Findings from a large survey published today has revealed shocking statistics about the effects of South Africa’s COVID-19 lockdown on child and household hunger. Experts say children may be the pandemic’s greatest victims and the country’s progress towards ending hunger may have been reversed. Kathryn Cleary reports.
The use of the BCG vaccine for an unproven indication is irresponsible and may deplete BCG stocks for young children, for whom it has been proven to be a lifesaving preventive tool against TB, argue a group of leading experts.
Reproductive freedom can include both the right to avoid procreation through means like abortion and the right to choose procreation through surrogacy and Assistive Reproductive Technology. Spotlight sat down with a mother who has been a surrogate on two occasions to discuss choice, the legalities and medical side of this process.
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.
All schools in South Africa will close from Wednesday as part of South Africa’s efforts to reduce transmission of the COVID-19 virus. Kathryn Cleary rounds up what we do and do not know about the virus in children.
Alarming statistics put KwaZulu-Natal at the forefront of South Africa’s child hunger crisis, with around two to four times the reported levels in other provinces. Spotlight visited one of the province’s most rural districts to find the children at the heart of these numbers and the organisations making a difference.
While the word midwife often conjures up images of old-fashioned births, the profession is still a vital part of modern health care. Spotlight spoke to some midwives and those involved in training about what it takes to be a midwife.
With little progress being made in certain areas of child, adolescent and maternal health, Kathryn Cleary spoke to the experts to outline the top 10 issues to watch for the new year and the new decade.
Amidst concerns over rising neonatal deaths in some health facilities in Gauteng, at least one hospital, Leratong Hospital, has a good story to tell.
A newborn’s first 1 000 days are crucial, according to paediatrician, Dr Elmarie Malek. Malek presented a paper at the 10th Child Health Priorities Conference last weekend highlighting the need to invest in a child’s first 1000 days.
Health practitioners, caregivers and academics recently attended the 10th Child Health Priorities Conference at the University of North West (NWU) under the theme – “survive, thrive and transform – championing change for children”. Some experts argued that South Africa’s children is surviving, but not thriving. Madala Thepa reports.
On a leafy street in Rondebosch, Cape Town, a new palliative care facility for children is taking shape. Biénne Huisman paid a visit.