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Yoliswa Sobuwa

Is HIV the leading cause of death in south Africa?

What’s the leading cause of death in South Africa? That depends on who you ask.  According to health minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, HIV/AIDS is the biggest killer in our country. But the most recent mortality and causes of death report compiled by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) lists COVID-19 as the leading cause of death. This report was published earlier this year and looks at deaths reported in 2020. According to the Stats SA report tuberculosis (TB) was the leading cause of death between 2012-2018. In 2019 it was diabetes. Zanele Taylor Mtsweni, Stats SA’s principal statistician: Health and Vital Statistics tells Health-e News that the statistics presented in the mortality and causes of death reports are based solely on administrative records from death notification forms obtained from the Department of Home Affairs. “It is true that the most recent publication is from 2020 deaths and in the publication we

team of specialists consulting young patient

All you need to know about lodging complaints in healthcare facilities 

Everyone has the right to an environment that will ensure their health or well being is taken care of. And when these rights are violated it’s your right to complain.
A man speaking into a microphone

Navigating autism: the need for awareness and early intervention in South Africa

Specialists call for improved resources, awareness, and support to help individuals with autism reach their full potential.
AI generated image of blurry hospital hallway

Opinion: Why I re-joined a medical aid: Inequality gap in public hospitals will be the death of many South Africans

The Gauteng health department’s response to Tom London’s video is surprising because there have been countless reports about the dire state of the province’s hospitals.
woman playing with baby

The reality of FAS: a mother’s love and a lifetime of care for Tisha

In South Africa, where rates of Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders are among the highest in the world, there is an urgent need for awareness and prevention programmes to help women avoid alcohol during pregnancy and provide support for those already affected.

SAMRC president highlights dire state of South Africa’s health sector: calls for urgent reforms

The legacy of apartheid has resulted in an unequal distribution of resources between public and private sectors, leading to inadequate human resources and poor quality of care in the public sector.
mother holding baby in a hospital ward.

Baby with Goldenhar syndrome gets life-changing surgery

Baby Ortica, was born with Goldenhar syndrome, a rare congenital condition that affects the development of the skull, head, and face.

New groundbreaking drug-resistant TB regimen to be available next year

The new regimen involves a combination of four to five drugs taken over six months and offers a shorter, more accessible treatment option.
smartly dressed people unveiling a plaque

New burns unit at Baragwanath Hospital set to improve patient care, research and training

The upgrade is expected to enhance the hospital’s capacity to treat more patients from across Africa and improve the quality of care for burn victims.
Man signing a document

The Presidential Health Compact will be ‘meaningless’ without buy-in from all of society 

The health compact is intended to unite various sectors of society in addressing South Africa’s health challenges, but the lack of consensus highlights the ongoing divisions over the best approach to achieving universal health coverage.
an empty hospital bed.

Gauteng Health summoned to legislature for failing to pay R1 billion to suppliers

The department has a history of non-payment, which has previously disrupted services, such as halting surgeries at Leratong Regional Hospital.
View of woman checking glucose levels.

South Africa’s diabetes crisis: poor surveillance hampers effective response

Despite estimates from the International Diabetes Federation indicating that around 4.2 million South Africans live with diabetes, the true extent of the disease remains unclear due to a lack of accurate and comprehensive data.

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