Toxicology backlog in SA delays burials, leaves grieving mother in limbo
South Africa's toxicology backlog dates as far back as 2007. With only three toxicology labs operational nationwide, the cases keep stacking up.
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Eye on crisis: KZN’s water woes could be fuelling pink eye outbreak
Insufficient water tankers and a lack of sustainable solutions exacerbate the "pink eye" outbreak in KZN.
Beyond blood sugar: Understanding the full picture of diabetes
Siyabonga Kwanele Zuma has been living with Type 1 diabetes for over 15 years. The 27-year-old from Howick in Kwa-Zulu Natal was first introduced to the chronic condition in 2007 when his older sister was diagnosed with it. A year later…
MP twins with rare skin disease spend their lives avoiding the sun
Mpumalanga twins Lwandile and Lwanele Mkhonza (16) were born with a rare genetic skin disorder, Xeroderma pigmentosum (XP), that makes them photosensitive or highly sensitive to sunlight. Lwandile and Lwanele can only walk outside in the afternoon, night or when…
Patients at 15 clinics in Moretele have to use pit latrines
Access to adequate sanitation continues to be a problem in South Africa. The latest census report states that thousands of South Africans are still without proper toilets. Almost four million households still use pit toilets, 2.1% use bucket toilets and 2.6% use…
How climate change might drive the next pandemic
The world has barely recovered from the devastation caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Now scientists are warning that the next pandemic will be offset by climate change. And policymakers must take decisive action to protect the most vulnerable communities. Over…
FS Health goes digital to improve services
The Free State Health Department is turning to digital innovations to streamline healthcare services and improve patient and healthcare outcomes. The province recently launched its digital health strategy with the focus on four key projects. The first project is telemedicine.…
27% of pregnant women in South Africa living with HIV – new survey
Findings from South Africa’s most recent Antenatal HIV Sentinel Survey show that more than a quarter (27.5%) of pregnant women in the country are living with HIV. This rate is still high, but it shows a decrease from the 30% prevalence recorded…
Drinking all day a hazardous pastime for rural grannies in Limpopo
“I have been drinking this home brewed beer for over two decades now and it has become a part of my life. I drink it everyday. If I go a day without drinking it my body does not feel right,…
HIV and dating: watch Yanga’s story of navigating the two
Some people fear sharing their HIV status with a partner or someone they want to date will lead to rejection. In a conversation about dating and living with HIV, Yanga Gceya who has been living with HIV for 2 years,…
Tackling climate change can improve public health in Africa – new report highlights how
Air pollution particularly affects children. About 56% of global air pollution-linked infant deaths occur in Africa.
NHI is closer to being law, there are many concerns not addressed
South Africa is marching closer to implementing universal health coverage in the form of the National Health Insurance (NHI) Scheme. This is after the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) voted this week in favour of the implementation of the bill. The Western Cape is…
Constant exposure to violence weighs heavily on South Africans’ mental health
” My father was only 35 years old when we lost him. He and his brother were shot in a robbery,” recalls Chantel Grodes. She grew up in Hanover Park on the Cape Flats. “When we got to the scene…
Heat stressed Mangaung residents without water for over a week
The South African Weather Service has advised people to drink a lot of water during the heatwave that’s hit the country. But this is a big ask of people in Mangaung in Bloemfontein who have been without water for over…
Giving South Africa’s disabled children the care they need
by Chantelle Kriel, CEO of Casa Caritas. Most children with disabilities require care beyond what parents or primary caregivers can provide. In South Africa, many parents with disabled children struggle to earn a basic living, let alone afford the optimal…