HIV in Umkhanyakude: Impressive numbers, but living with HIV difficult amid socio-economic hardship

Posted in: HIV/AIDS, KwaZulu-Natal, Latest, Provinces

Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Sihle Zikhalala praised the Umkhanyakude District recently on its ‘exceptional’ figures in meeting the UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets. Yet, when Spotlight recently visited the Jozini area, we were confronted with a less rosy picture. Some people stopped their HIV treatment because they do not have food to eat, and activists now warn that the progress with the targets can be derailed if poverty, hunger and other social determinants of health are not urgently and comprehensively addressed. Nomfundo Xolo reports.

HIV in Umkhanyakude: Impressive numbers, but living with HIV difficult amid socio-economic hardship

Reimagining health in the Eastern Cape: CHWs are key to improving health outcomes

Posted in: Eastern Cape, Healthcare system, Latest

Community Health Workers (CHWs) are an important element in the government’s re-engineering of primary health care strategy. Here Melanie Alperstein and Tinashe Njanji highlight the challenges CHWs in the Eastern Cape face and offer some solutions to improve the working conditions of CHWs and improve health outcomes in the province.

Reimagining health in the Eastern Cape: CHWs are key to improving health outcomes

COVID-19: Innovating and adapting at Zithulele Hospital

Posted in: Eastern Cape, Edition 13: Eastern Cape Health, Healthcare system, Latest, Provinces

With chronic health worker shortages and limited resources such as ventilators in rural public health facilities, how did Zithulele Hospital in OR Tambo District manage its COVID-19 cases? Tiyese Jeranji spoke to two doctors working at Zithulele about an innovative oxygen solution, infection control, and much more.

COVID-19: Innovating and adapting at Zithulele Hospital

OP-ED: Underpaid and Unprotected -The case for supporting Community Health Workers

Posted in: Eastern Cape, Free State, Healthcare Workers, Latest, Northern Cape, Provinces

If we are serious about Universal Health Care, we need to match the commitment shown by community health workers (CHWs). Not only must their contribution to the pandemic response be adequately recognised, but CHWs deserve a say in health policymaking and implementation that affects them, the authors argue.

OP-ED: Underpaid and Unprotected -The case for supporting Community Health Workers

SA is facing a healthcare worker crisis – What to do?

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

Many healthcare workers are rightly identified as heroes of South Africa’s COVID-19 response. Yet, often healthcare workers are given very little support in the public healthcare system, something that may get worse as healthcare worker shortages get more acute in the coming years. Kathryn Cleary investigates.

SA is facing a healthcare worker crisis – What to do?

IN PICTURES: The making of a public health time bomb: Just (don’t) add water

Posted in: Eastern Cape, Latest, Provinces

On the ground in the Eastern Cape and from recent proceedings in parliament, it seems clear that there is a water management crisis in the OR Tambo District – a crisis with public health implications beyond just COVID-19.

IN PICTURES: The making of a public health time bomb: Just (don’t) add water

Reflections on the future of nursing in South Africa

Posted in: Latest

The Rural Health Advocacy Project (RHAP) recently hosted an online webinar focusing on social accountability in the nursing education. Professor Laetitia Rispel, SA Research chair on the Health Workforce at Wits, delivered the opening address on challenges facing the nursing profession. We publish an edited extract.

Reflections on the future of nursing in South Africa

COVID-19: How rural healthcare workers are preparing

Posted in: Latest

Spotlight asked Dr Lungile Hobe-Nxumalo, Chair of the Rural Doctors’ Association of Southern Africa, how rural healthcare facilities can prepare for the fight against COVID-19.

COVID-19: How rural healthcare workers are preparing

COVID19: What lockdown is like on the Wild Coast

Posted in: Spotlight

On the Eastern Cape’s Wild Coast community members and organisations are working together to prepare and protect against COVID-19. Spotlight spoke with people from four different villages to learn more.

COVID19: What lockdown is like on the Wild Coast

COVID-19: Lockdown responses from farm workers to sex workers to CSOs

Posted in: Latest

As the major social and economic disruption that will be caused by South Africa’s COVID-19 lockdown becomes apparent, civil society organisations caution that issues affecting the poor and marginalised could fall through the cracks.

COVID-19: Lockdown responses from farm workers to sex workers to CSOs

Innovative local App to help in COVID-19 response

Posted in: Latest

Vula Mobile, an innovative local mobile phone App developed to help with medical referrals, will now help to make sure medical supplies and equipment donated by Gift of the Givers goes where it is needed most.

Innovative local App to help in COVID-19 response

Democracy or farce as NHI hearings hits Piketberg

Posted in: Latest, NHI, Western Cape

If these public hearings on the NHI Bill is democracy in action – we are in trouble, writes Alicestine October.