality sexual and reproductive health services.
The Reproductive Health Research Methods Short Course is an annual, full-time four-week course offering qualitative and quantitative health systems research modules. The course has been held each year since 1997 and is available to both RHRU staff and external participants. This course has become extremely popular with health care providers and researchers and continues to attract more and more applications from all over the region. The annual RHRU Priorities Conference, which is in its seventh year, not only highlights the important new work being conducted in the sexual reproductive health field but also sets the agenda for future research and training activities. The number of conference delegates increased to 400 in 2001, representing a 25% increase from the prior year. The positive developments outlined in the RHRU programme reports section were made possible by the increased budget received by the RHRU. This represents a clear signal that our donors and partners are committed to supporting the Unit's undertaking some of the most significant and relevant sexual reproductive health and HIV-related research and training in the region.
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