OPINION: The promise of a financial boost for TB programmes – where to from here?

By Sihle Mahonga Ndawonde, April 20, 2023

Posted in: Latest, TB

South Africa’s new National Strategic Plan for HIV, TB, and STIs 2023-2028 and the country’s TB Recovery Plan necessitate a sharp increase in TB testing and increased enrolment into care, which will require additional spending on testing and medicines. Sihle Mahonga Ndawonde argues that a joint committee should be set up to review and interrogate provincial departments’ resource allocation decisions for the next three years.

OPINION: The promise of a financial boost for TB programmes – where to from here?

New RSV vaccine can save thousands of lives, researchers say

By Adele Baleta, April 19, 2023

Posted in: Child health, Latest

The first vaccine to prevent severe lung infections, including pneumonia, in infants will save thousands of lives and reduce the burden on health systems of low- to middle-income countries, researchers say. Adele Baleta reports.

Tags: child health featured infant respiratory distress syndrome (IRDS)paediatric immunology Pfizer pneumonia respiratory diseases Respiratory Syncytial Virus.RSV Shabir Madhi vaccines

New RSV vaccine can save thousands of lives, researchers say

Access to sufficient colostomy bags still hit-and-miss at Gauteng hospitals

By Thabo Molelekwa, April 18, 2023

Posted in: Access to Medicines, Gauteng, Healthcare system, Healthcare Workers, Latest, Provinces

Six months after Spotlight first reported on the plight of stoma patients experiencing shortages of colostomy and urostomy bags at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in Gauteng, users are still reporting shortages at Baragwanath and other hospitals in the province. Thabo Molelekwa reports.

Tags: Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital clinical guidelines colostomy featured Gauteng Department of Health Helen Joseph Hospital International Ostomy Association Jack Bloom Leratong Hospital Motaletale Modiba Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko public health facilities public health sector stoma stoma care stoma care nurses stoma products The South African Society of Ostomates

Access to sufficient colostomy bags still hit-and-miss at Gauteng hospitals

INTERVIEW: Being a good doctor requires empathy, says outgoing health ombud Prof Malegapuru Makgoba

By Biénne Huisman, April 17, 2023

Posted in: Healthcare system, Healthcare Workers, Latest

South Africa’s health ombud Professor Malegapuru Makgoba’s tenure as ombud will end at the end of May. Bienne Huisman spoke to him about headline-making investigations into the Life Esidemeni tragedy and conditions at Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital, his childhood in Limpopo, and how he side-stepped former President Nelson Mandela’s invitation to join the African National Congress.

Tags: AIDS Denialism Black Consciousness Movement Department of Health featured Gauteng Department of Health Health Ombud Life Esidimeni Life Esidimeni Inquest maternal deaths mental health mental healthcare users MRC National Health Insurance Nelson Mandela OHSC Professor Malegapuru Makgoba Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital SAMRC Thabo Mbeki

INTERVIEW: Being a good doctor requires empathy, says outgoing health ombud Prof Malegapuru Makgoba

OPINION: Oral health services for persons with special needs still lacking

By Bulela Vava, April 14, 2023

Posted in: Healthcare system, Healthcare Workers, Latest

While there is relatively good access to preventative and promotive oral healthcare services in the country, it does not go far enough to address the vast oral health-related issues that persons with disabilities present with, writes Dr Bulela Vava. If the government is to truly care for the oral health needs of persons with special needs, it will have to take bold steps to invest in building the requisite secondary and tertiary oral health service capacity.

Tags: Bulela Vava cerebral palsy Dental health dental specialists dentists featured Gauteng Department of Health intellectual disabilities medico-legal cases oral health practitioners oral health specialists oral healthcare oral hygienists public facilities Public Healthcare Public Oral Health Forum rural health special needs

OPINION: Oral health services for persons with special needs still lacking

Major study turns spotlight on formula milk industry

By Elsabé Brits, April 13, 2023

Posted in: Child health, Healthcare system, Latest, Reproductive Health

The scientific evidence that exclusive breastfeeding is best for infants is very strong. Yet, some baby milk formula companies continue to use questionable methods to create demand for their products, thereby undermining breastfeeding. Elsabé Brits explores this and spoke to experts based on a series of articles published in The Lancet.

Tags: 1981 World Health Organization International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes and Child Health Care Strategies breastfeeding breastmilk Centre of Excellence in Food Security child health child malnutrition child nutrition chronic malnutrition commercial breastfeeding Desmond Tutu HIV Centre featured Foetal formula milk HIV Infant Feeding Association milk formula marketing Nestle Newborn Research Centre for Maternal South African Demographic and Health Survey The Lancet WHO

Major study turns spotlight on formula milk industry

In-depth: After UN report, new focus on antimicrobial resistance in the environment

By Sue Segar, April 12, 2023

Posted in: Healthcare system, Latest

South African scientists have echoed serious concerns flagged in a recent UN Environmental Programme Report on the growth of antimicrobial resistance in the environment. Sue Segar reports.

