Health e News
By the numbers: The big picture:Globally, mental health challenges are among the leading causes of illness and disability in young people. In South Africa, these pressures are intensified by poverty, violence, and limited access to care. What they’re saying: “Young people are navigating a critical phase of human development during which they experience heightened vulnerability to environmental factors that shape their mental health,” said Prof. Carrie Brooke-Sumner, Specialist Scientist at the SAMRC Mental Health, Alcohol, SubstanceUse and Tobacco Research Unit (MASTRU). “In South Africa, the environmentalforces include exposure to the effects of poverty and violence.” The details: The gap: “The vast majority of young people with mental health problems do not seek help or receive care,” said Prof. Jason Bantjes, Director of MASTRU. “Sometimes this is a result of resource constraints and a scarcity of health professionals who are properly trained to identify and treat childhood psychiatricconditions. But stigma and a
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What’s new The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has released an interim report revealing that over R2 billion intended for healthcare services at Tembisa Hospital was misappropriated. The investigation, begun in September 2022, identified 207 service providers involved in 4,501 purchase orders, many tied to fraudulent procurement practices. How it happened Why it matters What They’re Saying In a press statement, the SIU said, “Key officials from the Gauteng Department of Health (GDOH) and Tembisa Hospital are accused of benefiting from corrupt payments that facilitated the irregular appointment of service providers, involving money laundering and fraud through fronting and the use of false supply chain management documentation.” Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi raised a moral question at a press briefing today. “The people who killed Babita, and who put Mr T (another whistleblower in government) are driving Lamborghinis. They are living a free life. Now, what type of country are we
What’s new Why it matters The catch What they’re saying “This scenario of opaque pricing, restrictive licensing and inadequate global targets will leave far too many people at continued risk of preventable HIV infections,” says Antonio Flores, Senior HIV/TB Advisor at MSF’s Southern Africa Medical Unit. “Generic manufacture of lenacapavir is essential to ensure this breakthrough HIV prevention option is not limited to a privileged few,” says Professor Saiqa Mullick, Director of Implementation Science at Wits RHI, University of the Witwatersrand. “By driving prices down and securing sustainable supply, generics will make six-monthly PrEP a real choice for the millions of people in great need in low- and middle-income countries.”-Health-e News
