Opinion: WHO numbers underscore urgent need for stronger leadership and ambitious TB recovery plan

By Zameer Brey, Marcus Low, Yogan Pillay and Ingrid Schoeman, October 20, 2021

Posted in: COVID-19, Edition 12: SA’s AIDS & TB response, Edition 14: Tuberculosis, Edition 7: TB, Latest, TB, TB Response

According to new estimates from the World Health Organization around 61 000 people died of TB in South Africa in 2020, an increase of around 5% over 2019. That works out to over 1 100 TB deaths in the country every week. We urgently need a transparent TB recovery plan and we need both President Cyril Ramaphosa and Health Minister Joe Phaahla to invest real political capital in the implementation of the plan, the authors argue.

Opinion: WHO numbers underscore urgent need for stronger leadership and ambitious TB recovery plan

In-depth: Does SA have a diabetes testing problem?

By Elri Voigt, October 15, 2021

Posted in: COVID-19, Healthcare system, Latest

Though the numbers are relatively uncertain, it is estimated that between four and five million people in South Africa are living with diabetes. One reason for the uncertainty is a lack of testing. A lack of testing also means that many people get diagnosed too late in the course of the disease. Elri Voigt asks what we do and do not know about diabetes in the country and what should be done about it.

Tags: blood sugar levels Chronic Disease Initiative for Africa chronic diseases Community Health Care Workers Department of Health diabetes featured finger-prick blood test gestational diabetes Glimepiride glucose Haemoglobin A1C test healthcare workers insulin lifestyle diseases Metformin National Income Dynamic Study non-communicable diseases pancreas Public Health Type 1 Diabetes Type 2 Diabetes

In-depth: Does SA have a diabetes testing problem?

Opinion: Climate emergency risks becoming a mental health emergency

By Mbalenhle Baduza, October 8, 2021

Posted in: Healthcare system, Latest, Mental Health

Studies have shown that the rate of mental health problems, such as suicidality, anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress, increase after natural disasters. Mbalenhle Baduza unpacks the findings of a recent report by the Centre for Environmental Rights on the psychological and mental health consequences of climate change in South Africa.

Tags: CancelCoal campaign Clean Air climate change climate justice climate trauma COVID-19 Dr Joe Phaahla environmental health featured GroundWork mental health mental health budgets mental health conditions mental health institutions mental health medication mental health practitioners mental health users minister of health National Climate Change and Health Adaptation Plan National Mental Health Policy Framework psychiatrists Public Health public health spending public mental healthcare system rural health

Opinion: Climate emergency risks becoming a mental health emergency

Opinion: The over-criminalisation of HIV transmission does more harm than good

By Sibusisiwe Ndlela, October 8, 2021

Posted in: HIV/AIDS, Latest

Although it is necessary for the criminal justice system to prohibit and punish conduct that is harmful to the public interest, criminalising exposure to or transmission of HIV goes against important public health principles, writes Sibusisiwe Ndlela.

Tags: criminalisation of HIV Department of Health featured Guidance for Prosecutors on HIV-related cases HIV HIV exposure HIV Prevention HIV status HIV transmission HIV treatment HIV-specific laws Public Health viral loads

Opinion: The over-criminalisation of HIV transmission does more harm than good

Ageing nurses: A crisis on the horizon

By Elna Schütz, October 7, 2021

Posted in: Healthcare system, Healthcare Workers, Latest

Nurses make up a large part of the healthcare workforce in South Africa, but almost half of them are set to retire in the next 15 years. This suggests existing shortages of nurses will become even greater unless we take concrete steps to boost nurse training and retention. Elna Schütz reports.

Tags: 2030 Human Resources for Health (HRH) Strategy Denosa Department of Health featured healthcare workers nurse shortage nurses nursing education nursing education institutions nursing unions Public Health public health facilities RHAP rural health SANC South African Nursing Council Sustainable Development Goals YNITU

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LIFE ESIDIMENI INQUEST: A Recap on its progress and what to expect

By Julia Chaskalson, October 6, 2021

Posted in: Latest, Mental Health

The ongoing judicial inquest into the deaths of mental healthcare users during the Life Esidimeni tragedy in 2016, has again been postponed this week. It is the fifth time the proceedings have been postponed since the inquest started in July this year, signalling that there is still a long road ahead for determining any criminal accountability for these deaths. Julia Chaskalson takes stock of the progress so far and what to expect in the months ahead.

