Unisa's KwaZulu-Natal Region hosts impactful health and wellness campaign

On 22 and 23 April 2026, the Office of the Dean of Students, in collaboration with the KwaZulu-Natal Regional Office and the Department of Human Resources, hosted the Health and Wellness Festival for staff and students at Unisa’s Durban Campus. Several external partners participated in the festival, and they offered attendees tips on issues of health and wellness.

The festival is an initiative of the Dean of Students, Department of Human Resources, Unisa Clinic, and their partners to encourage students and staff to prioritise their health and wellness. Attendees received information-rich demonstrations and actively participated in discussions on issues around health and wellness.

The event was also attended by representatives from Higher Health, the South African Police Services, Virgin Active, ABSA, and other stakeholders. These representatives focused on raising awareness about human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, tuberculosis and sexually transmitted infections prevention and treatment, drug and substance abuse, non-communicable diseases, sexual reproductive health, financial awareness, and gender-based violence (GBV).

According to several scholars, the health and wellness of staff and students at South African public universities is a critical issue driven by high rates of burnout, stress and anxiety. Intense academic pressure, heavy workloads, financial constraints and structural challenges such as protests, threaten the wellbeing of universities – eventually impacting their teaching quality, research outputs and student retention.

Unisa prioritises the health and wellness of its staff and students to enhance academic success, support personal wellness, and foster a productive, safe working environment. The university has initiatives focusing on holistic health, which is mental, physical and spiritual wellness, combating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and managing work-related stress.

The event was a success as it was attended by more than 200 students and staff. Judging from the enthusiasm shown by them as they enjoyed demonstrations that spoke to their health and wellness concerns, this event served as a relevant tool aimed at assisting them to address these concerns, especially relating to drug and substance abuse and GBV.

Tebogo Mangope, Manager of Student Social Development in the Office of the Dean of Students, said, “Through this campaign, the university strives to reach out to its staff and students to make a lasting impact on issues of health and wellness.”

Unisa takes staff and students' health and wellness initiatives seriously. Therefore, there is an urgent need for the university to be proactive in extending comprehensive wellness programmes to ensure that these stakeholders do not suffer in silence.

* By Siyabonga Seme, Communication and Marketing Manager, Unisa KwaZulu-Natal Region