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Abortions 101: Here’s which pills, tools and terms to know if you plan to...

The Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act makes abortion legal in South Africa. But how far along your pregnancy is determines whether you can get an abortion, what type of termination would be best for you and who should perform it. Abortion experts Melusi Dhlamini and Boitumelo Lewele explain the ins and outs of how abortions work in South Africa.

‘The toughest story I’ve covered’: How COVID-19 changed journalism

Three journalists and a scientist unpack how the coronavirus pandemic changed their jobs and the news landscape. Watch the discussion here.
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Explained: This is how advances in HIV medicines helped turn the tide on a...

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted access to services for HIV prevention and treatment — but before that great progress had been made in these areas. An ever-expanding toolkit of new interventions and medications has helped turn what was once a death sentence into a manageable chronic condition. Find out more.

Five tips for reporting on medical negligence – without getting into legal trouble yourself

Between understanding medical terminology and decoding legal documents, reporting on negligence cases can be complicated. A media lawyer shares her expert tips for journalists.
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When all else fails: Why people opt for backstreet abortions

Abortion is legal in South Africa. But bad treatment, stigma, a lack of privacy and long waiting periods for abortions at government clinics can drive people to illegal providers. A reproductive health researcher and an abortion doctor explain backroom abortions and what can be done to make it easier to go the safe route instead.

Mapping a virus: Tracking the spread of South Africa’s COVID-19 outbreak

In March 2020, South Africa confirmed its first case of COVID-19. Seven months later the country had just over 650 000 people who had tested positive for the new coronavirus. Here’s what our local epidemic has looked like over time.
Epidemiology 101: free online course for Africa-based journalists

Want to do a crash course in epidemiology? Here you go

Recordings and slides from the epidemiology 101 course for Africa-based journalists — Tools to navigate medical research and critically report on COVID-19.

Back to school — again. Can parents decide to keep their children out of...

Learning continues under lockdown level 3 as the South African school year resumes, again. These department of basic education directives tell you what to expect for the rest of the school year.
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Your guide to side-effects: What you can expect after a COVID jab

Vaccines are our most powerful tool to fight the COVID pandemic. Soon, South Africa will start with its mass roll-out. We take a look at what to expect when you get vaccinated.

Q&A: Six things you’d want to know about COVID jabs

South Africa is on the verge of rolling out COVID vaccines widely, but can we vaccinate children and pregnant women, and which jabs work against the 501Y.V2 variants identified in South Africa? We asked the epidemiologist and former ministerial advisory committee chairperson, Salim Adbool Karim.

What does COVID-19 mean for people with HIV and TB? Check out the data

Plus, why new, simpler TB prevention medication couldn't come at a better time for South Africa. Check out these resources from our latest webinar.

Asked and answered: Six things you need to know about the new COVID variant...

In December 2020, scientists announced that a new variant of the coronavirus had been identified in South Africa. Here's a look at what we've learnt in the past month about the new variant that is driving the country's second wave of infections.

Lockdown cheat sheet: Adjusted level 4 extended until 25 July

Gauteng is closed for the next two weeks. Gym sessions are over for now, as are alcohol sales and visits with your friends and family at home.

The jabs that could save us — an introduction to COVID vaccines for journos

We co-hosted an online course on COVID vaccine science for journalists. The course content was conceptualised by Bhekisisa and the Centre for Evidence-based Health Care...
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Why science & research can be hard to swallow: The giant hamburger of trust

The scientific process is like a hamburger. By examining the quality of each ingredient, you can see how good the end product is. You wouldn’t want mouldy bread or wilted lettuce ruining a perfectly good meal — and similarly you don’t want bad science ruining what could otherwise be a perfectly good vaccine. We look at whether Sputnik V could make it onto the menu.
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Welcome to the wonderful world of vaccination. Here’s why young people should get the...

Are you confused about COVID vaccines? A lot of young people are on the fence about whether they should get their jab or not. To put your mind at ease, we had an infectious diseases expert break it down.