Work and Health in Southern Africa (WAHSA) is a bi-regional (Southern African - Swedish) programme on workers' health and safety.

Its long-term goals are to contribute to the reduction of poverty and promotion of human rights in Southern Africa, through improvements to occupational health and safety and the empowerment of the region's workers.

It was founded by a partnership between the South African National Institute for Occupational Health (NIOH), the Swedish National Institute of Public Health (SNIPH) and the Swedish National Institute for Working Life (SNIWL), and is in its first of three 4-year phases, funded by Sida (the Swedish International Development Co-operation Agency).

The long terms goals of the programme will be addressed through ten Phase I projects, some of which will continue in subsequent phases.

3 projects address common and important occupational health issues in Southern Africa: the health effects of silica, pesticide exposure and work in the informal sector. The remaining projects are concerned with research into current health and safety conditions, the development of a regional strategy on the training of health and safety professionals, and promoting advocacy for and awareness of workers' health and safety in the region.

For details on WAHSA PROJECTS, click here.