Faith Mutizira
Cystic Fibrosis: Court battle looms over life saving drug
Rynah Du Plessis’s daily routine is more involved than most six-year-olds. Every day is a struggle to breathe. She was just 18 months old when she was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, a genetic disease that makes breathing difficult. Rynah…
SA launches first virtual angioedema centre in Africa
Janice Strydom, a Hereditary Angioedema (HAE) patient, spent six years in and out of emergency rooms, struggling to find a diagnosis for her recurrent throat swelling and closure. Despite consulting multiple doctors, she couldn’t find the information she needed…
Cholera: Third case confirmed in Gauteng
The Gauteng Department of Health confirmed a third case of cholera on Wednesday, but authorities say the risk of an outbreak remains low. The husband of one of the first two confirmed patients tested positive. The department says the…
SA’s vaccine production capacity boosted
South Africa’s vaccine manufacturing capacity has received a major boost with an R281 million grant from the European Union (EU) and the European Investment Bank (EIB). The funds will support the expansion of Biovac, Southern Africa’s only human vaccine manufacturer…
What health experts are keeping an eye on this year
Despite some shortcomings, the health sector is progressing, particularly in research and innovation. Health-e spoke to a few industry experts, about their health highlights of the past year, and gained insight into what they think should be priority focus…
Skin Cancer: Advice? Sunscreen is it!
As we prepare to observe skin cancer awareness from 1 December to 31 January 2023, and head into hotter summer days, it is important to remember the role that sunscreen plays in skin cancer prevention. Naniki Seboni, from Soweto,…
Concerns over health services as SANTACO strike hits Western Cape
 The Western Cape’s public health system is already experiencing the negative impact of a taxi strike that began on Monday. The provincial health department and the Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (DENOSA) have raised the alarm. DENOSA Communications…
How social anxiety can impact your day-to-day life
Every day is a struggle for Siyabonga*. After many months of suspecting something was wrong, social anxiety disorder (SAD) ticked all the boxes. The 29-year-old is a copywriter for an advertising agency based in Cape Town. His job demands a…
Exam season: Matriculants and students need support from all sides
As the country approaches exam season, school children, especially matriculants, need support to lessen the impact this high-pressure season has on their mental health. Key to this is addressing mental health struggles as early as possible to prevent students’ conditions…
Oral vs injectable contraceptives: Do your homework!
As teenage pregnancies continue to rise, adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) need to know which contraceptive – oral or injectable – is best for them. This is despite a shortage of injectable contraceptives in the country, as revealed in…
Cervical cancer: Don’t delay the screening process
As South Africa marks the end of cervical cancer awareness month, experts have urged women to get screened often and avoid becoming a statistic. The country has a high prevalence, with 1 in 42 women having a lifetime risk of…