Rural Health Advocacy Project SA

24/08/2026

For rural women, accessing healthcare can mean travelling long distances, facing limited services and navigating systems that don’t always account for the realities of rural communities.

These challenges can have a real impact on when, where and whether women are able to get the care they need.

Read more:

20/08/2026

Rural health advocacy cannot happen in isolation. At the Rural Health & Family Physicians Joint Congress 2026, RHAP's Alliance in Action panel brought together partners from across the sector to reflect on the importance of collaboration in advancing rural health.

The discussion highlighted the value of building stronger relationships, aligning efforts and creating a collective voice for rural communities.

Read more from the Alliance in Action panel discussion at the Congress:

Rural health challenges are complex and cannot be solved by one organisation working alone. This was the focus of RHAP’s panel discussion, An Alliance in […]

20/08/2026

In a health setting, leadership is not simply about holding a senior position. Instead, leadership in a health system context is a presence — something demonstrated through relationships, teamwork, decision-making and how people respond to pressure.

19/08/2026

Who leads the district health system? The answer is not as straightforward as it seems.

From district managers to provincial leadership, effective health system leadership depends on more than who holds the title. It is about how decisions are made, how accountability works and how leadership translates into better care for communities.

At , RHAP explores what leadership looks like in practice and what it means for the future of district health systems.

Read more:

In a health setting, leadership is not simply about holding a senior position. Instead, leadership in a health system context is a presence — something demonstrated through relationships, teamwork, decision-making and how people respond to pressure.

15/08/2026

The distance between a patient and the healthcare service they need can feel like the bottom of a gigantic canyon. In his RuReSA keynote, Mr Lionel de Gouveia highlights a reality that is often overlooked: getting to care can be as difficult as accessing the care itself.

For patients, particularly those living with disabilities or requiring rehabilitation, distance can mean long journeys, transport costs, financial strain and exhausting environments that may worsen their experience. The question is not only whether services exist, but how much effort it takes for a patient to reach them and what they actually gain once they get there.

14/08/2026

Day 2 of Rural Health Conference, and today we bring An Alliance in Action to the stage.

Rural health challenges are complex and interconnected. Stronger collaboration means stronger advocacy, better accountability and health systems that are more responsive to the communities they serve.

Join RHAP today at 16:00 for our panel discussion exploring what it takes to build meaningful coalitions, sustain collective action and advance rural health equity. Our speakers will share practical experiences and lessons from working across communities, civil society, government and other stakeholders.

Today | 14 August 2026
16:00
Rural Health Conference | Amber Room

Rural Doctors Association of South Africa I_Menstruate Movement National Department of Health (South Africa) Health-e Spotlight NSP Rural Doctors Association of South Africa@followers

13/08/2026

Presenting on “Expanding the Circle of Responsibility: Bridging PHC, Data and Advocacy,” Dr James van Duuren challenges the idea that advocacy is a zero-sum game. As we confront the reality of falling short of UHC by 2030, he calls for ‘pragmatic hope,’ recognising healthcare not as a cost to be calculated today, but as an investment in the future.

The outcomes of that investment may not be immediate, but they shape the health and wellbeing of tomorrow.
He warns that fragmentation and scapegoating risk undermining the right to healthcare, particularly when certain groups are blamed for systemic failures or denied care. Universal healthcare must be more than a political commitment, it must be a personal and societal commitment.

13/08/2026

HAPPENING NOW | 2026 Rural Health Conference

For the next three days, RHAP is on the ground at the Rural Health Conference 2026, joining rural health champions, healthcare workers, researchers, advocates and communities from across the country.

Three days of powerful conversations. Three days of sharing knowledge, challenging systems and building connections.

We’re ready for the conversations, the ideas and the action that will shape what comes next.

Rural Health Conference Rural Doctors Association of South Africa Rural Nursing South Africa Runursa National Department of Health (South Africa)

12/08/2026

Meet Prof Richard Cooke, who will be leading RHAP’s upcoming lunch session at Rural Health Conference.

Professor Richard Cooke is the Academic Head of Family Medicine and Primary Care at the University of the Witwatersrand and Director of the Wits Centre for Rural Health. With extensive experience in clinical, academic and national health leadership, he brings a wealth of insight to the conversation on leadership in district health.

On 13 August at 13:00, Prof Cooke will lead a discussion on 'Who leads the district health system? Moving from leadership deficit to leadership practice.'

The session will look at how leadership influences teamwork, trust, conflict and the everyday realities of delivering healthcare, particularly in rural districts.

Join us as we explore what stronger, more practical and shared leadership can look like across the district health system.

11/08/2026

South Africa's district health system is the backbone of accessible healthcare, particularly for rural communities. Yet, while conversations often focus on infrastructure, funding and policy, leadership remains one of the most critical and overlooked, drivers of a responsive and resilient health system.

Join the RHAP for an engaging session at Rural Health Conference, where we'll explore how leadership influences teamwork, trust, collaboration and the everyday realities of delivering healthcare.

Led by Professor Richard Cooke and Associate Professor Tasleem Ras, this thought-provoking discussion will move beyond leadership as a job title to examine how emotional competence, shared responsibility and strong relationships can strengthen district health systems and improve care for the communities that rely on them.

Thursday, 13 August 2026
13:00 – 14:00
Rural Health Conference

Rural Doctors Association of South Africa
National Department of Health (South Africa)Spotlight NSPTB Accountability ConsortiumWHO South Africa