Child poverty in South Africa – more cash is needed to deal with the crisis
Researchers say that while the grant is a good poverty alleviation effort, the amount being given is the biggest flaw.
Determinants Of Health
Read More » Child poverty in South Africa – more cash is needed to deal with the crisis
J&J lifts patent on MDR-TB drug but it may be years before South Africa benefits
Pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson (J&J) recently announced that it would lift patents on the life drug bedaquiline. Bedaquiline is a key component in the cocktail of drugs used to treat multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) which develops when the TB bacteria…
Winterveldt community pestered by flies
Ten Morgan community members in Winterveldt, north of Pretoria, are up in arms. They have had to contend with a “fly infestation” for more than a month now. Residents say the pests come from the nearby poultry farm. Philly Khoza…
Joburg inner city buildings “not a place for people but for animals”
It’s a sunny midweek afternoon and the streets of downtown Johannesburg are buzzing with people, hooting taxis and hawkers on the pavements. On the corner of Klein and Koch street in Hillbrow, Health-e News meets Nelson Khethani, an old man…
Getting water is an arduous reality for Giyani resident
Access to water is a constitutional right in South Africa. Safe and readily available water is also important for public health. According to the World Health Organisation access to safe and adequate water supply is the cornerstone to preventing infections. Without enough water people are…
Water woes continue as residents wait for the completion of Giyani project
Elizabeth Masinge struggles to get the wheelbarrow over the rocky gravel road near her home in Bode Village, outside Giyani in Limpopo. The 69-year-old zig-zags across the road, trying hard to control the load: two 25-litre containers full of water. …
Mother faces daily struggle for survival as food prices skyrocket
Patricia Maluleke* is fraught with worry. The unemployed 29-year-old from Thohoyandou, in Limpopo, recently had a baby girl and it’s been a struggle. “My daughter is only four-months old, but I am already facing uncertainty whether I will be able…
Joburg’s worsening air quality is putting residents’ health at risk
In the past 30 days, Johannesburg’s air pollution has reached the highest level since 2018. According to the South African Air Quality Index, the average PM2.5 concentrations have been at 72 micrograms per cubic metre. This is almost five times…
Hammanskraal: Forced to drink tap water despite cholera risk
For years, residents of Hammanskraal, north of Pretoria, have complained about poor quality water and an unreliable water supply. For years, nothing has been done. This week, amidst a cholera outbreak that’s claimed the lives of 22 people, the Department…
Inequality Exacerbates Hypertension and Diabetes Burden
Better funding and an environment that makes it easier for people to make healthy choices are key for South Africa to overcome its hypertension and diabetes burdens. A recent study by the University of Stellenbosch points to the detrimental impact…
The risk of air pollution exposure during pregnancy
Pregnant women living in areas that are air pollution hotspots are at increased risk of giving birth to children with a cleft lip and palate (CLP). In a recent study, the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRP) examined cases of…
Water-stricken Limpopo residents face disease threat
As residents in the Seshego township in Limpopo continue to experience water cuts, the threat of contracting waterborne diseases has caused an increased sense of fear. Taps in the township, which falls under the Polokwane municipality, have been dry…
Potch residents, facilities left without water for weeks
Residents in the surrounding areas of Potchefstroom in the North West have had to live with little or no water for weeks. Load shedding has been identified as the most recent cause as water problems continue to plague the JB…
Jagersfontein: Dry, dark days ahead without water
The mining town of Jagersfontein in the Free State is facing dry, dark days ahead without water as the situation deteriorates. It is so bad that patients take buckets of water when visiting local clinics. Water reserves have run dry…
World Health Day: Focus on healthy humans, planet
As the globe marks World Health Day today, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said that urgent action is needed to keep humans and the planet healthy. It is estimated that more than 13 millions deaths globally each year are…