SA’s new AIDS plan falls short on community health workers
By Sasha Stevenson- South Africa’s new National Strategic Plan (NSP) on HIV, TB and STIs will be launched on March 24.
Community health workers: A Spotlight in-depth feature
The role of community health workers in the South African public healthcare system has been unclear and controversial. How many do we need? What exactly should their role be? Who should employ them? What should they be paid? Is there good evidence to inform policy? Sasha Stevenson of SECTION27 lead Spotlight’s in-depth investigation into these pressing questions.
Dear Premier Zamani Saul, the Northern Cape health system is in your hands.
“By accepting your appointment as Premier, you have become the custodian of a rough diamond. It is now in your hands whether it will reach its full potential and become a sparkling gem or remain a dusty stone.”
Five health policy priorities for the new administration
In its HIV policies government has mostly done good work over the last decade. In other key areas, important policies were never replaced or never finalised.
#Vote4Health: No road to health in the Northern Cape
By Anso Thom, Marcus Low, Nomatter Ndebele and Thom Pierce (photographs) Calvinia, Sutherland, Fraserburg, De Aar, Keimoes, Kakamas. Join Spotlight on a disturbing road-trip through the Northern Cape public healthcare system. In November 2018 Spotlight travelled through the Northern Cape meeting with doctors, nurses, activists, politicians and community members. After months of follow-up and attempts …
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#Vote4Health: Health in the Northern Cape: Disturbing visions from SA’s forgotten province
Health services in large parts of the Northern Cape have virtually collapsed with communities mostly being served by overstretched nurses struggling to cope with the disease and injury burden. The challenges are overwhelming. Spotlight travelled a circular route through the province and clocked up about 2 000 kilometres of mostly dirt and some tar road to take the temperature of South Africa’s largest province.
#FootSoldiers: Umsebenzi wama CHWs – Bringing hope and life to the community of Sweetwaters
Spotlight has gone in search of the foot soldiers of the health system, the folk who get the job done quietly and with little fanfare. Nomatter Ndebele and Thom Pierce went to Sweetwaters in KwaZulu-Natal for a reunion with the original Community Health Worker Doris Ntuli.
#Vote4Health: Little accountability as (almost all) Health MECs dodge questions
Missed deadlines, non-communication and excuses sum up the overwhelming “responses” from the country’s nine health MECs when Spotlight asked them to reflect on their time in office and what people can expect from them beyond the elections.
#Vote4Health: Five appointments to watch after May 8
Apart from a potential change in Health Minister, several key other health leadership roles may change after South Africa’s May 8th elections.
#Vote4Health: Is the National Quality Improvement Plan for health good enough?
Quality of care often falls short in South Africa’s public healthcare system. Ektaa Deochand of SECTION27 takes a critical look at government’s plans to improve things.