Mental Health: Grief, loss – we are all traumatised, says psychiatrist on the COVID-19 frontlines

Posted in: COVID-19, Healthcare system, Latest

Working with Groote Schuur Hospital’s frontline COVID team, Psychiatry Professor Jackie Hoare help manage the mental health of patients admitted with severe COVID pneumonia and also the mental health needs of fellow healthcare workers. Bienne Huisman caught up with her to talk about providing counselling at the bedside of COVID patients and how we deal with the complexities of grief in a time of COVID-19.

Mental Health: Grief, loss – we are all traumatised, says psychiatrist on the COVID-19 frontlines

COVID-19: How to respond to vaccine hesitancy

Posted in: COVID-19, Latest

Initially hamstrung by low and uncertain supplies of COVID-19 vaccines, government is arguably now in a better position to campaign actively to accelerate vaccine demand, albeit in the midst of an often-harmful viral “infodemic”. Chris Bateman asks what can be done to boost demand for the jab.

COVID-19: How to respond to vaccine hesitancy

In-depth: The incredibly long wait for gender-affirming surgery for those who can’t pay

Posted in: Healthcare system, Latest, SRHR

Already very long waiting times for gender-affirming surgery in South Africa’s public sector have gotten even longer due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Tiyese Jeranji investigates the challenges transgender persons in the country face in accessing gender-affirming care.

In-depth: The incredibly long wait for gender-affirming surgery for those who can’t pay

Like a “blanket of fatigue” – Inside Groote Schuur’s long-COVID clinic

Posted in: COVID-19, Latest

As a third wave of COVID-19 looms in the Western Cape, a group of doctors at Groote Schuur Hospital’s Post-COVID-19 Lung Disease Clinic are treating patients who have recovered from COVID-19 but who suffer lingering symptoms such as fatigue and shortness of breath. Bienne Huisman paid them a visit.

Like a “blanket of fatigue” – Inside Groote Schuur’s long-COVID clinic

After setbacks, rollout of new TB prevention pills to start in six districts

Posted in: Latest, TB

After various delays and setbacks, a new, less toxic, short-course tuberculosis preventive therapy called 3HP is finally being launched in six districts in South Africa. Tiyese Jeranji reports.

After setbacks, rollout of new TB prevention pills to start in six districts

400 people in SA with highly drug-resistant TB to get new three-drug regimen

Posted in: Edition 10: Drug-resistant TB, Edition 14: Tuberculosis, Edition 7: TB, Latest, TB

Treating highly drug-resistant forms of tuberculosis can take anything from nine to 24 months and patients have to contend with various unpleasant, and sometimes dangerous, side effects. A new six-month regimen made up of just three drugs that will be offered to 400 patients in South Africa might offer a better solution for some. Tiyese Jeranji reports.

400 people in SA with highly drug-resistant TB to get new three-drug regimen

COVID-19: The evolving science behind long-COVID

Posted in: Latest

A study published in the Lancet medical journal confirms that the health effects of COVID-19 can linger months after someone has ‘recovered’. Kathryn Cleary asked local experts about the underlying science and whether the South African public healthcare system is ready for so-called long-COVID.

COVID-19: The evolving science behind long-COVID

COVID-19: The fascinating science of what happens in the lungs

Posted in: Edition 10: Drug-resistant TB, Edition 14: Tuberculosis, Healthcare system, Latest, TB

People with COVID-19 and people with tuberculosis (TB) can experience similar symptoms such as coughing and breathing difficulties as both diseases affect the lungs. Exactly how these diseases affect the lungs, however, differs. Tiyese Jeranji spoke to a leading South African pulmonologist to learn more.

COVID-19: The fascinating science of what happens in the lungs

COVID-19: How provinces are catching up on elective procedures

Posted in: Gauteng, Healthcare system, KwaZulu-Natal, Latest, Limpopo, Provinces, Western Cape

As South Africa prepared for the COVID-19 pandemic, hospitals had to come up with plans to deal with the expected influx of COVID-19 patients. Part of this plan was that hospitals would minimise or temporarily put elective procedures on hold. Now, with the country at alert level 1 of its lockdown, Tiyese Jeranji looks at how four provinces are again phasing in elective procedures.

COVID-19: How provinces are catching up on elective procedures

COVID-19: How mechanical ventilation has saved lives at Groote Schuur Hospital

Posted in: Latest, Provinces, Western Cape

While high-flow nasal oxygen has been one of the success stories of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is not always enough. Sometimes more invasive mechanical ventilation is required. Tiyese Jeranji spoke to Professor Ross Hofmeyr on what mechanical ventilation entails and the measures his team at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town have employed to successfully manage these critical COVID-19 cases.

COVID-19: How mechanical ventilation has saved lives at Groote Schuur Hospital

COVID-19: How rugby legend Broadhurst Cona beat COVID-19

Posted in: Latest

In his illustrious career, Broadhurst (Broadness) Cona, learnt to fight hard on the rugby field and never gave up until the final whistle. It is this same spirit that Cona brought to another fight – surviving COVID-19 as a 73-year-old. Siyabonga Kamnqa paid Cona a visit.

COVID-19: How rugby legend Broadhurst Cona beat COVID-19

COVID-19: Seven lessons from the Western Cape

Posted in: Latest, Provinces, Western Cape

The COVID-19 epidemic in the Western Cape is at least a few weeks ahead of that in South Africa’s other provinces. Some leading doctors in the province have shared some key lessons learned in recent months.