Two Ekurhuleni clinics are battling to keep their doors open as water shortages continue to plague Gauteng. Both Tsakane Ext 10 Clinic and Sonto Thobela Clinic in Duduza, a township east of Nigel, have been battling since December…
Pregnant with her second child, 25-year-old Kea Selai hopes to raise her kids in an environment with access to health care services. Her wish, however, seems unobtainable as she and others living in Zone 1 in Thaba Nchu have…
People living with HIV in the Free State have raised their grievances via the Free State Department of Health’s multi-sectoral forum held last week. Several patients have exposed shocking truths regarding their treatment at clinics across the province. Tshepo Rabotapi,…
The ambitious 24-hour daily service, including weekends at Limpopo clinics and primary health centres (CHCs) is hitting a snag due to a shortage of nurses and ancillary staff. Community members and health workers’ unions have since called for action…
Pregnant women and non-South Africans are often denied free healthcare services, and the numbers are rising. This is according to SECTION27’s latest online publication, ‘ Free healthcare services in South Africa: A case for all mothers and children. This…
Although public healthcare in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) still has a long way to go, there are glimmers of hope for the province, as revealed in the latest edition of the Ritshidze report. At least 11 key issues were examined in…
With no end to load shedding in the foreseeable future in South Africa, the community of QwaQwa was hopeful when the procurement of generators was announced. But this glimmer of hope has turned into a tunnel of darkness following the…
In a country where at least one in three people will experience mental health problems, the cost of obtaining care can be a significant barrier to seeking treatment. The situation is worsened by the public healthcare system not prioritising mental…
Severe period pain is nothing new for 31-year-old Boitumelo Molete. But her pain wasn’t normal and in 2016, she was diagnosed with uterine fibroids. “I have always struggled with period pain and the duration of my period. I used to…
Health Minister Dr Joe Phaahla has announced that 37 public hospitals will be exempt from load shedding. The minister said the department is in talks with Eskom and local municipalities to increase the number of health facilities that will be…
A mom from Cape Town described her teenage daughter’s experience of endometriosis as a rollercoaster ride with the young girl experiencing harrowing levels of pain. Shuneen Adams, the mother of 19-year-old Alicia Van Wyk, shared their story which started when…
Young girls and women in rural areas face huge obstacles in accessing contraceptives due to ongoing stockouts across the country. It’s become so bad in some areas that some mentally prepare themselves for unplanned pregnancies. A recent report by the…
With the arrival of the Phelophepa train in Mokopane in Limpopo, residents have been able to overcome long queues, medicine stock-outs and a lack of privacy. The state-owned Transnet mobile clinic has provided free healthcare to thousands of South Africans…
As the globe marks World Patient Safety Day today, the National Health Ministry has called for the country’s healthcare professionals to avoid any form of negligence and, with that, the threat of litigation. Often, medical errors are underreported for fear…
Some members of rural communities in KwaZulu-Natal are convinced that a traditional beer known as Ijuba, can cure ulcers by drinking at least two glasses daily to ease the pain. They have taken to social media as well as word…