Living positively with HIV
Lusikisiki ' Nontlahla Boyizi, a 20-year-old woman from Ngobozana Village in the Eastern Cape, was shocked when she recently received the news that she was HIV positive.
Our Health
OurHealth is Health-e’s network of community journalists based in rural villages and townships across South Africa. We bring you grassroots reporting from the people who cover the communities they live in.
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Babies can be born free of mom’s HIV
OR Tambo. ' Many challenges prevent pregnant women from accessing Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) services despite a strong HIV management programme in the area.
Pathetic conditions at ‘new’ clinic
Lusikisiki. ' There is no running water, electricity or even ablution facilities at the 'new' Village Clinic in this rural town in the Eastern Cape.
E Cape medicine stock-outs critical
Lusikisiki ' Many clinics in the Eastern Cape are without essential drugs, according to HIV/AIDS adherence counsellors in the region.
’16 Days’ event empowers E Cape community
Lusikisiki ' Gender-based violence and crimes against children and the elderly are everyday occurrences in the Eastern Cape village of Mcobothini. In fact, crime statistics for the area show that more than half (55 percent) of all women and children living there fall victim to violence.
Granny struggles to make ends meet
Lusikisiki ' Life is tough for Mazitha Ngutyani, a 56-year-old grandmother living in Mcobothini village with her three grandchildren ' of which two are disabled.
Condoms still the best defense
Lusikisiki - Prevention is everyone's responsibility, whether you are HIV positive or negative. This was the key message of a recent campaign against teenage pregnancy held in Gabajana in the Eastern Cape by the Community Media Trust (CMT - Siyayinqoba Beat It), Treatment Action Campaign (TAC), the local AIDS council and other partners.
Male circumcision takes off in Pmb
Umgungundlovu - The Medical Male Circumcision campaign launched in December 2009 by His Majesty King Zwelithini took an impressive turn few months ago when Imbalenhle Clinic embarked on a campaign to educate, inform and perform circumcisions in partnership with local counselors, traditional organisers, school principals and the community at large.
Poor conditions at pre-school worrying
Vhembe ' The principal, teachers and parents of Matavhela pre-school recently spoke to OurHealth about the poor conditions at the school.
Local blood services low on stock
Bethlehem ' The South African National Blood Service (SANBS) is currently experiencing a severe blood shortage in all regions. This means lives are at stake. "One never knows what lies ahead and it would be tragic if a situation should arise that a life is lost because of the lack of blood," said SANBS marketing consultant Irene van Schalkwyk.
Free State Health MEC killed in car crash
Bethlehem - Free State MEC of Health Fundiswa "Fezi" Ngubentombi and a policeman were killed in a car accident on the N1 near Bloemfontein on December 1. Ngubentombi was on her way back from the opening of a day care center in QwaQwa in the Thabo Mofutsanyana district. President Jacob Zuma also attended the event.
No regular health services since 2006
Lusikisiki ' The community of Good Hope in the Eastern Cape has not had regular access to medicine and health services since 2006 when the Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) clinic there closed down.
E Cape community move against TB
East London: A three-day TB-awareness campaign was recently held at Duncan village in the Eastern Cape to educate the community about the symptoms and risk factors for the disease.
Walk to health
Lusikisiki ' Sport heroes joined villagers from this Eastern Cape community on a recent 10km walk to raise awareness for health.
No progress on new Eastern Cape clinic
Lusikisiki - There has been no development at the site where the Provincial Department of Health (DoH) was supposed to erect a temporary clinic in the place of the Village Clinic which was closed down at the end of October because of outstanding rent debt owed by the department.