South Africa must address the social conditions that drive illness to reduce healthcare costs and improve health outcomes. Poverty, unemployment, food insecurity and poor housing affect people’s health long before they reach a clinic or hospital. Inadequate sanitation, unsafe communities, gender-based violence and limited access to education also increase the risk of illness. Ignoring these factors leads to more late…
Tag: Poverty
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South Africa’s TB Crisis Claims Over 500,000 Lives in Nine Years
More than half a million people in South Africa died from tuberculosis (TB) between 2015 and 2023. This is a staggering toll for a disease that has been treatable for decades. Delivering the state of TB in South Africa before Parliament, Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi confirmed the country continues to lose thousands of lives each year. This occurs despite…
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Child Hunger Worsens Despite Improved National Food Security
A troubling paradox has emerged from South Africa’s latest food security data: while the nation’s overall food security shows signs of recovery, the number of households with children experiencing hunger has significantly increased. This trend casts a dark shadow over the country’s progress and highlights a deepening crisis for its most vulnerable citizens. The SA Food Security Index 2025, which…