Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, has paid tribute to the 102 595 nurses who lost their lives when they became the first line of defence to protect South Africans during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Let’s remember these fallen heroes and heroines with pride because they rolled up their sleeves and confronted the ever-mutating pandemic […]

The Department of Health has expressed concern at the increasing number of locally acquired indigenous cholera cases following the four new cholera cases that were recorded over the last week in Gauteng. “Whilst there is an ongoing risk for imported cases following travel from other African countries currently experiencing cholera outbreaks (especially Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia […]

It’s now more commonly known that alcohol and tobacco use make us ill. Less known is that just four industries account for at least one-third of global preventable deaths. These industries are: unhealthy processed food and drinks, fossil fuels, alcohol and tobacco. Collectively they cause 19 million deaths every year, according to a recent series […]

Hundreds of people gathered for the annual Trolley Race in support of Intellectual Disability Awareness Month on 22 March. Adults with mental disabilities from Khayelitsha, Mitchell’s Plain, Retreat and Athlone met at Rygate sports field in Athlone on Friday. The event was hosted by Cape Mental Health. Spirits were high as the trainees cheered on […]

If you hate Mondays, you’re most certainly in good company. After a couple of days off, many of us have difficulty settling back into our routines and work duties. You may even have dread and anxiety that seeps into the weekend in the form of “Sunday scaries”. You can’t always change your schedule or obligations […]

World TB Day was first commemorated on March 24th in 1882 when Professor Robert Koch announced in Berlin that he had discovered the microbial cause of tuberculosis (TB), Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Effective treatment for TB has been available since 1952. But it continues to be the world’s top cause of death from a single infectious disease. […]

During the height of the Covid pandemic, there was one outstanding leader holding political office in South Africa: Western Cape Premier Alan Winde. His messages were clear and science-based. He supported the provincial health department’s initiatives which involved making sure hospitals had the capacity to deal with the surges in Covid cases. Winde’s leadership is […]

It was meant to be an orphanage for vulnerable children in an impoverished community. So, why are more than one hundred children now being fed from a shack next to the multi-million rand property in Limpopo? Here’s what’s coming up on Carte Blanche this week. You can watch the show on Sunday 19 March in […]

Expectant mothers sleeping on chairs and hospital floors, crumbling infrastructure, management deficiencies, and a paediatric and child health facility with no blood bank, laboratory facility or intensive care unit (ICU). These are some of the damning findings contained in the report of the Health Ombudsman, Professor Malegapuru Makgoba, who was tasked with investigating allegations against […]

While the Western Cape’s two advanced surgery robots have only been in operation for a short time (acquired in October 2021), they have already demonstrated their value to surgeons at the province’s largest hospitals and the project may to be expanded. The Da Vinci Xi surgical systems have participated in 260 surgeries at Tygerberg and […]

Considering that South Africa is one of the highest per capita meat-consuming countries in Africa, one might be surprised to discover that there are 14 fully vegan restaurants in Cape Town alone. Humane Society International/Africa and ProVeg South Africa have partnered to create a My Plant-Based City map of Cape Town to highlight these restaurants, as well […]

Wild swimming has grown massively in popularity in recent times. Not only is swimming outdoors a pleasant way to enjoy the sunshine, fresh air and green leafy surroundings, it can also help to relieve stress and elevate our endorphins. This creates a sense of well-being as well as burning calories and exercising muscles. But along […]

Mental health problems among adults are an ever-increasing public health concern. These include depression, anxiety, and conditions associated with bad childhood experiences such as abuse. Several factors are known to influence the development of mental illness. These include anxiety, early adversity, socio-economic status, and some demographic characteristics such as where a person lives. In a […]

Becoming an adult often seems to mean leaving play behind. The term “adulting” refers to doing things that are joyless, boring and tiresome – the opposite of play. But we can embrace adulthood while still finding joy through play and being playful. You might not realise it, but when you swing in your chair, slip […]

Sleep may be the single biggest factor in maintaining a healthy brain and positive mental health. This is especially true if you are under the age of 20. What is interesting — and problematic — is that most of us live with a sleep debt: in essence we are not getting enough sleep, so we […]

Attitudes to mental health conditions are often influenced by matters of awareness and belief systems. Bipolar disorder is one of the conditions that’s frequently misunderstood and stigmatised. This is the case in Ghana, where bipolar is generally referred to as atenkabrane nsesae yaree – a condition characterised by extreme changes in mood. A recent study […]

The recent deaths of over 300 children in Africa and Asia have prompted the World Health Organization (WHO) to warn about the use of “substandard and falsified” medical products. The organisation called for more efforts to protect children from contaminated medicine.Toxicologists Winston Morgan and Shazma Bashir unpack the story. What caused the WHO to issue […]

South Africa’s Minister of Health, Dr Joe Phaahla, announced on Thursday, the first death linked to the recent cases of cholera detected in South Africa, as the number of laboratory-confirmed cases rises to five. Earlier this month the department had announced three cases of cholera identified in South Africa. The first cases were reported at […]

The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) has declared a measles outbreak in Cape Town after four cases were recorded from 24 January to 17 February 2023. “Even though all the lab-confirmed measles were investigated, no epidemiological link could be established,” the national public health institute said. However, according to the NICD, the cases meet […]

Pregnant mothers living in air pollution hotspots in South Africa risk bearing a child with a congenital birth anomaly; specifically orofacial cleft lip and palate (CLP). This is according to research done by the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) in partnership with surgeons, researchers and Operation Smile. The research was presented this month at […]

What makes you happy? Maybe it’s getting up early to see the sunrise, hanging out with family and friends on a weekend, or going for a dip in the sea. But what does science say about the things happy people do? We know that happy people tend to have strong relationships, and good physical health […]

80% of South African travellers choose to exercise while on holiday, according to new research from the travel-loyalty programme Marriott Bonvoy. The results also show that almost a third of those (32%) don’t normally work out, even when they’re at home. For many people, looking after their mental health is the biggest motivation behind working […]

South Africa is joining the global community to observe International Childhood Cancer Day to raise awareness and improve understanding of childhood cancer. International Childhood Cancer Day is observed annually across the world on February 15, with this year’s campaign observed under the #ThroughTheirHands theme, which focuses on paying tribute to the families and caregivers, and […]

Each year on February 10, the United Nations commemorates what probably sounds to many like a strange occasion: World Pulses Day. But, as a researcher focused on forgotten and underutilised legumes, I think the initiative is an important step towards food security. Getting people to eat more pulses can ultimately help achieve UN Sustainable Development […]

Queer people and sex workers are being treated with hostility at clinics and even denied services, according to a Ritshidze report launched on Monday. A survey by Ritshidze has found that sex workers, drug users and queer people are being treated badly at public health facilities. Some are even being denied services, the survey of […]