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Minister suggests watchdog to regulate NHI compliance

Health Systems

Health Minister, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, says he plans to appoint a regulatory body that will ensure that hospitals comply with set requirements to be accredited as suitable facilities under the proposed National Health Insurance (NHI) system.

ayandamkhwanazi
October 18, 2010

Black blood no risk, after all

Health Systems

As the South African National Blood Service (SANBS) marked its fifth year of implementing its revised risk management model, which includes the use of black donors' blood, the organisation has proudly announced that there have been zero HIV transmissions emanating from its stock, apart from one person who received Hepatitis-infected blood.

ayandamkhwanazi
October 18, 2010

Bara psych unit ‘swamped’

Health Systems, Mental Health

A growing number of people with mental illnesses are placing a strain on Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, in Soweto, as there are fewer staff and facilities to serve them.

khopotsobodibe
October 15, 2010

Psych patients can adhere to ART Living with AIDS # 452

Health, Mental Health

In our last 'Living with AIDS' feature we brought you news of a specialised service that provides both AIDS and psychiatric treatment for mentally ill patients at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital. This week, we meet some of the clinic's patients who show that mentally ill patients can take their ARVs successfully.

khopotsobodibe
October 14, 2010

Medical doctors refuse to treat psychiatric patients

Mental Health

Psychiatrists at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital are concerned about the quality of care that their patients get. They report that as a discipline, Psychiatry is being undermined and that their patients suffer incredible stigma.

khopotsobodibe
October 14, 2010

Bara undermines psychiatric services

Mental Health

With a high patient load, the Psychiatric Unit at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital did not expect that it would be without a ward to admit new patients.

khopotsobodibe
October 13, 2010

Bara no place for psychiatric adolescents

Mental Health

A lack of space has forced psychiatrists at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital to accommodate adolescents as young as 13 in the same wards as adult psychiatric patients, often risking their safety.

khopotsobodibe
October 13, 2010

Rabies campaign continues

Health

Efforts to encourage communities to vaccinate their pets against rabies are continuing in most parts of Soweto. The past two months have seen Johannesburg residents in a frenzy after a rabies outbreak that has already claimed the lives of two young girls.

ayandamkhwanazi
October 11, 2010

There is hope for leukaemia patients ‘ says survivor

Gender Based Violence, Health

Leukaemia, a blood cancer once considered deadly, can now be treated and managed well but, like any other cancer, it requires intensive treatment early enough, coupled with a good support structure. A survivor, Zuki Mokwebo, shares her story.

ayandamkhwanazi
October 11, 2010

Serving an under-served population Living with AIDS # 451

Health, Mental Health

The saying that necessity is the mother of invention rings very true for Luthando Psychiatric HIV Clinic at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, a specialist service established two years ago to provide AIDS treatment to the hospital's mentally ill patients.

khopotsobodibe
October 7, 2010

Two hundred children die in SA every day Living with AIDS 450

Health, Health Systems

About 75 000 children under the age of five die in South Africa each year. This means that about 200 South African children die every day. HIV accounts for most of the deaths, and compared with countries of similar economies, South Africa is not doing well to care for its babies.

khopotsobodibe
September 30, 2010

Awareness needed to curb rabies

Health

It's estimated that about 55 000 people die of rabies in Africa and Asia every year and over half a million animals die as a result of rabies.

ayandamkhwanazi
September 28, 2010

Donors urged to continue their support Living with AIDS # 449

Health, Health Systems

As country leaders and donors met this week at the United Nations' head-quarters in New York to review their progress towards reaching the Millennium Development Goals, there were renewed calls for aid to strengthen Africa's response to AIDS.

khopotsobodibe
September 23, 2010

Mass testing of learners opposed

Health

Children's rights organisations and other civil society groups have urged the Health Department to stop its plans to go to schools to test learners for HIV.

khopotsobodibe
September 22, 2010

Call to end child deaths from HIV Living with AIDS # 448

Health

International donors and African governments have been called upon to commit financial resources for the elimination of HIV infection in children, which still remains high. In South Africa alone, AIDS-related child mortality is 45%.

khopotsobodibe
September 16, 2010

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