Opinion: Mental health screening for people with TB will change lives and boost SA’s TB response

Posted in: COVID-19, Edition 10: Drug-resistant TB, Healthcare system, KwaZulu-Natal, Latest, Mental Health, Provinces, TB, TB

According to some estimates, over a third of tuberculosis (TB) patients have high levels of psychological distress and a quarter have an alcohol use disorder. Following an eye-opening project in KwaZulu-Natal, Atlantic Institute Tekano Fellow Amanda Fononda argues that a diagnosis of an illness (such as TB) should be accompanied by mental health screening for treatment readiness, adherence, and overall well-being.

Opinion: Mental health screening for people with TB will change lives and boost SA’s TB response

Healthcare problems persist at ‘ideal clinics’, studies show

Posted in: Gauteng, Healthcare system, Healthcare Workers, Latest, NHI, Provinces

The ideal clinic programme has been one of government’s key healthcare interventions in recent years. An extensive review conducted of the initiative in Gauteng suggests that outcomes are mixed. Elri Voigt reports on findings from four studies on the programme presented at last week’s Public Health Association of South Africa conference in Durban.

Healthcare problems persist at ‘ideal clinics’, studies show

AIDS 2022: How to tailor HIV prevention efforts to people’s needs

Posted in: HIV/AIDS, Latest

One of the hot topics at the recently concluded AIDS 2022 conference held in Montreal, Canada, was how HIV prevention interventions such as pills or injections that prevent HIV infection should be made available to different groups of people. Tiyese Jeranji spoke to some local experts and an activist about the rich set of discussions.

AIDS 2022: How to tailor HIV prevention efforts to people’s needs

Opinion: The health sector can help address the impact of violence against women, here’s how

Posted in: Healthcare system, Latest

At the start of Women’s month this year, the gang rape of eight women at a mine dump in Krugersdorp made headlines in South Africa and abroad, adding to the country’s blood-curdling statistics of femicide and violence against women. René Sparks argues that the public health sector should play a bigger role in addressing violence against women.

Opinion: The health sector can help address the impact of violence against women, here’s how

COVID-19 blamed for shortcomings of ‘ideal clinics’ in Free State

Posted in: COVID-19, Free State, Healthcare system, Latest, NHI, Provinces

There are 83 clinics – down from 153 in 2018/19 – in the Free State with Ideal Clinic status, meaning they have adequate staff, infrastructure, and medicines, among others. For many primary health facilities, this accreditation status is crucial for the National Health Insurance, however, some of these ideal clinics still have various shortcomings. Refilwe Mochoari reports.

COVID-19 blamed for shortcomings of ‘ideal clinics’ in Free State

Modest improvement at dysfunctional Gauteng clinics, report finds

Posted in: COVID-19, Gauteng, Healthcare system, HIV/AIDS, Latest, Provinces

Although a new community healthcare monitoring report notes some improvement in filling vacancies at Gauteng clinics, concerns remain over staff shortages and the impact this has on providing quality care, especially to people living with HIV. Thabo Molelekwa reports.

Modest improvement at dysfunctional Gauteng clinics, report finds

Eastern Cape health services hamstrung by staff and medicine shortages, report finds

Posted in: Healthcare system, HIV/AIDS, Latest, Provinces

Findings of a clinic monitoring report released last week, again highlighted how delivery of health services in the Eastern Cape are hamstrung by staff and medicine shortages. Luvuyo Mehlwana unpacks the data and the provincial health department’s plans to address the challenges identified in the report.