With maternal health being one of the priority areas for health improvement, it'€™s important for primary health care facilities to improve care for pregnant mothers. The Witkoppen Health and Welfare Centre in Fourways, north of Johannesburg, says it'€™s trying to improve on these health indicators.
The lack of proper sanitation, poor access to health services, malnutrition and HIV/AIDS are all contributing factors to early childhood deaths. Maternal deaths are also increasing, mainly due to HIV infection. This is according to studies done by the United Nations Children'€™s Fund (UNICEF).
A Grade Seven learner and her mother have laid a complaint with the Gauteng Department of Education after claims of discrimination of the learner by fellow learners and teachers at a Pretoria school. They are accusing them of discrimination because the girl'€™s mother is living openly with HIV.
Having survived cervical cancer Emily Monchojana now spends her time educating women in her community about the importance of looking after the health of their cervix to help protect them from the cancer. Ayanda Mkhwanazi of Health-e News Service, caught up with her during one of these educational sessions.
INTRO: It is predicted that the effects of climate change will cause serious health impacts on society. According to researchers, everyone needs to take responsibility to change their behaviour so that the impacts of climate change can be lessened.
The city of Jo'€™burg says climate change is no longer a possibility, but a reality. It has urged communities to partner with it to protect the environment and to alleviate the impacts of climate change
The South African Medical Devices Industry (SAMED) says it is disappointed that the Gauteng Department of Health has failed to live up to its commitment to pay outstanding debt owed to its members by the end of last month.
The most frequently cited study of HIV in the Muslim community found that more than two and a half percent of Muslim men were HIV-positive. That is significantly lower than South Africa'€™s general population, but, enough to worry leaders in the community. Health-e News Service visited a centre that'€™s reaching out to support women and children affected by HIV.
There is only one way to get well after being diagnosed with Multi-Drug Resistant (MDR) TB. It is to stay positive and to adhere to taking the prescribed treatment, says Siphamandla Nkukayi, an in-patient at Sizwe Hospital. Ayanda Mkhwanazi of Health-e News Service paid him a visit.
The Gauteng Health Department says decentralising TB treatment will help address the number of treatment defaulters the province currently has.
The National Health Department says it is working on building stronger relations with the private sector to address issues of trust. It says it is important for the public and private health sectors to work together to build an effective National Health Insurance (NHI) system.
Newer and more effective drugs to be used in the treatment of HIV/AIDS. This came out of a gathering in Cape Town where delegates discussed how best to improve health care in Africa.
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