For more than three decades, the Centre for Health Systems Research & Development (CHSR&D) at the University of the Free State (UFS) has been at the forefront of research addressing some of Africa’s most pressing public health challenges. On 11 November 2025, Prof Christo Heunis, from the CHSR&D, delivered his inaugural lecture titled “The Centre for Health Systems Research and Development: Legacy, Impact, and Emerging Frontiers” at Reitz Hall, Centenary Complex.  

Hosted by Prof Mogomme Masoga, Dean of the Faculty of the Humanities, the event celebrated both Prof Heunis’s distinguished career and the Centre’s enduring impact on health systems across the African continent. 

Since its establishment, the CHSR&D has embodied the UFS vision of “inspiring excellence and transforming lives”. The Centre’s groundbreaking work bridges the gap between theory and the lived realities of healthcare delivery in sub-Saharan Africa.  Over the years, it has completed 137 research projects and produced 966 scholarly outputs, including 275 peer-reviewed journal articles and 112 policy and technical reports. 

Yet, as Prof Heunis noted, its greatest achievement lies beyond the statistics – in its “human legacy.” The Centre has supervised more than 75 postgraduate students across disciplines such as sociology, psychology, nursing, and development studies. 

“Our work has always been about connecting research with real-world change,” said Prof Heunis. “Over the years, we’ve examined how inequality, stigma, and social exclusion shape people’s access to healthcare - and how systems thinking can be used to address those injustices.”

Reflecting on the Centre’s most influential research, Prof Heunis highlighted studies on tuberculosis (TB) and HIV, where findings underscored the importance of early screening and community participation in improving treatment outcomes. 

“There is glory in evidence-based care,” he emphasised. “TB programmes should endeavour to screen proactively and provide timely support to affected individuals - that’s how we save lives.”

He also discussed the Centre’s growing focus on non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and implementation science, noting the shifting health landscape across Africa. 

“As much as we focus on infectious diseases, NCDs such as diabetes and hypertension are rising sharply, particularly in urban areas. This calls for integrated systems capable of responding to multiple health burdens at once.” 

Looking ahead, the Centre’s 2025–2030 strategy marks a new chapter - shifting from health systems research to systems transformation. This phase aims to position the CHSR&D as a continental leader in systems thinking and implementation science, with an emphasis on biosocial, behavioural, and digital innovation to strengthen health system resilience across Africa. 

Prof Heunis concluded his lecture with a vision for the future: