© Copyright Bhekisisa Centre for Health Journalism | Privacy Policy | Terms and Conditions | PAIA Manual
Spreading false hope and endangering people’s lives: Why do so many believe in quacks?
Faith healers, psychics, celebrities and others sell their holy water, prayers, bracelets, vitamins and other gimmicks to vulnerable people.
Scientists have tools to fight HIV, but we need more
South Africa needs to increase its investment in science — if not, the country can’t beat HIV.
#AIDS2016: When last did you hear South African President Jacob Zuma say, ‘HIV’?
The country's political commitment to the fight against HIV cannot be judged solely by the accomplishments of a few government departments.
A junior doctor’s battle to keep death at bay for state patients
One in four South African medical students show signs of depression, and most doctors are at risk of burning out. Read about one state doctor’s road to hell and back again.
Curing a sick system: Doctors and nurses must speak out for patients and themselves
Medicine shouldn’t be the only thing on the books at our medical schools. Here are some tips for healthcare workers to handle abuse.
NHI: History repeats itself
Universal healthcare schemes traditionally have been met with fierce opposition.
In the future, a simple ring could protect you from HIV and unwanted pregnancies
A vaginal ring could one day offer women dual protection against HIV infection and unwanted pregnancies. Unless this happens.
Life Esidimeni should have fast-tracked – not frozen – SA’s mental health plans
The Life Esidimeni tragedy was the worst possible outcome for a move away from psychiatric care, but well-managed community-based mental health care is still a proven way to treat people’s mental illnesses with dignity.
People still have sex during outbreaks — forgetting it can be deadly
Planning for the pandemic has to include sexual and reproductive health services. If not, we risk saving women from the new coronavirus but leaving them to die during childbirth, unsafe abortions or at the hands of their partners.
This three-legged potjie doesn’t wobble. NHI lessons for deep rural South Africa
For years, this mother in the rural Eastern Cape had to travel across a river and walk for two hours to get to a clinic. Then, her community teamed up with a nonprofit and the provincial health department to change that. These days, the furthest she has to walk to get her newborn to a nurse is five minutes.
![[WATCH] Busted: Three myths about drug addiction](https://dev.bhekisisa.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/c1bb5976-00-bluetooth-the-myth-that-fooled-a-nation-218x150.jpeg "A safe retreat from the war on drugs")
A safe retreat from the war on drugs
The threat of punishment and discrimination doesn’t drive people to quit or avoid drugs, but rather to hide their use, including from their doctors. There is a better way, and jurisdictions like the US state of Oregon may have found it.
The forgotten form of TB that can carry on forever
Just like with COVID, there’s a long version of TB, called post-TB lung disease. This condition can emerge even after people with TB have finished their courses of treatment.
Funding crisis looms large
HIV counsellors play a vital role in Lesotho's health system, but the money is running out.
From Oscar to Diepsloot: Why do men become violent?
Bhekisisa and Media Hack Collective's 2021 #SayHerName project, researched what gender-based violence stories make it onto the news.The data backed up what we...
How to get ARVs delivered to your home in the rural Eastern Cape
In South Africa’s rural areas, people often face a long, arduous journey to get to a clinic where they can pick up their HIV medicines. Not taking the drugs regularly will mean that the person’s health suffers, which can make it even harder to make the trip. The Bulungula Incubator in the rural Eastern Cape has figured out how to set up a medicine pick-up point closer to people’s homes.
What will the future of COVID-19 testing look like?
Our COVID-19 response can take a leaf out of our HIV strategy book. For a start, to focus on testing people in the hardest hit districts and concentrate on vulnerable populations.