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Face to face: Prof Muki Shey on his journey from Cameroon to doing cutting-edge TB research

Face to face: Prof Muki Shey on his journey from Cameroon to doing cutting-edge TB research

By Biénne Huisman,
Posted in: Healthcare Workers, Latest, TB, TB

On 9 March, Professor Muki Shey received a silver award from the South African Medical Research Council for his “outstanding contribution to health research”. Shey is spearheading research into TB in healthcare workers from around Cape Town, scanning for those who over at least five years of high exposure to the disease at hospitals or clinics have never been infected. Biénne Huisman spoke to him about his journey from the North West of Cameroon to a lab at UCT and the value of ploughing back to help develop the next generation.

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Spotlight on Nehawu strike: Dispatches from the frontlines

Spotlight on Nehawu strike: Dispatches from the frontlines

By Spotlight,
Posted in: Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, Healthcare system, Healthcare Workers, Latest, Provinces, Western Cape

Following a Labour Appeal Court judgement on Monday, health minister Dr Joe Phaahla during a media briefing on Monday night said the department has given essential health workers until Tuesday morning to report for work. Should they fail to do this, “they will be making themselves liable to charges of misconduct”. Spotlight reporters have been visiting healthcare facilities to assess the situation.

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Opinion: Living with a stoma in SA – we deserve better

Opinion: Living with a stoma in SA – we deserve better

By Faizel Jacobs,
Posted in: Access to Medicines, Healthcare system, Healthcare Workers, Latest

Our public health system is creating a new type of disability – ostomates who, with access to the necessary care and medical consumables could live long and fulfilled lives, but who every day are subjected to the indignities of inadequate care, writes colorectal cancer survivor and ostomate, Faizel Jacobs.

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In-depth: ‘Access not excess’ key to reducing antibiotic resistance in SA

In-depth: ‘Access not excess’ key to reducing antibiotic resistance in SA

By Tiyese Jeranji,
Posted in: Access to Medicines, Healthcare system, Healthcare Workers, Latest, Science

Antibiotics play a vital role in the management of bacterial infections, reducing illness, and preventing many deaths. A 2011 report from the UK estimated that they have increased life expectancy by 20 years. However, the extensive use of antibiotics has resulted in drug resistance that threatens to reverse their life-saving power and if the situation is not reversed, it has been estimated that by 2050 as many as 10 million people will die annually of drug-resistant infections. Tiyese Jeranji looks at how antimicrobial resistance plays out in South Africa and the role of pharmacists in the fight against it.

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Decaying infrastructure at Tambo Hospital still putting patients and health workers at risk

Decaying infrastructure at Tambo Hospital still putting patients and health workers at risk

By Thabo Molelekwa,
Posted in: Gauteng, Healthcare system, Healthcare Workers, Latest, NHI, Provinces

Although the Tambo Memorial Hospital in Boksburg, Gauteng in 2017 had been declared unfit for human habitation” and “an occupational hazard, patients and healthcare workers are continuing to receive and provide health services under unusually difficult conditions. Some say they fear for their lives. Thabo Molelekwa visited the hospital and spoke to some healthcare workers and patients about conditions at the hospital and asked the provincial health department about plans to address the concerns.

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Face to face: “Everything about health is about behaviour”, says Professor Mosa Moshabela

Face to face: “Everything about health is about behaviour”, says Professor Mosa Moshabela

By Biénne Huisman,
Posted in: COVID-19, Healthcare system, Healthcare Workers, Latest

Receiving the Public Health Association’s annual PHILA award recently is one of a string of accolades Professor Mosa Moshabela, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Research and Innovation at the University of KwaZulu-Natal has under his belt. Biénne Huisman spoke to him about his journey to becoming a doctor and his deep-seated commitment to public health, health innovation, and improving health systems.

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In-depth: Good sexual and reproductive health services on paper, but implementation gaps remain

In-depth: Good sexual and reproductive health services on paper, but implementation gaps remain

By Tiyese Jeranji,
Posted in: Access to Medicines, Child health, Edition 6: HIV & teens, Healthcare system, Healthcare Workers, HIV/AIDS, Latest, Reproductive Health, SRHR

Though South Africa has in some respects done well in the provision of sexual and reproductive health services for adolescent girls and young women, significant gaps remain. Tiyese Jeranji takes an in-depth look at the current policy landscape and asks how well the implementation of the policies measures up to their lofty ambitions.

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FACES OF HEALTH: ‘Sr Fikx’ – the nurse activist unafraid to speak out against corruption

FACES OF HEALTH: ‘Sr Fikx’ – the nurse activist unafraid to speak out against corruption

By Biénne Huisman,
Posted in: Healthcare system, Healthcare Workers, Latest, SRHR

Fiery nurse activist Fikile Dikolomela-Lengene says she has had a front-row seat to corruption unfolding in Gauteng’s public health sector and she is not afraid to speak out. Biénne Huisman chatted to Dikomela-Lengene, who calls herself ‘Sr Fikx’ because she wants to influence change in the public health sector.

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Analysis: Making access to surgical care a reality in district hospitals

Analysis: Making access to surgical care a reality in district hospitals

By Alicestine October,
Posted in: Eastern Cape, Healthcare system, Healthcare Workers, Latest, Northern Cape, Provinces

Earlier this year, Spotlight published a two-part series on the human cost of surgery waiting times and asked what could be done about it. One such solution proposed by some is to devolve less complicated surgical care procedures to district hospitals. The AfroSurg3 Conference held in September, which brought together surgical stakeholders from 11 African countries to improve access to care, shed some light on how this might work. Alicestine October reports.

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In the hot seat: New Gauteng Health MEC responds to 10 questions from Spotlight

In the hot seat: New Gauteng Health MEC responds to 10 questions from Spotlight

By Spotlight Editors,
Posted in: Gauteng, Healthcare system, Healthcare Workers, Latest, Provinces

The position of MEC for Health in Gauteng is one of the most important, and probably one of the toughest jobs in public sector health governance in South Africa. Spotlight sent ten questions to the new Gauteng MEC for Health Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko. Here are her answers.

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Staff attitudes at Eastern Cape clinics still a problem, report finds

Staff attitudes at Eastern Cape clinics still a problem, report finds

By Luvuyo Mehlwana,
Posted in: Eastern Cape, Healthcare system, Healthcare Workers, Latest, Provinces

Staff attitudes and patients complaining of being treated badly by healthcare workers at some clinics in the Eastern Cape were among the issues flagged in the latest report by community-led clinic monitoring group Ritshidze. Luvuyo Mehlwana reports.

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In-depth: Healthcare in Mpumalanga hamstrung by ambulance shortages and other problems

In-depth: Healthcare in Mpumalanga hamstrung by ambulance shortages and other problems

By Nthusang Lefafa,
Posted in: Access to Medicines, Healthcare system, Healthcare Workers, Latest, Provinces

Despite some interventions by Mpumalanga’s health department, a litany of challenges at Mpumalanga hospitals continue to hamstrung quality patient care in the province. Nthusang Lefafa explores these challenges and asked the health department what is being done to address them.

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