No reason to skip a dose
HIV and tuberculosis remain leading causes of death in South Africa. Now, Anova Health Institute’s Dr Khanyi Tshabalala responds to the top five reasons tuberculosis (TB) and HIV patients give for skipping their daily doses.
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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Tshwane community ponders 24-hour clinic
Soshanguve residents outside Pretoria are demanding a local clinic expand its services and operate 24 hours a day to meet the community’s need.
Family blames themselves, hospital for deadly delay
Shortly after being diagnosed with cervical cancer, an elderly Tshwane woman has lost her fight with the disease – and left her family blaming themselves and the health system.
Deaf school allegedly turns away speech-impaired child
Nokuthula Mthinsilane, 7, was born unable to speak. Now, her parents are battling to get her into school and the education she deserves.
KZN patients travel farther for better care
The communities of Mafunze and Maswazini say they would ranther pay more to travel to a nearby clinic than use the one in nearest their communities.
Family lives side-by-side with raw sewage for years
Members of the Chaba family have become prisoners in their own home - trapped by years of raw sewage collecting in their East Rand yard.
Tshwane women sound off on new contraceptive
OurHealth talks to two Tshwane women about what they love and hate about the country’s newest birth control option.
EMS strike leaves Tshwane patients stranded
When Nomhle Matshaya tried to call an ambulance for a sick patient this week, she was on hold for one hour and 15 minutes before she gave up. The community health care worker at Hammanskraal’s Refentse Drop-in Centre was only one of many likely affected by an on-going Emergency Medical Services (EMS) strike.
Cervical cancer steals sister too soon
After the passing of her sister, Sandra Madonsela* says she her sister might still be alive if she had gone for cervical cancer screening sooner.
Tshwane family welcomes missing daughter home
Sophy Maringa had high hopes for the granddaughter she lost three years ago. The woman who returned to her this year in her granddaughter’s place is almost unrecognisable, she says.
Soshanguve welcomes new park
As South Africa battles a growing obesity problem, Soshanguve Block M outside Pretoria has welcomed a new park that may help get community members outdoors and exercising.
Learners cheer for new loos
Learners at one Vhembe schools are happy to report their school toilets are fixed following an OurHealth visit.
Limpopo mental health patients demand equal rights
Patients using local mental health services in Limpopo’s Tshiombo village say they deserve to be treated with respect while accessing treatment.
Nowhere to go but relapse?
Gauteng’s lack of halfway houses and after rehabilitation care could be setting some former drug addicts up to fail, according to social worker Goddard Ngobeni who works in Winterveld outside of Pretoria.
Amnesty International launches campaign over Mpumalanga maternal deaths
Amnesty International has launched an online, write-in campaign targeting Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Pravin Gordhan. The campaign is aimed at improving allegedly deadly service delivery problems Amnesty International says are contributing to maternal deaths in Mpumalanga.