Welcome to Phaphama Health Institute NPC

Advancing Health Equity Through NCD Research in South Africa.

Phaphama Health Institute NPC is a community-rooted health organisation dedicated to addressing non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in South Africa. Through data-driven research, public health education and collaboration with local communities, we aim to reduce the burden of conditions like diabetes, hypertension and cancer in the Eastern Cape and beyond.

We work at the intersection of science, storytelling, and social change, using culturally sensitive approaches to inform policy, empower youth and improve access to care for underserved populations.

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health projects
Surveyed Individuals
K
Employees
Communities in Eastern Cape & KZN
Our Company

We are committed to transforming public health outcomes by centering community, culture and care.

Rooted in rigorous research and driven by compassion, our mission is to address the growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in South Africa and beyond through community-engaged research, policy advocacy and knowledge translation.

We believe in a future where every person, regardless of their background or geography, has access to quality health education, preventive care and the power to shape their own wellbeing. That future begins by listening — to communities, to data, and to each other.

“Phaphama” means wake up and that’s what our work is about. Waking up to the silent rise of non-communicable diseases. Waking up to the urgent need for inclusive, African-led health solutions. Our work is rooted in science, but also in ubuntu; the belief that our wellbeing is bound together.
Dr Nontuthuzelo SomdyalaFounder, CEO of Phaphama Health NPC
Our Values

Our values are more than words, they are the principles that guide how we engage, research and serve. Grounded in community wisdom, scientific integrity and the spirit of ubuntu, we are committed to creating a public health ecosystem that is inclusive, empowering and justice-driven.

01.
Community Empowerment

We prioritize the voices, knowledge and leadership of communities. Co-creating solutions that meet people where they are and grow with them.

02.
Equity & Justice

We challenge systems of inequality in health, education and research by centering marginalised experiences and promoting structural change.

03.
African-Centred Knowledge

We honour Indigenous and traditional African knowledge systems as valid, powerful and necessary tools in shaping health innovation.

04.
Scientific Rigor with Soul

We blend robust academic research with cultural sensitivity, care and creativity. Bringing heart to data and depth to evidence.

05.
Collaboration Over Competition

We build bridges across sectors, disciplines and borders. Believing that lasting change is collective and cooperative.

06.
Accountability & Transparency

We hold ourselves to the highest ethical standards, staying open, responsible and clear in all our practices and partnerships.

Our Products

We design culturally grounded, science-backed tools that transform how individuals, families, and health systems approach care.

From digital innovations to natural wellness solutions, our products bridge gaps in access, amplify African expertise, and support a holistic approach to health and healing.

NCD Surveillance Reports

Published findings on the incidence and survival rates of key non-communicable diseases — including diabetes, hypertension, cancer, and mental illness — in the Eastern Cape and surrounding regions.

Community Health Education Materials

Culturally relevant pamphlets, posters, and digital content that raise awareness about NCD prevention, healthy eating, and early screening — developed in collaboration with local stakeholders.

Research Papers & Evaluation Briefs

Peer-reviewed articles, cohort study findings, and implementation reports focused on the lived realities of patients and healthcare workers in underserved South African communities.

Health Coaching & Awareness Campaign Toolkits

Practical resources and workshop materials designed to support facilitators, schools, and clinics in delivering community-based NCD education and coaching sessions.

Our Purpose

To generate data, knowledge, and action that improve the lives of people affected by non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in South Africa and across the African continent.

We were founded in response to the silent rise of diseases like diabetes, hypertension, cancer, heart disease and mental illness. Conditions that often go undetected and under-resourced in our communities. Through high-quality research, community-led data collection and targeted education campaigns, we aim to make the invisible visible and drive informed change at every level of society.

Our work bridges the gap between science and society. We believe data should do more than sit in reports. It should influence policy, empower communities and inspire innovation.

PATNERSHIP

The burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in South Africa is growing.
Too many lives are being lost in silence — to conditions that are preventable, treatable, and deeply connected to the realities of poverty, inequality, and systemic neglect.

We are calling on researchers, funders, institutions, health professionals, community leaders and visionaries to partner with us. Partner to co-create solutions that are informed by data, guided by science and rooted in the lived experiences of South African communities.

Contact Us

Phaphama Health Institute NPC is a South African-based public health Non-Profit Company committed to advancing research, data generation and community-driven solutions for non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Grounded in equity, scientific integrity and African-centered approaches, we work to empower healthier futures through knowledge, care and action.