iYunivesithi Walter Sisulu has launched one of the country's first institutes to collaborate with traditional healers for Afrocentric medical research and teaching and learning solutions. The Indigenous Health Systems Research Institute is housed within the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences.
In a landmark development for African-centered healthcare and research, iYunivesithi Walter Sisulu officially launched the Indigenous Health Systems Research Institute on 26 May 2026 at the Mthatha Health Resource Centre. The institute is regarded as one of the first university-based institutes in South Africa dedicated to formally integrating traditional healing knowledge with scientific medical research, teaching, and innovation.
The institute will focus on researching indigenous medicinal plants and traditional healing practices; investigating how traditional and allopathic medicine can complement one another; developing Afrocentric healthcare innovations; preserving and documenting indigenous health knowledge; enhancing teaching and learning through African-centered perspectives; and promoting community engagement and culturally responsive healthcare delivery.
The institute will be led by Prof. Constance Rusike from the School of Biomedical Sciences. The launch positions iYunivesithi Walter Sisulu as a national leader in Indigenous Knowledge Systems research and creates opportunities for evidence-based validation of traditional remedies and greater inclusion of African knowledge systems in higher education, research, and healthcare policy.
