Limpopo – Limping behind in health care
Plagued by poverty, drought, inadequate access to basic services and huge inequities, Limpopo faces enormous hurdles in bringing health to its 5,8-million inhabitants.
Health
Read More » Limpopo – Limping behind in health care
Rape survivors’€™ pressured to drop charges
South Africa has one of the highest incidences of rape in the world. In many cases, rape survivors do not press charges because of pressure from friends and family. This is the story of 19-year old Zoë who was attacked and raped by her ex-boyfriend last year in December in Uitenhage.
Warning bells over drug-resistant TB
South Africa is among 10 hotspots of multi-drug resistant TB identified by the World Health Organisation and at Durban'€™s busiest TB treatment clinic, rates of MDR TB have more than doubled in the past three years.
ARVs bring hope to Pondoland
An unconventional approach to health provision at the Medicins Sans Frontieres first rural HIV/AIDS programme in Lusikisiki has yielded impressive results.
Standing together against rape
In Part Two of our focus on rape in the Eastern Cape we hear about the actions communities can take to break the silence about sexual offences and help police to prosecute suspects.
Worrying trend of child rapists
There appears to be an increase in child rape including cases involving
children raping other children.
When a child rapes
What motivates a five-year old to rape a two-year-old toddler? In Umtata and East London such incidents are becoming increasingly common. In the first six weeks of 2004, 40 cases of child rape by other children were reported at Umtata Sinawe Rape Crisis Centre. In the first of a two-part series, Health-e visits the rape crisis centres in Mdantsane and in Umtata.
Harmonising gender relationsLiving with AIDS #165
A new concept is gaining momentum in South Africa. After three years of debate and discussion a Charter for Sexual Rights has been adopted enshrining the rights of women to control their sexual and reproductive health. The Charter advocates mutual respect between men and women and it is hoped that this will prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS.
Managing medicine supply in the E Cape
Access to medicines is still a problem in some public hospitals and many clinics in the Eastern Cape. Despite the reassurance of better service for all by the Department of Health and the Batho Pele principle to put people first, this is not happening in many areas. Health-e travelled through the region and compiled this report.
Comment: Mbeki and AIDS
Interviewed by the national public broadcaster the weekend after his state of the nation address, President Thabo Mbeki still seemed determined to ignore and obfuscate the impact of HIV/AIDS on the country. Health-e examines his remarks.
Patients may choose
Government'€™s HIV and AIDS Care and Treatment Plan is not only about making antiretrovirals available in the public health sector for the first time. The programme also includes a strong focus on nutrition and traditional medicines. Health-e News Service asked Dr Nono Simelela, co-ordinator of the Plan, how the three components come together in the programme.
A dose of strong medicine
Cheaper drugs, certificates of need, social health insurance? Has government made sudden and major shifts in health policy?
Towards treatment
A major hurdle in the path towards the implementation of a national HIV and AIDS Care and Treatment Plan has been cleared. At a parliamentary briefing on Monday, the Minister of Health, Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, announced that tenders for drug procurement in preparation for the roll-out of the Plan are to be advertised this Friday, (13/02/04).
Towards treatment
A major hurdle in the path towards the implementation of a national HIV and AIDS Care and Treatment Plan has been cleared. At a parliamentary briefing on Monday, the Minister of Health, Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, announced that tenders for drug procurement in preparation for the roll-out of the Plan are to be advertised this Friday, (13/02/04).
Cheaper drugs: how it works
Why do South African consumers pay so much for prescription drugs? Health-e News Service follows the money and explains exactly who pockets what in the profit chain.