CAPE TOWN ' Late presentation by breast cancer patients in Africa remains the biggest challenge to reducing death rates, however if there is no accessible treatment there is no use in screening for cancer, experts told a meeting in Cape Town today.
OPINION: This International Women's Day, we have much to celebrate. In the past year alone, we have made tremendous strides in women's health and equality: the United Nations adopted a historic resolution to end female genital mutilation; global leaders convened at the London Summit on Family Planning to make US$2.6 billion in new financial pledges and a series of unparalleled policy commitments to family planning; and together, we celebrated the first-ever International Day of the Girl Child. By Jill Sheffield & Fred Sai
VHEMBE. ' A 19-year-old girl from Gumela village in Limpopo thought she was solving her problems by going for an abortion, but was actually causing more problems than she thought.
MGUNGUNDLOVU. - Challenge for Women is an organisation that empowers girls and women in their daily struggle against abuse.
BETHLEHEM. - A 17-year-old girl from Senekal in the Free State told OurHealth that having an illegal abortion was a 'trauma I will never forget'.
OPINION: I recently met a young woman named Mercy who had five children and was struggling to make ends meet. She had tried oral contraceptives to prevent pregnancy, but admitted that she often forgot to take the pill every day. She then tried injectable contraceptives, which required her to visit to the health centre every quarter, but she often did not have enough money for transport. In fact, she became pregnant with her fifth child after missing one injection. By Dr. Bashir Issak
VHEMBE. ' A group of women from this community volunteers their time and services at the local Matavhela Clinic without expecting anything in return.
Media Release: Sonke Gender Justice joins the growing number of South Africans expressing shock and outrage over the horrific gang rape, mutilation, and murder of 17-year old Anene Booysen. 'We send our condolences to her family and to the Bredasdorp community, and call on the authorities to investigate this crime and ensure that the perpetrators are punished to the full extent of the law,' says Sonke's chairperson Sisonke Msimang.
Vhembe. ' Grannies from the Mufulwi village in Limpopo are playing soccer to keep fit. This group of women aged between 50 and 75 years call themselves "Nyonyoloso ya vhaaluwa", which means 'excercise for elders'.
Cape Town ' Zero HIV infection rates will never be achieved unless tackling gender-based violence is part of addressing the epidemic, an expert told
HIV specialists, researchers and nurses, meeting at the first Southern African HIV Clinicians Society conference.
It is a handsome, energised young couple that meet me at a coffee shop in Claremont, Cape Town. Lee-Anne (28) orders an apple juice - she's careful of what she eats and drinks because she's 11 weeks pregnant. Ashton (27), orders the same, subtly encouraging his wife's dedication to her own health, and that of their child.
Despite knowing the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months of a child's life, many new mothers often encounter challenges that prevent them from breast-feeding.
About seven million South Africans suffer from some form of arthritis, with roughly three percent having a systemic and inflammatory form which affects more than the joints. This week, Health-e News Service visited Matilda Nkosi, a rheumatoid arthritis sufferer.
The benefits of medical male circumcision have been proven to also extend to women. It has been shown that female partners of men who are circumcised have a less risk of contracting the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), a sexually transmitted virus that causes cervical cancer.
Story by Sydney Makgai, an OurHealth citizen journalist reporting on health issues in the Tshwane district, Gauteng.