Tags: access to mental health services Department of Health featured Gauteng Department of Health Justice Dikgang Moseneke Life Esidimeni Life Esidimeni Inquest mental health mental health budgets mental health medication mental health treatment mental healthcare services mental healthcare users Public Health

LIFE ESIDIMENI INQUEST: A Recap on its progress and what to expect

In-depth: What is behind the massive cataract surgery backlogs in Gauteng?

By Ufrieda Ho, October 5, 2021

Posted in: Healthcare system, Latest, Provinces

As World Sight Day approaches on 14 October, Gauteng faces the damning reality that thousands of cataract patients are waiting up to two years to receive the simple life-changing surgery. Ufrieda Ho reports.

Tags: cataract surgery backlog cataracts Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital COVID-19 Dr Nomathemba Mokgethi eyecare featured Gauteng Health Department Gauteng Health MEC healthcare users healthcare workers Leratong Hospital Ophthalmology Public Health Sebokeng Hospital waiting lists

In-depth: What is behind the massive cataract surgery backlogs in Gauteng?

Human resource issues at root of Free State health problems, report suggests

By Refilwe Mochoari, September 15, 2021

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

Shortages of healthcare workers are contributing to long waiting times at healthcare facilities, poor treatment adherence, and are undermining the response to HIV and tuberculosis (TB) in the Free State, findings in a new report show. Refilwe Mochoari attended the launch of the report and asked the Free State Department of Health for its response.

Tags: ARV treatment CCMDD programme CHWs Clinic monitoring Clinics Community Health Care Workers featured Free State Department of Health FREE STATE HEALTH health staff attitudes HIV programme Mondli Mvambi people living with HIV Public Health public health facilities resources for health Ritshidze Ritshidze Project staff shortages TB Treatment Action Campaign treatment adherence tuberculosis

Human resource issues at root of Free State health problems, report suggests

Efforts to vaccinate the homeless stumbling over red tape

By Siyabonga Kamnqa, July 28, 2021

Posted in: COVID-19, Latest

South Africa’s COVID-19 vaccination programme currently requires that people enter an identity number when registering on government’s electronic system and present an identity document when they go to get jabbed. This makes it hard for homeless people without IDs to get vaccinated. Siyabonga Kamnqa reports from the streets of Cape Town.

Tags: Access to Health COVID-19 COVID-19 vaccine District Six clinic EVDS featured HIV Homeless homeless shelters Identity documents infectious diseases national vaccine rollout strategy Nomafrench Mbombo Public Health public health services TB vaccine registration vaccines Western Cape Department of Health

Efforts to vaccinate the homeless stumbling over red tape

OPINION: Without contraception, Limpopo women’s rights are being violated

By Thuthukile Mbatha and Annah Maluleke, July 14, 2021

Posted in: Access to Medicines, Latest, SRHR

The ongoing stockouts of contraceptives grossly violate individuals’ and couples’ reproductive rights but alternative measures have not been put in place. If the issues of access to contraceptives are not dealt with, the country will face a baby boom and a rise in HIV infections at the end of the current pandemic writes Thuthukile Mbatha and Annah Maluleke.

Tags: access to medicine adolescents birth control contraceptives Depo-Provera featured health facilities healthcare workers IUD Limpopo Department of Health Nuristate nurses Public Health SECTION27 Sexual and reproductive health rights SRHR stockouts Stop Stockouts Project TAC

OPINION: Without contraception, Limpopo women’s rights are being violated

Interview: Acting Free State Health head on his plans for the department

By Refilwe Mochoari, July 6, 2021

Posted in: COVID-19, Free State, Latest, Provinces

On 20 May Free State Premier Sisi Ntombela announced that Godfrey Mahlatsi will replace then head of the province’s health department Dr David Motau in an acting capacity. Refilwe Mochoari asked Mahlatsi about his plans for a department that has seen its fair share of controversy over the years.

Tags: ambulances audit outcomes auditor-general Buthelezi EMS COVID-19 David Motau featured FREE STATE HEALTH Godfrey Mahlatsi Head of Health health expenditure healthworkers PFMA PPE Public Health SIU Tender corruption

Interview: Acting Free State Health head on his plans for the department

Opinion: Amidst the pandemic, health facility quality ratings give a false sense of security.

By René Sparks, June 30, 2021

Posted in: Healthcare system, Latest

Health facility assessments are crucial to ensure patients’ needs for care are met, but often these assessments become a box-ticking exercise the country can ill afford, writes René Sparks.

Tags: accreditation clinic committees COVID-19 Department of Health featured health facilities healthcare workers Ideal Clinic programme National Core Standards NHI Office of Health Standards Compliance OHSC patient safety Public Health public healthcare system quality of care

Opinion: Amidst the pandemic, health facility quality ratings give a false sense of security.

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