World TB Day: What does COVID-19 mean for people with TB?
Around 10 million people get sick with TB every year. On World TB Day Amy Green asks what COVID-19 means for this group of people.
TB in children: The amazing research being done in Cape Town
Medicines that taste like strawberries or mangos, cutting edge trials on preventing TB in kids, measuring how children’s bodies take up TB medicines – in this World TB Day feature Kathryn Cleary profiles the amazing research done by the Desmond Tutu TB Centre in Cape Town.
COVID-19: Government interventions have mixed reception in communities
Eight days ago President Cyril Ramaphosa declared a national state of disaster. Spotlight looks back at the last week and listens to what community groups, farm workers, taxi operators and others have to say about COVID-19 and the various measures to prevent or slow its spread.
COVID-19: What happens to Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous?
While many recovering addicts are scared of catching the COVID-19 virus, many are also frightened of how they’ll cope without AA and NA meetings as more and more of these meetings are being cancelled.
COVID-19: Not just another number – Ubuntu in a time of war
We are a world and a nation at war and if we don’t respond accordingly, we will suffer serious casualties – infrastructure, jobs, economic growth, food security, social cohesion and life itself, writes a team of public health doctors as they call on all South Africans to join them as they pledge to put the ‘(YO)U back into UBUNTU’.
COVID-19: Social distancing includes reducing contact with health facilities for those with chronic conditions
People living with HIV and other chronic conditions should be urgently supported to reduce contact with health facilities both for “social distancing” purposes as well as saving healthcare worker capacity for those with the greatest immediate need, argues Lynne Wilkinson and Anna Grimsrud.
IN DEPTH: What does a COVID-19 National State of Disaster mean for rights?
A heavy onus rests on our leaders to see us through the COVID-19 pandemic, yet this pandemic also calls on all of us to be active participants during this state of disaster and beyond. This includes making sure that constitutional rights are not disproportionately eroded in the process, writes Ektaa Deochand and Mbalenhle Baduza.
OPINION: Covid-19 and the need for a pro-poor fiscal stimulus
Finance Minister Tito Mboweni this week announced an economic stimulus package to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Responding to the pandemic should come with wider economic reforms, argues Dominic Brown.
COVID-19: We need both physical distancing and social solidarity
Our aim in the next couple of weeks should be to make sure that we all, together, reduce the amount of physical contact between groups of people while, at the same time, building social solidarity, writes a coalition of civil society organisations.
Mamelodi Hospital: A promising new start after last year’s handcuffing scandal
Mamelodi Hospital in Pretoria made headlines in May last year when 76-year-old Martha Marais was found tied to a bench in the facility’s Accident and Emergency section. Spotlight visited the hospital to see what has changed.
Why the new WHO COVID-19 therapeutic trial is a step in the right direction
South Africa will participate in a large new trial of four potential treatments for COVID-19. Marcus Low argues that the trial takes the right approach in establishing whether any of the potential treatments work.
COVID-19: The urgent, but long race for a vaccine
The COVID-19 virus is spreading rapidly globally and the race is on for a vaccine to curb the respiratory infection. Adele Baleta unpacks the research and development initiatives underway.