The scars of ‘manhood’
For Vusimuzi Sibanyoni, the quest to “prove his manhood” to friends at 14 years old has left him with scars he will carry for life after he struggled to cope with his HIV-positive diagnosis.
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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Female condoms sold illegally in Mpumalanga
Community tip-offs reveal government-provided female condoms for sale on the streets of Ermelo, Mpumalanga.
Woman allegedly dumps baby, faces criminal charges
A Grade 11 pupil faces criminal charges after neighbours allegedly discovered the woman’s dead baby in their yard.
Clinic tells sick woman to get taxi to hospital
Naome Chavhunga was dizzy and vomiting when her son called an ambulance. A day later, no ambulance had arrived. She managed to get to her local clinic but when nurses urgently referred her to hospital, emergency transport was still out of reach.
Few & far between: North West mobile clinics
Mobile clinics are meant to bring health services closer to communities, but some North West residents say irregular visits force them to rely on over-the-counter treatments - or make the long treks mobile clinics aim to prevent.
Woman fears banishment following still birth
A heartbroken woman who gave birth to a stillborn baby in early December fears her husband's family will banish her because of her inability to bear children.
Nurses down tools to fill holes
Nurses at Limpopo’s Matavhela Clinic in Vhembe put down their medical equipment and took up spades early in December to address some of the clinic’s maintenance issues.
Limpopo community recovers after heavy rain
Residents from Vhembe District’s Gundani village are struggling to recover after heavy December rains left some injured or homeless.
The other side of the female condom
Female condoms are not just for the ladies as some gay men in KaMsogwaba Township outside Nelspruit have found, but nearby clinic nurses are still not sold on the idea.
Poor living conditions leave toddler aching
One Hammanskraal family’s poor living conditions could be exacerbating their son’s chronic skin condition as they continue to wait for government housing.
Klerksdorp boy seeks bone marrow donor
One North West family is desperately seeking a bone marrow donor for their 8-year-old son as he battles a life-threatening blood disorder.
A child with a child
When young Nompumelelo Sithole* from a small farming town in Mpumalanga asked local clinic nurses for contraception, they told her to come back when she was 18 years old. Now 13 years old, Nompumelelo has an eight-month-old baby.
Man dies after being allegedly turned away by Free State hospital
Hospital staff recently discovered a man dead in his car after allegedly being turned away from Mofumahadi Manapo Mopeli Regional Hospital (MMMRH), according to the man’s family.
Holiday roadblocks used to raise drug awareness
Holiday roadblocks could be vehicles for change as Tshwane paired cracking down on drivers under the influence with raising awareness about the dangers of drugs.
Young girl’s dream interrupted
Citizen journalist Mtshana Mvlisi presents his second column on sex and teen pregnancy in Lusikisiki.