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In the Spotlight | Why government should provide more free HIV self-tests

In the Spotlight | Why government should provide more free HIV self-tests

By Catherine Tomlinson,
Posted in: #InTheSpotlight, Access to Medicines, Focus, Healthcare system, HIV/AIDS, InFocus, Latest, Special Investigations, Spotlight

It is estimated that around half a million people living with HIV in South Africa don’t know they are living with the virus. One way to help these people is by offering them the means to test themselves in the privacy of their own homes. As Catherine Tomlinson explains in this #InTheSpotlight special briefing, such self-screening tests are part of our HIV response on paper, but in reality, the tests are massively underutilised.

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“What’s the point of top tech sitting in labs?” UCT’s Yumna Albertus is on a mission to turn science into social impact

“What’s the point of top tech sitting in labs?” UCT’s Yumna Albertus is on a mission to turn science into social impact

By Biénne Huisman,
Posted in: Focus, Healthcare system, InFocus, Latest, Provinces, Spotlight, Western Cape

What started as a childhood fascination with science and sport has grown into a mission to “democratise” technology with innovative, affordable rehabilitation solutions for people with limited resources. Biénne Huisman sits down with the associate professor – who was once a volleyball captain and is now the head of a top research centre – and who is proving that low-cost solutions are possible.

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Integrating health services for mom and baby could reduce clinic visits by half

Integrating health services for mom and baby could reduce clinic visits by half

By Elri Voigt,
Posted in: Focus, Healthcare system, Healthcare Workers, HIV/AIDS, InFocus, Latest, Provinces, Spotlight

In South Africa, many mothers and their babies have to visit the clinic more than 10 times in the first six months of the postnatal period. Early findings from an ongoing implementation science project suggests we can get this down to five. The hope is that the new approach will also help reduce HIV transmission from mothers to their babies. Elri Voigt reports.

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SA has relatively high anal cancer rates, but we rarely screen for it

SA has relatively high anal cancer rates, but we rarely screen for it

By Elna Schütz,
Posted in: Focus, Healthcare system, HIV/AIDS, InFocus, Latest, NCDs, Spotlight

South Africa has the world’s largest population of people living with HIV, which both heightens the risk of anal cancers and their severity. However, neither the collection of data nor the efforts for prevention and screening are in line with the likely impact. Experts say significant change is needed, reports Elna Schütz.

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EDITORIAL | Spotlight launches new HIV dashboard

EDITORIAL | Spotlight launches new HIV dashboard

By Spotlight,
Posted in: Access to Medicines, Editorial, Focus, Healthcare system, HIV/AIDS, InFocus, Latest, Spotlight

Spotlight has launched a new HIV dashboard and graph generator based on outputs from the Thembisa model. Our hope is that this dashboard will help the public and people working in healthcare to find important HIV numbers more easily. Please take a look and let us know what you think of it.

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After a damning report, health dept says issues at Mafikeng Provincial Hospital are being addressed

After a damning report, health dept says issues at Mafikeng Provincial Hospital are being addressed

By Nthusang Lefafa,
Posted in: Access to Medicines, Focus, Healthcare system, Healthcare Workers, InFocus, Latest, North West, Provinces

Mafikeng Provincial Hospital, a critical public healthcare facility in the North West, is facing a slew of challenges from broken and faulty medical equipment, long waiting times for surgeries, to chronic shortages of skilled nursing staff. Nthusang Lefafa reports on efforts underway to get the hospital up to scratch.

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Vincent Tlala | Medicines safety – the crucial role of pharmacists in protecting you

Vincent Tlala | Medicines safety – the crucial role of pharmacists in protecting you

By Vincent Tlala,
Posted in: Access to Medicines, Focus, Healthcare system, Healthcare Workers, InFocus, Latest, Opinions, Spotlight

Medicines are among the most powerful tools in healthcare, but they also come with risks. As we mark #MedSafetyWeek, Mr Vincent Tlala, registrar and CEO of the South African Pharmacy Council, argues that the safe use of medicines is a shared responsibility, and is not only up to pharmacists.

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Monitoring people’s blood pressure in their homes leads to better control – study finds

Monitoring people’s blood pressure in their homes leads to better control – study finds

By Elri Voigt,
Posted in: Access to Medicines, Focus, Healthcare system, Healthcare Workers, InFocus, Latest, Spotlight

Hypertension is poorly managed in South Africa. Remarkable findings from a study in rural KwaZulu-Natal suggest a compelling alternative to the current model of clinic-based care – using community healthcare workers to monitor people’s blood pressure in their own homes. Elri Voigt reports.

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SA and Indonesia team up on massive asymptomatic TB study

SA and Indonesia team up on massive asymptomatic TB study

By Elri Voigt,
Posted in: Access to Medicines, Focus, Healthcare system, Healthcare Workers, InFocus, KwaZulu-Natal, Latest, Provinces, Spotlight, TB, TB

Over the last decade, there’s been growing evidence that people can have TB without having any symptoms. But there is still much uncertainty over how such asymptomatic TB functions in the body and how infectious it is. An ambitious study, set to be conducted in South Africa and Indonesia, is trying to find some answers. Elri Voigt reports.

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Withdrawal of US aid has hurt South Africa’s HIV programme

Withdrawal of US aid has hurt South Africa’s HIV programme

By Marcus Low and Nathan Geffen,
Posted in: Access to Medicines, Focus, Healthcare system, HIV/AIDS, InFocus, Latest, Spotlight

The number of HIV viral load tests is significantly lower than expected, according to an analysis of data from the National Health Laboratory Service which Spotlight and GroundUp obtained through the Promotion of Access to Information Act.

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