Women in Health: Dr Angela Hartwig – a torchbearer for rural health

By Biénne Huisman, August 29, 2022

Posted in: COVID-19, Healthcare system, Latest, Provinces

At one stage during the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr Angela Hartwig was the only doctor at Adelaide Hospital in the Eastern Cape. She also fell ill while pregnant and working, and ended up in a COVID-ward. Despite the challenges the pandemic dished out to health facilities and health workers, especially in rural areas like Adelaide, she remains passionate about rural health. Bienne Huisman spoke to her as part of Spotlight’s Women in Health series.

Women in Health: Dr Angela Hartwig – a torchbearer for rural health

OPINION: Towards women-centred climate change decision-making and budgeting

By Matshidiso Lencoasa, August 26, 2022

Posted in: Healthcare system, Latest

The worsening climate crisis poses a threat to women and girls and their access to healthcare in the country. Matshidiso Lencoasa argues that although the ongoing climate crisis is daunting, it can serve as an opportunity for budgeting and policy-making processes to centre the most vulnerable and protect women’s right to healthcare.

Tags: climate and health climate change climate crisis climate justice climate-resilient health systems featured floods gender health budget health facilities health workers healthcare maternal and reproductive health public health sector Social Determinants of Health Women women's health

OPINION: Towards women-centred climate change decision-making and budgeting

Women in Health: From test tubes to impacting lives – Dr Thesla Palanee-Phillips on making a difference with science

By Elri Voigt, August 24, 2022

Posted in: Healthcare system, HIV/AIDS, Latest

Dr Thesla Palanee-Phillips is the Director of Clinical Trials at the Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute (Wits RHI) at the University of the Witwatersrand. As part of Spotlight’s Women in Health series, Elri Voigt spoke to her about what set her off into a career in science, the significance of the ASPIRE trial that she co-chaired, and juggling motherhood and her career.

Tags: ASPIRE COVID-19 Dapivirine dapivirine vaginal ring featured in vitro fertilisation infertility IVF Spotlight on Women in Health Wits RHI Women in Health

Women in Health: From test tubes to impacting lives – Dr Thesla Palanee-Phillips on making a difference with science

Analysis: What is behind the Western Cape’s low PrEP numbers?

By Elsabé Brits, August 23, 2022

Posted in: Healthcare system, HIV/AIDS, Latest

It is estimated that in 2021, around 0.3% of sexually active people in the Western Cape were taking antiretroviral medicines to prevent HIV infection. This is substantially lower than the national estimate of 1%. Elsabé Brits asks why uptake in the Western Cape is lagging behind most other provinces.

Tags: antiretroviral treatment ARVs contraception Department of Health Desmond Tutu Health Foundation featured HIV HIV infections HIV Prevention HIV treatment Linda-Gail Bekker oral PrEP PrEP coverage PrEP rollout Treatment Action Campaign Western Cape Department of Health

Analysis: What is behind the Western Cape’s low PrEP numbers?

Women in Health: Mary Selona is changing ‘the way things are’ – one woman at a time

By Ufrieda Ho, August 22, 2022

Posted in: Healthcare system, Healthcare Workers, Latest, Reproductive Health, SRHR

Mary Selona, a community activist who heads up the Blood River Advice Centre in Limpopo, is putting women at the centre in her quest for social justice. Whether it is intervening when women are refused PrEP at clinics or in more immediate life-threatening situations relating to gender-based violence, Selona is leading from the front. Ufrieda Ho spoke to her as part of Spotlight’s Women in Health series.

Tags: Blood River Advice Office community empowerment community food gardens featured gender based violence intimate partner violence Limpopo Limpopo Department of Health Mary Selona nutrition PrEP Social Determinants of Health Thuthuzela Care Centre traditional leaders women empowerment Women in Health women's health

Women in Health: Mary Selona is changing ‘the way things are’ – one woman at a time

OPINION: Abortion rights in three African countries after a major setback in the US

By Sibusisiwe Ndlela, Charlemaine Husselmann and Primah Kwagala, August 19, 2022

Posted in: Access to Medicines, Healthcare system, Latest, SRHR

The right to abortion has been catapulted into the spotlight by Dobbs v Jackson, the landmark judgment of the United States Supreme Court that overturned Roe v Wade – a 50-year-old precedent of that court that first recognised the constitutional right to abortion in the US. The recognition of a right to abortion is often the first step towards creating an enabling environment for women to access abortions but in some countries in East and Southern Africa, argue the authors, Dobbs may put brakes on little sparks of hope that emerged in recent years.

