The South African National Treasury is reviewing critical funding requests from the Department of Health and the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC). This is to mitigate the severe financial impact of cuts imposed by the US President Donald Trump’s administration. The Treasury is weighing emergency funding to address these urgent needs. This consideration follows a significant blow to South…
Tag: Public Health
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Uncontrolled Hypertension Plagues Millions in SA
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, has emerged as a significant public health crisis in South Africa. It silently affects millions and places immense strain on the nation’s healthcare system. With over 8.2 million individuals reported to be living with the condition, the prevalence rate is staggering. It is around 45% among men and 48% among women over the age of…
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Global Health: Understanding the WHO Pandemic Accord
In a significant move for global health, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has adopted a new legally binding agreement. This is to bolster international preparedness for future pandemics. The World Health Assembly passed the accord in Geneva after three years of intense negotiations. It was met with applause from member countries. However, the absence of the United States, the WHO’s…
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The Rise in Obesity: Rethinking Our Response
The global rise in obesity, particularly among children and young people, is a pressing health concern. A recent study reveals that the proportion of young people (aged 5-24) living with obesity more than tripled from 2% in 1990 to over 6% by 2021. South Africa faces a particularly severe challenge. Specifically, 16% of children aged 6-18 are classified as “severely…
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SA’s HIV success story creates new challenges
South Africa’s groundbreaking success in providing antiretroviral treatment (ARVs) to millions has transformed HIV from a death sentence into a manageable chronic condition. Many benefit from this. SA’s HIV success story is evident, with roughly 6 million people now on ARVs in the public sector since the 2004 scale-up. This allows people living with HIV to live longer, healthier lives,…
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Antibiotic Resistance Claims Lives of Premature Babies
South Africa is facing a critical public health crisis as antibiotic resistance increasingly undermines life-saving treatments, particularly for vulnerable infants. Experts say that antibiotic-resistant infections are now the leading cause of neonatal mortality in the country. This is especially true among premature babies who are prone to hospital-acquired infections. Antibiotic resistance claims lives needlessly, highlighting the severity of the crisis.…
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HIV deaths in SA may be four times higher than reported
Concerns over the accuracy of South Africa’s official mortality statistics have been amplified by a recent South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) study. The study highlights the need to revisit HIV deaths in SA. This is given the potential discrepancies in reported data. The research suggests a dramatic undercounting of HIV-related deaths. These may be potentially four times higher than…
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NHI Advertising Campaign Proceeds Despite HIV Funding Shortfall
Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has confirmed that the Department of Health will proceed with its planned R65.9 million NHI advertising campaign. This decision comes despite facing a severe funding shortfall for critical HIV/AIDS programmes. The Minister cited the need to combat “irrational and negative propaganda” surrounding the NHI as the primary reason for continuing the campaign. HIV Funding Gap Sparks…
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African Pharmaceutical Procurement: A Path to Self-Sufficiency
A pooled system for African pharmaceutical procurement is crucial. Africa must reduce its dependence on imported medicines. Delegates at a G20 event reached this conclusion. The discussion highlighted Africa’s vulnerability in its supply chain. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed this. Recent US and European aid cuts emphasised this. The Need for African Pharmaceutical Procurement Africa’s lack of local production is a…
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Hiring Healthcare Professionals to Address Shortages
South Africa’s public health sector has received a potential boost. The National Health Council approved R1.78 billion. The funds are dedicated to hiring healthcare professionals. This offers hope to many unemployed health graduates. It also addresses the country’s critical staffing shortages. Hiring Healthcare Professionals to Address Gaps The NHC is the country’s top health decision-making body. It has earmarked the…
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HIV Funding Cuts and Their Impact on South Africa
US funding cuts for HIV relief could be devastating. South Africa may see a resurgence of the epidemic. A new study predicts many additional HIV infections. This could be between 150,000 and 295,000 by 2028. The study shows the impact of HIV funding cuts in South Africa. The National Department of Health commissioned the study. Researchers from UCT and Wits…
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Casual contact drives TB spread more than household exposure
A groundbreaking study conducted in KwaZulu-Natal suggests that casual community contact, rather than close household exposure, may be the primary driver of tuberculosis (TB) transmission. Findings from the CONTEXT study indicate that casual contact accounted for 49% of transmission links. In comparison, researchers linked only 9% of cases to the close contact traditionally blamed for spreading the disease. Prof Neel…