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In-depth: ‘Access not excess’ key to reducing antibiotic resistance in SA

In-depth: ‘Access not excess’ key to reducing antibiotic resistance in SA

By Tiyese Jeranji,
Posted in: Access to Medicines, Healthcare system, Healthcare Workers, Latest, Science

Antibiotics play a vital role in the management of bacterial infections, reducing illness, and preventing many deaths. A 2011 report from the UK estimated that they have increased life expectancy by 20 years. However, the extensive use of antibiotics has resulted in drug resistance that threatens to reverse their life-saving power and if the situation is not reversed, it has been estimated that by 2050 as many as 10 million people will die annually of drug-resistant infections. Tiyese Jeranji looks at how antimicrobial resistance plays out in South Africa and the role of pharmacists in the fight against it.

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In-depth: The state of asthma in SA

In-depth: The state of asthma in SA

By Elri Voigt,
Posted in: Healthcare system, Latest

Asthma is a disease that can be easily controlled through the correct use of medications, yet in many low-and-middle-income countries like South Africa, many still die due to lack of effective management of this disease. According to estimates from the Global Asthma Report 2022, South Africa ranks third out of 28 low-and-middle-income countries for asthma-related mortality. Elri Voigt unpacks the state of asthma in the country.

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Difficult conversations: How do you tell your child they have HIV?

Difficult conversations: How do you tell your child they have HIV?

By Biénne Huisman,
Posted in: Child health, Healthcare system, HIV, Latest, SRHR

Telling a child that he or she is living with HIV is not easy. Biénne Huisman spoke to a father and some doctors on how one approaches the issue.

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Almost 40 years with HIV – from ‘dead man walking’ to HIV awareness champion

Almost 40 years with HIV – from ‘dead man walking’ to HIV awareness champion

By Biénne Huisman,
Posted in: Healthcare system, HIV, Latest

On December 12, Ntimbwe Munongo Mpamba will celebrate his fortieth birthday with chocolate cake in Northgate, Johannesburg. He was born with HIV but only became aware of his HIV status many years later. Biénne Huisman spoke to him about living with HIV, his early years when his mother fed him medicine disguised as sweets, and now, living openly as an HIV awareness champion.

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Opinion: Keep an eye on quality as we rush to test people for HIV

Opinion: Keep an eye on quality as we rush to test people for HIV

By René Sparks,
Posted in: Healthcare system, HIV, Latest

The theme for this year’s World AIDS Day is “Equalise and Integrate to End AIDS”. One aspect in which more equality is needed is between the quality of HIV testing services and aiming to test as many people as possible, argues René Sparks.

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KwaZulu-Natal doing well compared to other provinces but some health services still a challenge

KwaZulu-Natal doing well compared to other provinces but some health services still a challenge

By Nthusang Lefafa,
Posted in: Healthcare system, HIV, KwaZulu-Natal, Latest, Provinces, Sex Work

KwaZulu-Natal clinics are outperforming facilities monitored in other provinces on various indicators and health services in the province have improved year-on-year, but some marginalised groups continue to have a hard time accessing healthcare services. This is according to the latest provincial report from community-led monitoring project Ritshidze. Nthusang Lefafa spoke to several NGOs about the findings and asked the province’s health department for their response.

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Pilot projects set to inform rollout of HIV prevention shot

Pilot projects set to inform rollout of HIV prevention shot

By Laura Lopez Gonzalez,
Posted in: Healthcare system, HIV, Latest

South Africa is expected to begin piloting the HIV prevention injection early next year as one of several projects that experts hope will reveal the answers to some of the biggest questions about the future of the shot – who will deliver the injection, where, and how to sell people on the idea that just six shots a year could protect them from HIV. Laura Lopez Gonzalez reports.

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Face to Face: Prof Helen Rees on SAHPRA, women’s rights, and her appetite for justice

Face to Face: Prof Helen Rees on SAHPRA, women’s rights, and her appetite for justice

By Biénne Huisman,
Posted in: COVID-19, Healthcare system, HIV, Latest, Reproductive Health

As a rebellious teenager growing up in the British town of Harpenden, Professor Helen Rees would sneak out to attend anti-apartheid talks. Today, she is a renowned scientist and chair of South Africa’s medicines regulator. Biénne Huisman chatted to Rees about her career, prioritising women’s reproductive health, and her role at the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority.

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Opinion: Mental health screening for people with TB will change lives and boost SA’s TB response

Opinion: Mental health screening for people with TB will change lives and boost SA’s TB response

By Amanda Fononda,
Posted in: COVID-19, Edition 10: Drug-resistant TB, Healthcare system, KwaZulu-Natal, Latest, Mental Health, Provinces, TB

According to some estimates, over a third of tuberculosis (TB) patients have high levels of psychological distress and a quarter have an alcohol use disorder. Following an eye-opening project in KwaZulu-Natal, Atlantic Institute Tekano Fellow Amanda Fononda argues that a diagnosis of an illness (such as TB) should be accompanied by mental health screening for treatment readiness, adherence, and overall well-being.

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Decaying infrastructure at Tambo Hospital still putting patients and health workers at risk

Decaying infrastructure at Tambo Hospital still putting patients and health workers at risk

By Thabo Molelekwa,
Posted in: Gauteng, Healthcare system, Healthcare Workers, Latest, NHI, Provinces

Although the Tambo Memorial Hospital in Boksburg, Gauteng in 2017 had been declared unfit for human habitation” and “an occupational hazard, patients and healthcare workers are continuing to receive and provide health services under unusually difficult conditions. Some say they fear for their lives. Thabo Molelekwa visited the hospital and spoke to some healthcare workers and patients about conditions at the hospital and asked the provincial health department about plans to address the concerns.

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Face to face: “Everything about health is about behaviour”, says Professor Mosa Moshabela

Face to face: “Everything about health is about behaviour”, says Professor Mosa Moshabela

By Biénne Huisman,
Posted in: COVID-19, Healthcare system, Healthcare Workers, Latest

Receiving the Public Health Association’s annual PHILA award recently is one of a string of accolades Professor Mosa Moshabela, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Research and Innovation at the University of KwaZulu-Natal has under his belt. Biénne Huisman spoke to him about his journey to becoming a doctor and his deep-seated commitment to public health, health innovation, and improving health systems.

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