Eye health services in the public sector are critically impaired – it is high time the health department responds

By Haseena Majid and Rene Sparks, August 16, 2024

Posted in: Healthcare system, Latest, Opinions, Perspectives, Provinces, Spotlight

Despite South Africa producing a substantial number of trained optometrists, the majority of them work in the private sector and in urban areas. This imbalance leaves rural communities underserved and exacerbates health inequities. Does it make sense for us to use public funds and institutions to train people predominantly for the private sector, ask Dr Haseena Majid and Rene Sparks.

Eye health services in the public sector are critically impaired – it is high time the health department responds

New Western Cape health MEC Mireille Wenger says child health is near her heart

By Biénne Huisman, August 14, 2024

Posted in: #Vote4Health, Healthcare system, Latest, Provinces, Spotlight, Western Cape

Mireille Wenger was recently appointed to the Western Cape’s top health job. Biénne Huisman chatted to Wenger about health policy, child health, and the challenge of providing quality public health services at a time of shrinking budgets.

New Western Cape health MEC Mireille Wenger says child health is near her heart

Meet the movie buff and scientist fighting to keep rural healthcare from falling through the cracks

By Ufrieda Ho, August 7, 2024

Posted in: Healthcare system, Latest, Spotlight

Working with women in Giyani in Limpopo sparked the flame for Professor Kathy Kahn to dedicate her research career to the rural community she says she is “bonded to”. She tells Spotlight’s Ufrieda Ho why it’s been this way since she was a student in medical school.

Meet the movie buff and scientist fighting to keep rural healthcare from falling through the cracks

Behind the Life Esidimeni headlines is the suffering of human beings who deserved better

By Spotlight Editors, August 1, 2024

Posted in: Editorial, Gauteng, Healthcare system, Latest, Perspectives, Provinces, Spotlight

While we focus here on the nine deaths that Judge Mmonoa Teffo found to be unnatural, there were 144 deaths associated with the Life Esidimeni tragedy. Ultimately, these were human beings and for the world to know what happened to them is better than the world not knowing.

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Behind the Life Esidimeni headlines is the suffering of human beings who deserved better

Healthcare veteran Kgosi Letlape on leaving the ANC, serving in parliament, and the tragic loss of his daughter

By Biénne Huisman, July 31, 2024

Posted in: Healthcare system, Latest, Provinces, Spotlight

Former ANC member, now with ActionSA, Kgosi Letlape was recently elected to parliament’s health committee. Biénne Huisman spoke to the past president of the Health Professions Council of SA about leaving the ANC, healthcare in the country, gender-based violence, and the murder of his daughter.

Healthcare veteran Kgosi Letlape on leaving the ANC, serving in parliament, and the tragic loss of his daughter

Childhood vaccine coverage in SA declined in 2023, finds WHO report

By Elri Voigt, July 26, 2024

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

New data from the World Health Organization and UNICEF show that globally childhood immunisation coverage stalled in 2023, while in South Africa it decreased. Elri Voigt unpacks the new data and asks local experts to put it in context.

Childhood vaccine coverage in SA declined in 2023, finds WHO report

Medicines stockouts persist in North West as tide turns slowly

By Nthusang Lefafa, July 25, 2024

Posted in: Healthcare system, HIV, Latest, North West, Provinces, Spotlight, TB

Despite some improvement over the past three years, the North West province continues to experience medicine shortages, according to a survey by a community clinic monitoring initiative. Nthusang Lefafa unpacks the latest findings and asks why shortages persist in the province.

Medicines stockouts persist in North West as tide turns slowly

“Not being afraid to speak out, it does get me into trouble quite often,” says Prof Shabir Madhi

By Biénne Huisman, July 22, 2024

Posted in: Healthcare system, Latest, Spotlight

Amid the uncertainty of the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Professor Shabir Madhi often stood out for his clarity of thought in making sense of rapidly evolving scientific evidence. Biénne Huisman chatted to Madhi about vaccines, ongoing challenges with the Gauteng health department, and being outspoken about issues such as the war in Gaza.

“Not being afraid to speak out, it does get me into trouble quite often,” says Prof Shabir Madhi

Walking with “nomakhayas”: How the Bulungula Incubator is creating change in Wild Coast communities

By Sue Segar, July 18, 2024

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

An innovative health programme is thriving and making a difference in the lives of people in a rural Eastern Cape community. Sue Segar spent time with the project, walking with “nomakhayas” from house-to-house and taking a ferry trip across the Xhora river.

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Walking with “nomakhayas”: How the Bulungula Incubator is creating change in Wild Coast communities

“We were the first ones to do it”: Innovative SA study takes TB testing to people’s homes

By Tiyese Jeranji, July 17, 2024

Posted in: Healthcare system, Latest, Spotlight, TB

Most tuberculosis (TB) tests still require a trip to the clinic. Now, new technology has made it possible to test people at home. This could be a big deal for South Africa, where much TB goes undiagnosed. Tiyese Jeranji unpacks the findings and implications of a recent study into such TB home testing.

“We were the first ones to do it”: Innovative SA study takes TB testing to people’s homes

Questions over new Limpopo health MEC Dieketseng Mashego, but stakeholders willing to give her a chance

By Ufrieda Ho, July 15, 2024

Posted in: #Vote4Health, Healthcare system, Latest, Limpopo, Provinces, Spotlight

The deployment of the relatively unknown Dieketseng Mashego as Limpopo’s new MEC for health has raised eyebrows. Ufrieda Ho rounds up some responses to her appointment.

Questions over new Limpopo health MEC Dieketseng Mashego, but stakeholders willing to give her a chance

How ‘NHI on wheels’ is bringing life-changing healthcare to young people in rural Eastern Cape

By Sue Segar, July 11, 2024

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

The Keready project uses mobile clinics to take healthcare services to rural areas. Sue Segar spent time with the project as they took eye, dental, and other healthcare services to communities in the Eastern Cape.