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Opinion: Changing the law on sex work will save lives, we must see it through

Opinion: Changing the law on sex work will save lives, we must see it through

By Marlise Richter and Pamela Chakuvinga,
Posted in: Healthcare system, HIV/AIDS, Latest, Reproductive Health, Sex Work, SRHR

In December 2022, the Minister of Justice, Ronald Lamola, set into motion a public participation process on the laws that govern sex work in South Africa. Marlise Richter & Pamela Chakuvinga point out that while the Bill published for public comment in December is very short, it will do something quite extraordinary if it does become law – it will fully decriminalise sex work. This, they argue, is a process we must see through.

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OPINION: Health in 2023 – 13 things to look out for

OPINION: Health in 2023 – 13 things to look out for

By Alicestine October and Marcus Low,
Posted in: COVID-19, Healthcare system, HIV/AIDS, Latest, Mental Health, Provinces, TB

2023 is set to be another tumultuous year for healthcare services, health policy, and governance in South Africa. We’ve picked 13 things to look out for this year arranged under three broad headings: leadership and governance, policy and legislation, and HIV, TB and the NSP.

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OPINION: 2022’s health budget decisions in review

OPINION: 2022’s health budget decisions in review

By Matshidiso Lencoasa,
Posted in: COVID-19, Healthcare system, HIV/AIDS, Latest, TB

Health budgets have the power to advance access to healthcare for millions of people in South Africa. This year, however, as the health sector and the economy recovered from the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic and a volatile global environment, the South African government missed opportunities to provide the financial resources to protect access to healthcare for the most vulnerable. Matshidiso Lencoasa unpacks how the past year’s budget choices will affect key public health services.

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Spotlight on Health: 2022 in under 1 000 words

Spotlight on Health: 2022 in under 1 000 words

By Marcus Low and Alicestine October,
Posted in: COVID-19, Healthcare system, HIV/AIDS, Latest, TB

An HIV prevention injection approved in South Africa, several promising developments on the tuberculosis front, the National Health Insurance Bill grinding its way through Parliament, no end in sight to healthcare worker shortages, another dire year for health in Gauteng – Spotlight wraps up 2022 in under 1 000 words.

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An open letter to us girls who still shoulder much of the HIV burden in South Africa

An open letter to us girls who still shoulder much of the HIV burden in South Africa

By Faith Fikizolo,
Posted in: HIV/AIDS, Latest, SRHR

In an open letter to young women in South Africa, Faith Fikizolo reminds us that meaningful comprehensive sex education is an important lever in ensuring girls and young women are fully empowered to exercise their sexual and reproductive health rights. She argues that, due to the lack of meaningful sexuality education, many South African young women and girls lack bodily autonomy.

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Some in Free State only given ARVs for two weeks at a time

Some in Free State only given ARVs for two weeks at a time

By Refilwe Mochoari,
Posted in: Free State, HIV/AIDS, Latest, Provinces

While the Free State health department is denying that clinics in the province are experiencing stockouts of antiretroviral medicines, some healthcare users and HIV activists working in communities claim otherwise. The department does however acknowledge that some people are given only a two-week supply at a time. Refilwe Mochoari reports.

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Editorial: World AIDS Day 2022 – Choice, convenience, and respect should be the cornerstone of SA’s HIV response

Editorial: World AIDS Day 2022 – Choice, convenience, and respect should be the cornerstone of SA’s HIV response

By Marcus Low,
Posted in: HIV/AIDS, Latest

In Spotlight’s analysis of South Africa’s HIV response in recent years, two issues have stood out consistently – still too many people living with HIV are not taking antiretroviral therapy and the rate of new HIV infections in South Africa is not coming down fast enough. Accordingly, argues Spotlight editor Marcus Low, we must accelerate the shift toward an HIV response where we make testing for HIV and taking antiretroviral treatment as convenient as possible.

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First HIV prevention injection approved in SA

First HIV prevention injection approved in SA

By Laura Lopez Gonzalez,
Posted in: HIV/AIDS, Latest

The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority has authorised an injection containing the antiretroviral cabotegravir for use to prevent HIV infection, according to drugmaker ViiV Healthcare. Laura Lopez Gonzalez reports.

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Opinion:  Ending HIV/AIDS inequalities to achieve equity and end the epidemic

Opinion:  Ending HIV/AIDS inequalities to achieve equity and end the epidemic

By Rachel Toku-Appiah,
Posted in: HIV/AIDS, Latest

As we look at the year ahead, urgent work remains to build on past successes and to bring the HIV epidemic sustainably under control. Amongst others, we need to address persistent stigma and discrimination, as well as the structural and social factors that put women and girls at increased risk of HIV infection, argues Rachel Toku-Appiah.

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In-depth: What should behaviour change efforts look like in the PrEP era?

In-depth: What should behaviour change efforts look like in the PrEP era?

By Thabo Molelekwa,
Posted in: HIV/AIDS, Latest

HIV prevention pills are becoming more widely available in South Africa and the country is set to soon start piloting the use of an HIV prevention injection. But merely having these tools available in clinics and other places does not mean people will use them. Thabo Molelekwa asked several experts what behaviour change communications should look like in this new era of HIV prevention.

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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/AIDS, 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/AIDS, 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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