Back To Blog
SA’s Cancer Story | The many long journeys to get cancer treatment far from home

SA’s Cancer Story | The many long journeys to get cancer treatment far from home

By Biénne Huisman,
Posted in: Eastern Cape, Free State, Healthcare system, Latest, NCDs, Provinces, Spotlight

The road to cancer treatment in South Africa often involves many encounters with healthcare workers and long journeys far from home. From pink iPhone covers to pink embroidery yarn, and cornstarch, Biénne Huisman hears the stories of people from vast corners of inland South Africa, and beyond, who travelled to Bloemfontein for specialist medical attention to treat their cancer. This is part 4 of Daily Maverick and Spotlight’s special series on cancer in South Africa.

Read More

Tags:
SA’s cancer story | Amid the many challenges, there are also “major wins” such as that with cervical cancer

SA’s cancer story | Amid the many challenges, there are also “major wins” such as that with cervical cancer

By Biénne Huisman,
Posted in: Access to Medicines, Healthcare system, Latest, Mpumalanga, NCDs, Provinces, Spotlight

In recent decades, we’ve seen massive advances against several types of cancer. In a still unfolding example, South Africa’s massive HPV vaccination campaign is set to slash cervical cancer rates in the coming decades. Biénne Huisman unpacks the details in part 3 of a Daily Maverick and Spotlight special series on cancer in South Africa.

Read More

Tags:
SA’s cancer story | Are cancer rates actually going up?

SA’s cancer story | Are cancer rates actually going up?

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

It isn’t always easy to know what to believe when it comes to cancer. In part 2 of a Daily Maverick and Spotlight special series on cancer, Biénne Huisman asks whether cancer cases are on the increase in South Africa, and why. On the way, she visits academic corridors and a Limpopo citrus orchard, all while trying to make sense of the available data.

Read More

Tags:
SA’s cancer story | From the intensity of the rugby field to a Golden Arrow bus ride home on which one does not cry

SA’s cancer story | From the intensity of the rugby field to a Golden Arrow bus ride home on which one does not cry

By Biénne Huisman,
Posted in: Healthcare system, Latest, NCDs, Provinces, Western Cape

Two women, two breast cancer journeys. In the first article of a new Daily Maverick and Spotlight special series on cancer in South Africa, Biénne Huisman speaks with rugby referee Aimee Barrett-Theron and cancer warrior Joyce Witbooi, who helps women navigate Cape Town’s public health system.

Read More

Tags:
Abba Mallum – the Nigerian oncologist helping to fight cancer in KZN and across Africa

Abba Mallum – the Nigerian oncologist helping to fight cancer in KZN and across Africa

By Biénne Huisman,
Posted in: Access to Medicines, Focus 1, Focus 2, Healthcare system, Healthcare Workers, Latest, NCDs, Spotlight

Propelled by an early vision to help others, Dr Abba Mallum tells Biénne Huisman about his roots in Borno State, about opportunities in Stellenbosch and Durban, and about his pioneering PhD in radiotherapy and oncology.

Read More

Tags:
What breakthrough weight loss meds might mean for people with HIV

What breakthrough weight loss meds might mean for people with HIV

By Catherine Tomlinson,
Posted in: Access to Medicines, Focus 1, Focus 2, Healthcare system, HIV, Latest, NCDs, Spotlight

In part 3 of a Spotlight special series on the role of new weight loss medicines like Ozempic in South Africa, we ask what these breakthrough jabs might mean for people living with HIV in the country. There is some tantalising early research on potential benefits, but also many uncertainties. Catherine Tomlinson reports.

Read More

Tags:
Obesity medicines are needed in SA’s public sector. Can our government provide them?

Obesity medicines are needed in SA’s public sector. Can our government provide them?

By Catherine Tomlinson,
Posted in: Access to Medicines, Focus 1, Focus 2, Healthcare system, Latest, NCDs, Spotlight

In South Africa, access to weight loss medicines like Ozempic and Mounjaro remains limited to those who can shell out a few thousand Rand a month. In the second article of a Spotlight special series, Catherine Tomlinson looks at the medical need for these medicines in the country and what it would take for government to provide them in the public sector.

Read More

Tags:
One Comment
Blockbuster weight-loss and diabetes medicines sales surge despite cost barriers

Blockbuster weight-loss and diabetes medicines sales surge despite cost barriers

By Catherine Tomlinson,
Posted in: Access to Medicines, Focus 1, Focus 2, Healthcare system, Latest, NCDs, Spotlight

Sales of weight loss medicines like Ozempic and Mounjaro have sky-rocketed in South Africa in recent years, although they remain too expensive for most people who might benefit from the jabs. In the first article of this Spotlight special series, Catherine Tomlinson tracks their remarkable rise and assesses when they will become more widely available here.

Read More

Tags:
Patients left vulnerable as diabetes supplies dwindle

Patients left vulnerable as diabetes supplies dwindle

By Joan van Dyk,
Posted in: Access to Medicines, Focus 1, Focus 2, Healthcare system, Latest, NCDs, Spotlight

Getting to grips with rising diabetes rates is arguably one of the most urgent tasks for South Africa’s public healthcare system, but the setbacks keep coming. While some communities are facing shortages of blood sugar meters and insulin pens, a smaller wave of insulin vial shortages is now on the horizon, reports Joan van Dyk.

Read More

Tags:
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 1, Focus 2, Healthcare system, HIV, 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.

Read More

Tags:
One Comment
Attempts underway to fix gap in SA’s plan to fight cancer

Attempts underway to fix gap in SA’s plan to fight cancer

By Chris Bateman,
Posted in: Access to Medicines, Focus 1, Focus 2, Healthcare system, Latest, NCDs

Experts say cancer patients in the public sector in South Africa are dying for avoidable reasons like dysfunctional referral systems and a lack of medical imaging and treatment. Chris Bateman looks at efforts to get the country’s battle with cancer back on track.

Read More

Tags:
One Comment
Evelyn Thsehla | Effective reduction to health promotion levy undermines diabetes response

Evelyn Thsehla | Effective reduction to health promotion levy undermines diabetes response

By Dr Evelyn Thsehla,
Posted in: Focus 1, Focus 2, Healthcare system, Latest, NCDs, Opinions, Spotlight

Non-communicable diseases are killing more and more people in South Africa yet the government missed out on raising a total of more than R15 billion for prevention efforts, argues Dr Evelyn Thsehla.

Read More

Tags:
1 2