Health human rights activists will again remind African leaders that they are watching them when they stage a protest at the 2010 World Economic Forum on Africa meeting starting in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania today (WED).
Médecins Sans Frontières has expressed concern over calls to place limits on how much funding will be available for future rounds of proposals and/or to postpone the next request for proposals for Round 10. In a letter send to board delegations this week MSF calls on them to reject these calls.
On 13 April 2010 Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi delivered his budget speech in Parliament. He reiterated the efforts that the Department of Health is undertaking to improve health outcomes and meet the targets of the HIV/AIDS & STIs National Strategic Plan (2007-2011) in line with carrying out its 10 point plan to transform the health sector. He also committed South Africa to purchasing the lowest-price antiretroviral (ARV) medicines. This is a challenge to local companies to price their ARVs more competitively.
There has been a lot of talk about health system reform, including the National Health Insurance (NHI) system. But the voices of ordinary people who use the government clinics and hospitals every day are missing. The Black Sash, University of Cape Town Health Economics Unit and Health-e are hosting the first provincial health conference in Port Elizabeth to make sure the voices of communities are heard.
A large proportion of pregnant women who access antenatal care in South African clinics and hospitals are depressed which could pose a risk to their unborn babies. However, the Perinatal Mental Health Project in Cape Town, which offers counselling to mothers throughout their pregnancy, is playing a role by tackling depression in the initial stages of the pregnancy.
There are growing calls for a forensic audit into Khomanani, Government's flagship HIV prevention campaign which has cost the taxpayer millions of rand but has very little to show for it.
National Minister of Health Dr Aaron Motsoaledi announced that more facilities would be accredited to provide ARVs. Delivering his budget speech he said 519 facilities had already started providing ARV by 1 April but all 4,333 public health facilities should over time provide the life saving drugs.
The International Centre for Alcohol Policies (ICAP) recently launched a book to challenge excessive and harmful use of alcohol. The book, whose title is 'Working Together to Reduce Harmful Drinking', was launched in Johannesburg, recently.
As the Health Department and the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC) prepare to test 15 million South Africans for HIV in a year-long campaign starting next week, citizens are being urged to heed the call to know their status.
Massive provincial overspends have seen health facilities across South Africa running out of lifesaving drugs for anything from hypertension pills and paediatric vaccinations to tuberculosis and HIV treatment.
Johannesburg is the healthiest city in South Africa.
Cape Town, South Africa's unhealthiest city, contains the most smokers, heaviest drinkers, lowest levels of physical activity and the most overweight residents.
Deputy Health Minister Dr Molefi Sefularo died in a car accident in Pretoria West earlier on Monday. Shocked friends and colleagues have continued to send their messages expressing sadness and remembering his legacy.
Health Minister, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, has assured South Africans that all systems are in place to make the most ambitious HIV testing campaign the world has ever seen a success that it can be.
Lungi Langa, a 24 year old journalist was diagnosed with TB in October 2009. She recounts her arduous journey toward recovery in the form of a diary. Read part one.
KwaZulu-Natal Health MEC Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo visited fellow doctor Nerissa Pather at her home after seeing Health-e's 'Special Assignment' feature on her.
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