Tags: AMR antibiotic stewardship antibiotics antimicrobial resistance Department of Water and Sanitation drug resistance drug-resistant pathogens environmental health environmental pollution featured National Action Plans to deal with AMR National Green Drop Report public health threat SANOCEAN South Africa-Norway Cooperation on Ocean Research study UNEP United Nations Environmental Programme wastewater treatment works water pollution WHO

In-depth: After UN report, new focus on antimicrobial resistance in the environment

What new STI prevention findings mean for SA

By Elri Voigt, April 11, 2023

Posted in: HIV/AIDS, Latest

Last year, Spotlight reported that taking a widely available antibiotic, doxycycline after condomless sex can reduce the risk of contracting three different sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Elri Voigt unpacks some further results from three studies presented at CROI2023 on Doxycycline as post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for STI prevention.

Tags: 4CMenB Bexero vaccine Caprisa CENTRE FOR THE AIDS PROGRAMME OF RESEARCH IN SOUTH AFRICA chlamydia CROI2023 doxycycline DoxyPEP Doxyvax featured gonorrhoea HIV PrEP National Institute of Communicable Disease NICD PrEP STI prevention and care STi's syphilis type B meningococcal disease

What new STI prevention findings mean for SA

Analysis: Do we have to balance the right to health with the right to strike or do we have to ask different questions of government?

By Ufrieda Ho, April 6, 2023

Posted in: Healthcare system, Healthcare Workers, Latest

South Africa’s public health sector strikes often pit two rights against each other – the right of workers to strike and the rights of people to access healthcare services. Ufrieda Ho explores these tension points with the help of several relevant experts.

Tags: bioethics collective bargaining Department of Health essential workers featured healthcare workers Labour Relations Act medical ethics Nehawu Public Health public health facilities service level agreements Steve Biko Centre for Bioethics

Analysis: Do we have to balance the right to health with the right to strike or do we have to ask different questions of government?

Analysis: Are NGOs doing the work of the state, and should they?

By Sue Segar, April 5, 2023

Posted in: Healthcare system, Latest

People in South Africa are used to reports of organisations like Gift of the Givers stepping in during humanitarian emergencies, or service delivery NGOs assisting with HIV or tuberculosis programmes. But is there not a risk of the state becoming overly dependent on NGOs, and might this not mask state failure and thereby undermine democratic accountability? Sue Segar explores this question with the help of some high-profile NGO leaders.

Tags: Access to Health Bulungula Incubator community empowerment Community Health Workers Department of Health DG Murray Trust DGMT Dr David Harrison featured Gift of the Givers Imtiaz Sooliman NGO projects NGOs public health facilities public health infrastructure rural health

Analysis: Are NGOs doing the work of the state, and should they?

In-depth: New screening programme planned for cystic fibrosis in SA

By Catherine Tomlinson, April 4, 2023

Posted in: Access to Medicines, Healthcare system, Latest

In recent weeks, cystic fibrosis (CF) has been in the headlines because of a court case about access to new treatments for the genetic condition. After having reported on the court case, Catherine Tomlinson now unpacks how CF is diagnosed in South Africa and why so many cases here fall through the cracks. The good news, she reports, is that efforts are underway to establish a national infant screening programme.

Tags: access to medicine Centre for Human Metabolomics CF screening kits Clinical Guidelines for Genetics Services clinical pathology clinicians congenital disorders cystic fibrosis cystic fibrosis diagnosis Cystic Fibrosis Registry Cystic fibrosis-causing genes Department of Health featured gene sequencing immuno-reactive trypsinogen screening Kelly du Plessis newborn screening for cystic fibrosis NextBiosciences Paediatric Pulmonologist rare disease Rare Disease South Africa

In-depth: New screening programme planned for cystic fibrosis in SA

Face to face: “It’s not about me, it’s about the patient that I’m helping”, says head of trauma at Bara

By Biénne Huisman, April 3, 2023

Posted in: Healthcare system, Healthcare Workers, Latest

Professor Rudo Mathivha became director of the Intensive Care Unit at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital in July 1999, holding her own in a white male-dominated space. Biénne Huisman chatted with Mathivha about her impressive journey, her deep commitment to patients, and the ongoing challenges at the country’s largest hospital.

Tags: Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital featured Gauteng Department of Health Gauteng MEC for Health health budgets health infrastructure healthcare workers hospital maintenance ICU Rudo Mathiva security at health facilities staff shortages