Spotlight Issue 4 is out today!
In this issue: A profile of Free State MEC for Health Butana Khompela; A guide to making AIDS councils work; TAC on the state of our hospitals and much more! Download your free copy now.
Orthopaedic nightmare in the Free State
Whistleblowers say patients with broken legs, arms and other serious orthopaedic conditions are being sent home in the Free State because the buckling health system is simply unable to cope with the numbers. Health workers are told there is no money to bring in outside help to reduce the waiting lists.
What is the state of the global HIV and TB response in December 2017?
For World AIDS Day 2017 we asked a number of experts about the state of the global HIV and TB response. Read answers from Glenda Gray, Peter Piot, Stephen Lewis, Gregg Gonsalves, Linda-Gail Bekker, Anele Yawa, Quarraisha Abdool Karim, Robin Gorna, Tim Tucker and Yogan Pillay.
State capture threatens the right to health
State capture and corruption casts a long shadow over all spheres of the public service, including healthcare. For our World AIDS Day edition of Spotlight Mark Heywood takes on this difficult topic. We’re publishing this important article online today ahead of its publication in print.
WHO reports 1.7 million TB deaths in 2016
In 2016, almost 1.7 million people across the globe, and over 120 000 in South Africa, died of TB. We unpack these and other findings from the World Health Organisation’s latest World TB Report.
Moment of truth for global TB response
On Thursday 16 November 2017, Russian president Vladimir Putin told a hall full of health ministers in Moscow that TB is a “serious problem”, and said, “I am confident that the only way we can stand up against this truly global threat is if we join forces.” Did President Putin really mean what he said?
Important new MDR-TB treatment findings
Last week a number of important study findings with implications for the treatment of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) were reported at the Union World Lung Conference in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Buthelezi: SANAC to lead the prevention revolution
Dr Sandile Buthelezi, the new Chief Operating Officer of the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC), lays out his vision for SANAC and explains the need for a “prevention revolution”.
Spotlight on health MECs: Phophi Ramathuba
It’s a health budget day in Limpopo, and MEC Dr Phophi Ramathuba is set to address a packed council sitting in Lebowakgomo on how R18 billion will be divided up for health needs in the province.
New SANAC CEO responds to questions about his past
Dr Sandile Buthelezi was recently appointed as the new head (CEO) of the South African National AIDS Council. His appointment follows the suspicious non-renewal of the previous CEO’s contract Dr Fareed Abdullah and unsuccessful attempts to lure Eastern Cape head of health Dr Thobile Mbengashe to the post.
Spotlight on health MECs: Gwen Ramokgopa
Government’s merry-go-round of political appointments saw Gwen Ramokgopa return to the position of MEC for Health in Gauteng in February – a post she first held in 1999.
Spotlight on TAC Provinces
The Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) reports for Spotlight on some of its recent work in the seven provinces where TAC has branches and provincial structures.