No injuries reported after fire at National Hospital in Bloemfontein
The fire at National Hospital was quickly extinguished, but it left severe damage to the facility.
Read More » No injuries reported after fire at National Hospital in Bloemfontein
Our Health
OurHealth is a project that trains and supports local activists and aspiring health journalists. Our citizen journalists (CJs) live in rural and poorly-covered areas in South Africa, and report on health issues affecting their communities.
Free State doctor survives shooting, robbery at hospital living quarters
A doctor at Manapo Hospital in Phuthaditjhaba, Free State, was shot and wounded during a robbery in the doctors' living quarters.
Read More » Free State doctor survives shooting, robbery at hospital living quarters
Patients at Free State clinics say doctors only visit once a year
Communities are calling for the government to prioritise primary healthcare services and ensure that doctors are available in clinics.
Read More » Patients at Free State clinics say doctors only visit once a year 
Free State doctor planning to leave the country ‘because of NHI’
Many fear that the NHI will lead to a mass exodus of healthcare workers.
Read More » Free State doctor planning to leave the country ‘because of NHI’
Moretele clinics face chronic shortage of medicine
Clinics in Moretele in the North West province are facing a chronic shortage of essential medicines.
Read More » Moretele clinics face chronic shortage of medicine 
People are urged to get the flu jab but Free State clinics have no shots
The Free State is experiencing a rise in flu cases, prompting officials to urge vaccination. But some patients find it difficult to get flu vaccines at local clinics.
Read More » People are urged to get the flu jab but Free State clinics have no shots 
FS woman waits 4 years for medical negligence pay out after ‘out of court settlement’
Woman says despite being promised millions of rands in compensation for injuries sustained during surgery, she has yet to receive payment.
Read More » FS woman waits 4 years for medical negligence pay out after ‘out of court settlement’ 
No water no vote: Hammanskraal still doesn’t have clean drinking water a year after cholera outbreak
Despite promises from officials, including recent assurances from the water and sanitation minister, clean water remains elusive in Hammanskraal.
Read More » No water no vote: Hammanskraal still doesn’t have clean drinking water a year after cholera outbreak 
Kromkuil clinic in Moretele closed after heavy rains and floods
Recent heavy rains in Kromkuil in the North West caused extensive flooding, impacting essential services such as the local clinic, schools, and shops.
Read More » Kromkuil clinic in Moretele closed after heavy rains and floods 
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…
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.…
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…
No end in sight for construction at FS ‘ideal hospital’ in Kroonstad
Poor maintenance and water shortages are causing further delays in finishing the construction of the theatre unit at the Boitumelo Hospital in the Free State according to Montseng Tsiu, chairperson of the provincial legislature committee on education, health and social…
Raising a child with cerebral palsy: ‘I chose not to be another barrier in her life’
In October 2017, Reokopetswe Molobi (33) from Ramaphosa village in Moretele Local Municipality, had a difficult and prolonged labour. “My pregnancy was great. I had no complications until my due date. I was admitted and spent three days in labour,”…