Professor Tebogo Mothiba, holder of the newly awarded South African Research Chairs Initiative (DSTI/NRF) Decadal Plan-aligned Research Chair dedicated to the prevention, control and management of non-communicable diseases. Photo: Malatji Monyelegwete
Professor Tebogo Mothiba to lead community-driven research targeting prevention, treatment and strengthening of health systems in rural areas
By Johannes Selepe – Mosela.selepe@ul.ac.za
In a significant effort to combat South Africa’s escalating health crisis, the University of Limpopo (UL) has been awarded a South African Research Chairs Initiative (DSTI/NRF) Decadal Plan-aligned Research Chair dedicated to the Prevention, Control and Management of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs)
The prestigious Research Chair will be held by Professor Tebogo Mothiba, an NRF C3-rated researcher and esteemed nursing scholar. Prof Mothiba brings extensive expertise in health sciences education, research supervision, and both national and international collaborations. Her work consistently focuses on strengthening health systems and improving community health outcomes across South Africa.
Situated within the Human and Social Dynamics domain, the Chair directly responds to the growing burden of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), which includes cardiovascular conditions, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, cancer, chronic respiratory illnesses and mental health.
Aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being, the Chair recognises that these diseases are not solely medical issues but are strongly influenced by social determinants such as inequality, poverty, environmental conditions and limited access to healthcare.
Professor Mothiba explained that the initiative adopts an interdisciplinary and community-engaged approach, integrating health sciences with social and applied sciences to address both clinical risk factors and broader societal influences.
“Our aim is to ensure that research extends beyond academic publications and translates into practical, community-based interventions, particularly in underserved areas,” she said.
She emphasised the need to shift from a reactive healthcare system to one that is proactive and preventative, by equipping communities with the knowledge and tools to take control of their health and improve their quality of life. In this regard, the Chair will prioritise prevention and early intervention, rather than responding only when conditions have advanced.
At its core, the Chair seeks to develop evidence-based, scalable interventions that span prevention, early detection, treatment, and long-term management of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), with a particular focus on rural Limpopo. By embedding research within communities and primary healthcare systems, the initiative aims to reduce avoidable complications, hospitalisations, and premature deaths.
A key outcome will be the strengthening of primary healthcare services through systematic risk screening, community-based behavioural interventions, and robust health promotion strategies —ultimately empowering individuals to take ownership of their health and wellbeing.
“Communities should not be viewed as passive recipients of healthcare, but as active participants in disease prevention and management,” Prof Mothiba noted.
Through improved health literacy and targeted self-management support, the initiative aims to transform the delivery and experience of healthcare at grassroots level.
In addition, the Chair will serve as a critical platform for human capital development, focusing on the training and mentorship of postgraduate students, postdoctoral fellows, early-career researchers and healthcare professionals working in healthcare facilities in Limpopo Province.
“We are committed to developing the next generation of researchers who will sustain this vital work and ensure that our healthcare systems remain responsive to community needs,” she said.
“Our aim is to ensure that research extends beyond academic publications and translates into practical, community-based interventions, particularly in underserved areas.”