Tags: abortion abortion care Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act contraceptives Dobbs v Jackson EALA East African Legislative Assembly featured foetus Maputo Protocol Namibian Parliament reproductive health services Right to life Roe v Wade Sexual and reproductive health rights Ugandan Constitution women's health women's rights

OPINION: Abortion rights in three African countries after a major setback in the US

Women in Health: How Daphney Conco dreamed of wearing a graduation gown and did it

By Tiyese Jeranji, August 15, 2022

Posted in: Healthcare system, Healthcare Workers, Latest

Dr Daphney Conco is passionate about sexual and reproductive health rights – access to abortion in particular – and that is why she is now at the forefront of research on access to abortion services in South Africa. Tiyese Jeranji spoke to her about her work, her passion for research, and how as a little girl in rural KwaZulu-Natal she dreamed of wearing a graduation gown.

Tags: abortion access to abortion services Daphne Conco featured health facilities healthcare workers labour wards nurse training nursing School of Public Health Sexual and reproductive health women in health series women's health

Women in Health: How Daphney Conco dreamed of wearing a graduation gown and did it

Opinion: The health sector can help address the impact of violence against women, here’s how

By René Sparks, August 12, 2022

Posted in: Healthcare system, Latest

At the start of Women’s month this year, the gang rape of eight women at a mine dump in Krugersdorp made headlines in South Africa and abroad, adding to the country’s blood-curdling statistics of femicide and violence against women. René Sparks argues that the public health sector should play a bigger role in addressing violence against women.

Tags: Community Health Care Workers COVID-19 featured femicide GBV GBV survivors gender based violence HIV counsellor Independent Community Pharmacy Association intimate partner violence primary health facilities Public Health public health facilities Public Private Partnerships violence against women women's health Women's month

Opinion: The health sector can help address the impact of violence against women, here’s how

Women in Health: “I don’t like seeing anybody treated unfairly” – new leader of HIV Clinicians Society

By Biénne Huisman, August 10, 2022

Posted in: Edition 9: State of HIV, Healthcare system, Healthcare Workers, HIV/AIDS, Latest

Juliet Houghton was recently appointed as the CEO of the Southern African HIV Clinician’s Society (SAHCS). As part of Spotlight’s Women in Health series, Bienne Huisman spoke to her about her life working in HIV, her new role at the SAHCS, the importance of being able to laugh, and the Shakespearian origins of her name.

Tags: ARVs cabotegravir condoms COVID-19 dapivirine vaginal ring Department of Health featured gender-affirming guidelines HIV HIV infection HIV treatment Juliet Houghton Medicines Patent Pool MPP oral PrEP SAHPRA South African Health Products Regulatory Authority Southern African HIV Clinicians Society Stigma ViiV Healthcare Women in Health

In-depth: What are fuelling concerns over nurse training in South Africa?

By Thabo Molelekwa, August 8, 2022

Posted in: Healthcare system, Latest

Young Nurses Indaba Trade Union says legal and regulatory obstacles are stalling the training of qualified nurses in South Africa – something the country can ill afford. Thabo Molelekwa spoke to union members, some nurses, and nurse educators, as well as the South African Nursing Council, to unpack how nurse training in South Africa has changed and affected the output of nurse graduates.

Tags: featured healthcare costs Higher Education Qualifications Sub-Framework Joe Phaahla nurses nursing colleges nursing training Public Health resources for health SANC South African Nursing Council South African Research Chair for the Health Workforce Young Nurses Indaba Trade Union

In-depth: What are fuelling concerns over nurse training in South Africa?

Clinics hit hard by water shortages in Nelson Mandela Bay

By Luvuyo Mehlwana, August 4, 2022

Posted in: Eastern Cape, Healthcare system, Latest, Provinces

The Nelson Mandela Bay metro in the Eastern Cape is in the grips of a severe drought. Public health facilities in the metro have been hit hard with some having to close or reduce the number of people they attend to. Authorities say measures are in place to prevent a complete standstill. Luvuyo Mehlwana reports.

Tags: Centre for Enteric Diseases cholera clinic Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Unit diarrhoea Eastern Cape Eastern Cape drought Elizabeth Donkin Hospital featured Gift of the Givers hospitals infection control National Institute for Communicable Diseases Nelson Mandela Bay Metro NICD non-Typhoidal Salmonella public health facilities public health sector water security water shortages

Clinics hit hard by water shortages in Nelson Mandela Bay

“It took me three seconds to decide” – Fareed Abdullah reflects on his career in public health

By Biénne Huisman, August 2, 2022

Posted in: Edition 9: State of HIV, Healthcare system, HIV/AIDS, Latest

Over the last three decades, Dr Fareed Abdullah has been at the coalface of South Africa’s response to HIV, tuberculosis, and more recently, COVID-19. Biénne Huisman chatted with Abdullah about providing antiretrovirals in the time of AIDS denialism, National Health Insurance, working as a medical doctor, and the toll HIV has sadly taken on his own family.

Tags: AIDS Activism AIDS Alliance ARV rollout AZT COVID-19 Dr Aaron Motsoaledi Dr Thembesile Xulu Eric Goemaere Fareed Abdullah featured HIV HIV response key populations MSF Nelson Mandela NHI Bill Omicron SANAC sex workers South African AIDS Council South African Medical Research Council Treatment Action Campaign Zackie Achmat