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Bhekisisa has positioned itself as a key facilitator of health‑related dialogue across South Africa and beyond, moderating events that touch on HIV, COVID‑19, cancer, climate change and more.

From HIV to COVID‑19: A Broad Portfolio of Moderated Sessions

Since 2018, Bhekisisa has moderated sessions at major conferences and summits. Highlights include the National Research Foundation’s World AIDS Day lecture, a South African AIDS conference session on the impact of COVID‑19 on HIV services, and a UNAIDS high‑level virtual side event titled “No Prevention, No End.” These gatherings bring together health policymakers, researchers and activists to discuss how leadership can curb the HIV epidemic.

In COVID‑19 efforts, the group has overseen numerous webinars for Discovery Health, covering vaccine safety for children, fertility concerns, and the role of exercise in disease severity. A notable event on 24 March 2022 launched new data from the Discovery Vitality science journal, focusing on how physical activity influences outcomes.

Beyond infectious disease, Bhekisisa has led discussions on cancer policy, moderating a Department of Health roundtable and a 2018 health roundtable on building public trust in pandemic prevention at Oxford University’s Rhodes Trust summit.

Climate change entered the agenda with a 10th‑anniversary panel held on 7 November 2023, reflecting the link between environmental factors and health.

Collaborations with International Bodies and NGOs

The reach extends to global partners. It moderated a UN‑focused session on vaccine nationalism hosted by Amnesty International and contributed to a UNAIDS session at the International AIDS Conference.

In partnership with the National Research Foundation and the Swedish Embassy, Bhekisisa facilitated a Nobel‑inspired webinar on the meaning of science a year into the pandemic.

Other collaborations include a media roundtable on strengthening health research funding with the Mail & Guardian and the South African Health Technologies Advocacy Coalition, and a panel on improving rural healthcare during Discovery CSI week. These events highlight the organization’s role in bridging the gap between scientific evidence and policy implementation.

On the malaria front, the group moderated a virtual event for the African Leaders Malaria Alliance, while in the medicines arena it hosted a Médecins Sans Frontières webinar addressing the high pricing of the TB drug bedaquiline by Johnson & Johnson.

These diverse moderation activities illustrate a pattern: Bhekisisa consistently aligns itself with entities that influence health policy, from NGOs to governmental bodies, ensuring that a multiplicity of voices are heard.

The breadth of topics covered may seem overwhelming, but it reflects a broader trend where health communication hubs act as the connective tissue between research findings and public action.

Impact on Policy and Public Discourse

While the direct outcomes of each moderated session vary, the cumulative effect appears to be an enhanced awareness among decision‑makers. For instance, the “Building public trust in pandemic prevention” roundtable at Oxford contributed to a broader discussion on media’s role in health crises, a topic that has gained prominence since the start of the COVID‑19 pandemic.

Similarly, the 2022 Global Health Fund media roundtable on financing longer, healthier lives in Africa fed into ongoing debates at the World Health Assembly.

In the specific case of the 2023 climate change panel, the conversation highlighted the intersection of environmental policy and health outcomes, reinforcing calls for integrated strategies that address both climate mitigation and disease prevention.

Overall, Bhekisisa’s moderation work serves as a conduit for evidence‑based discussion, allowing experts to present data and policymakers to consider actionable steps.

By providing a structured platform, the organization contributes to a more informed public sphere and,ultimately, to the formulation of health policies that respond to real‑world challenges.