Bibi-Aisha Wadvalla

Nov 21, 2024 | health-e.org.za | Yoliswa Sobuwa |Bibi-Aisha Wadvalla

Since September, there’s been 890 reported cases of food-borne illnesses across all provinces. In the same period, 22 children lost their lives, allegedly due to food poisoning. Food-borne illnesses have since been declared a national disaster, with a government interdisciplinary task team responsible for the national response. Speaking at a media briefing on 21 November, Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Velenkosi Hlabisa, outlined the action plan.

Nov 20, 2024 | health-e.org.za | Bibi-Aisha Wadvalla |Yoliswa Sobuwa

Safe water, sanitation and hygiene are the cornerstones of public health – this was evident during the COVID-19 pandemic when hand washing was a big part of efforts to curb the spread of the disease. No one should go to a healthcare facility to get sick. Yet, hundreds of people face an increased risk of infection by seeking care in health facilities that lack basic necessities, including water, sanitation, and hygiene services.

Nov 19, 2024 | health-e.org.za | Bibi-Aisha Wadvalla |Yoliswa Sobuwa

Read Time: 8 minutesFor World Toilet Day, our community journalists, Molefi Sompane, Montsho Motlale and Sandile Mbili visited 31 primary health facilities and spoke to 313 patients across the Free State, Limpopo and KwaZulu Natal, assessing the state of sanitation. We’ve chosen to use pictures which won’t make readers queasy. This story was made possible with funding from OpenUp and Africa Data Hub. The visual and data graphics featured were created by the OpenUp team.

Nov 18, 2024 | health-e.org.za | Bibi-Aisha Wadvalla |Yoliswa Sobuwa

Michael Head, University of Southampton and Jessica Boxall, University of Southampton As the UN’s climate summit, Cop29, gets underway in Azerbaijan this week, the effect of climate change on human health is high on the agenda. And rightly so, amid some alarming emerging statistics. By the end of this century, climate change could be the cause of more than 3 million deaths per year (around five times as many annual deaths globally of HIV and Aids).

Nov 15, 2024 | health-e.org.za | Yoliswa Sobuwa |Bibi-Aisha Wadvalla |Ina Skosana |Molefi Sompane

Once considered rare in young people, diabetes has become an increasingly common health issue, especially in urban areas where high crime rates often limit outdoor play and physical activity for children. Socioeconomic conditions in urban settings have resulted in many children spending more time indoors playing with their gadgets while indulging in unhealthy snacks. This sedentary behaviour leads to a higher risk of obesity and related complications.