Over the Easter weekend, South Africa became the first African country to impose an excise tax on sugary drinks, a move that has been welcomed by health experts but condemned as ‘nanny-ish’ by free marketeers.
There has been a lot of controversy surrounding the sugar tax which was officially implemented on April 1. The tax, equivalent to a levy of about 11 percent on can of coke, is aimed at tackling South Africa’s obesity epidemic and the diseases associated with it. Health-e News busted five common myths.
Emboldened by the recent Life Esidimeni constitutional damages award, a class action lawsuit has been filed against Tiger Brands and Enterprise Products on behalf of the listeriosis victims.
As the North West Health Department's financial crisis deepens, so hospital patients are bearing the brunt. Graeme Makam reports that patients at mental health facility Bophelong Hospital in Mahikeng to receive no meat with their meals as from this coming Saturday(31 March).
Parents should give their babies food with little or no salt to ensure that they don’t grow up with a taste for unhealthy salty food.
After losing her father due to suicide in 2010, Zanele Hlatshwayo (35) from Orlando West in Soweto turned to running as a way of easing her own pain, and is now set on using her athleticism to raise funds to help people suffering from depression and mental illness.
Despite the deadly listeriosis outbreak, tuck shops close to schools in Duduza are still serving school children ‘kotas’ with processed meat.
A breakthrough South African study may change the course of vaccine research for the world's number one infectious-disease killer: tuberculosis (TB). While a new vaccine has been heralded as the only hope, researchers have returned to an old vaccine discovered almost 100 years ago for answers.
Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi is that fiery blend of political activism, commitment to mission, and professional competence that will help to bring an end to tuberculosis (TB), writes TB Proof's Ingrid Schoeman ahead of World TB Day on Saturday.
The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority shows promise for more efficient review and approval of medical devices and medicines, writes PATH's Yolanda Moyo.
The decision of Former Deputy Chief Justice Dikgang Moseneke in the Life Esidimeni arbitration is an important landmark following more than two years of resistance, negotiation, confrontation, heart break and horror, writes Section27 attorney.
Following a litany of lies, "murderous" decisions, agonising deaths and torturous transfers, an amount of R1.2-million will now be paid to each of the families affected by the Gauteng Department of Health's decision to move mentally ill patients out of Life Esidimeni facilities.
South Africa is less than two weeks away from implementing the hard-won tax on sugary drinks. Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi said now that "we've got a foot in the door" he will strengthen the government's fight against the negative health impacts of sugar by pushing for a higher tax.
Community Healthcare Workers in Gauteng, despite having had long overdue back pay issues sorted out, say their struggles are not yet over.
One in five South African babies surveyed in two townships have the same levels of nicotine in their system as active smokers.
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