The National Department of Health (NDoH) plans to reinvigorate its Covid-19 vaccination campaign, zooming in on booster doses. This is as a second case of the XBB.1.5 sub-variant was detected in the Western Cape. Department Spokesperson, Foster Mohale, said…
The National Department of Health has called for calm as pertussis (whooping cough) cases rise in South Africa. But the public is urged to ensure their children are vaccinated and seek medical attention if they suspect any symptoms. Over…
As we prepare to observe skin cancer awareness from 1 December to 31 January 2023, and head into hotter summer days, it is important to remember the role that sunscreen plays in skin cancer prevention. Naniki Seboni, from Soweto,…
Like the rest of the world, South Africa has embarked on urgent measles vaccination catch-up programmes to help minimise the spread of the disease post-COVID-19. Globally, measles vaccination has steadily declined since the pandemic’s beginning in 2020. This decline is…
As the world marks World Diabetes Day today, the South African Diabetes Alliance has called for an urgent diabetes education programme. This will help ensure people living with the chronic illness receive the best possible care and live long…
Limpopo Health MEC Dr Phophi Ramathuba has urged parents, guardians, and caregivers to remain vigilant as more measles cases have spread to other parts of the province. According to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases(NICD), the number of laboratory-confirmed cases…
Every day is a struggle for Siyabonga*. After many months of suspecting something was wrong, social anxiety disorder (SAD) ticked all the boxes. The 29-year-old is a copywriter for an advertising agency based in Cape Town. His job demands a…
Following an outbreak of measles cases in Limpopo, an expert from the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) has warned that similar outbreaks are likely to occur in other parts of the country. A surveillance team from the NICD has…
A new study has shown moderate increases in exercise can help prevent one in five cases of depression among women. Several global studies show the link between physical activity and mental well-being, but this is the first study of its kind done…
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…
The latest guidelines on managing the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STI) focus on the importance of screening, a shift that has been welcomed by experts. Published by the South African HIV Clinicians Society (SAHIVSOC) last month, the guidelines reflect…
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…
Parents of young children have been urged to ensure their kids’ vaccinations are up to date as cases of pertussis, known as whooping cough, rise rapidly in South Africa. 147 cases have been recorded since the start of 2022, with…
A distressed mother from the North West was left with more questions than answers after her nine-year-old son was diagnosed with bilharzia. It all started when Mokgadi Sebone* noticed blood stains on her son’s underpants. She immediately sat down with…
African men around the world are prone to a skin disorder called Acne Keloidalis Nuchae (AKN) which if left untreated, worsens causing scars and hair loss. Dermatologists said that AKN also affects people with curly or stiff hair. According to…