Behind the headlines
By Marcus Low – Medical research findings are often sensationalised and overstated in the mainstream media. We debunk three cases of HIV-related misreporting that caught our eye in recent months.
Hoer! Magosha! Prossie! Doxy! – Why has the law on sex work not changed?
By Marlise Richter – Sex work is fully criminalised in South Africa. This means that anyone who buys sex, who sells sex, or who helps facilitate a sex-work transaction can be prosecuted.
Did Durban listen to sex workers?
By Ishtar Lakhani – This year marked the 21st International AIDS Conference (AIC) held in Durban – 16 years since this conference was last held on South African soil in 2000.
How PEPFAR’s anti-prostitution pledge impedes sex worker health
By Marlise Richter – The US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) should end its anti-prostitution pledge.
Don’t make us criminals
By Sally-Jean Shackleton – Address presented at a session entitled ‛South Africa’s National Sex Worker HIV Plan: Are you coming?’ at the 2016 International AIDS Conference in Durban.
Ambulance emergency in the Eastern Cape
By Mluleki Marongo, SECTION27 Researcher – If you call an ambulance in Johannesburg, there’s a good chance you will be in a hospital within 45 minutes; if you call an ambulance in rural Eastern Cape, you will probably die before it arrives. Sadly, that has been the case for decades.
PR and platitudes
By Ufrieda Ho – It’s ‛good governance’ week for the Public Protector’s office at the beginning of October and officials are going through the motions of holding a community meeting in Vosloorus. The meeting is however, already running over an hour behind schedule.
The work of a nurse
By Mary-Jane Matsolo ‛There is a huge difference between a clinic nurse and a government hospital nurse. Clinic nurses usually do referrals, unlike us, we have to deal with it…
The DA’s alternative health plan for South Africa: Yes or No?
By Di Caelers – There’s no arguing that South Africans, especially the poorest of the poor, have a Constitutional right to access healthcare services.
A new coalition for people-centred health care
By Ufrieda Ho – Two specific issues emerged as priorities for Gauteng from the Provincial Health Assembly this year: migration and mental health.
Getting the system to work
By Ufrieda Ho – Staff shortages remain a massive challenge for the public health service.
Rich province, poor health care
By Ufrieda Ho – In money terms, Gauteng’s health budget looks plump and healthy at R37,4 billion for the 2016-2017 financial year – R2.07 billion more than the previous financial year.