Transport costs lead to unnecessary death
KWA-ZULU NATAL – The unaffordable cost of traveling to her local clinic almost 20km away led to a 59-year-old woman defaulting on her medication and ultimately dying.
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Grim findings after health facilities inspections
An inspection report of over 600 public health facilities makes grim reading – both because many facilities have deep-rooted problems and because the report is riddled with mistakes
Disabled mom gets son’s grant after 4 years
After a four-year long struggle to receive a child grant for her son, a disabled mother in rural Limpopo has finally been paid something.
Addressing gay men’s HIV risk
Men who have sex with men (MSM) in Africa are twice as likely as the general population to be HIV positive, mostly because their health needs are not being met by clinics.
Activists don’t endorse new government HIV & TB plan
South Africa’s guide to addressing HIV and TB for the next five years does not have the support of key activists, who are also critical about how the plan was drawn up.
New health services a hit with Alex youth
The recent introduction of a youth-friendly service at Masakhane Clinic in Alexandra township has been heralded by many young people as a move that will encourage them to access public health care more often and easily.
SANBS blood banks dry up
The South African National Blood Service (SANBS) is facing a serious shortage of type O blood with just over a day and a half supply in its blood banks across the country. The blood donor organisation has appealed to citizens to make donations as a matter of urgency and become regular blood donors.
Blessers: A short cut to a short life
A production by the National Children’s Theatre brings to light the shocking normalisation and risks of the pervasive blesser-blessee phenomenon in South Africa writes Kim Harrisberg.
The hell suffered by patients at Holy Cross Hospital
Sick patients have been forced to leave their beds at the Holy Cross Hospital and head outside to a nearby stream to fetch their own water because taps in the government health facility ran dry.
A decade wait but still no psychiatric ward
It has been almost 10 years since the psychiatric ward in Tshilidzini Hospital outside of Thohoyandou in Limpopo was burnt down – and still it has not been restored or repaired.
A 12-year-old supports family of 8
“Right now what I need and want is not important,” said a 12-year-old boy who spends his days begging for money.
Township TB drive highlights disease dangers
SOWETO – A door-to-door campaign conducted at Jabulani Hostel in honour of TB awareness month revealed that while many residents are infected, a high number of them have been defaulting on their treatment.
Rape pregnant teen on suicide watch
A 17 year-old teenager has been on suicide watch after attempting to abort her 16-week pregnancy – believe to be the result of rape.
Patients stranded after clinic torched
Recent protest action by angry residents at Duduza in Ekurhuleni has left sick people in a vulnerable position after their local clinic was so badly damaged it can no longer function.
MP-MEC fight is good for Mpumalanga patients
A death threat, an angry phone call from an MEC – clearly, a parliamentary oversight visit to Mpumalanga touched raw nerves. But this is good news for patients, who have suffered enough in the province.