When President Donald Trump issued an executive order suspending all foreign aid to South Africa, in January this year, we immediately set about finding solutions. Among the most pressing was to ensure that our life saving HIV and AIDS programme continued to function.
In 1998, World Aids Day was commemorated for the first time on 1 December, and every year since that year this day has been dedicated to raising awareness about HIV and Aids, and in more recent years about the many strides we have made in fighting this deadly disease.
In the early years of the pandemic, countless lives were lost, and the world had very few answers or solutions to prevent what seemed like an unstoppable disease. For many years the commemoration of World Aids Day was dedicated to the lives lost and South Africa was one of the countries hardest hit.
The tragic cases of food-borne illnesses have brought to the fore pressing concerns over the health, safety and hygiene standards in community retail outlets. While these outlets provide a valuable service to communities, their inadequate hygiene practices often leave communities vulnerable to foodborne illnesses.
Many of us go through challenging periods in life and when these difficult times arise, it is crucial that we seek support from family and friends or a trained professional. The issue of mental health is oftentimes misunderstood and there is usually a stigma around it.
However, it is a reality of the fast-paced world that we live in and we must do more to create public awareness about mental health-related issues. October is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about mental health matters.
Very few people think of TB as a major health concern. Yet TB continues to be the top infectious killer worldwide, claiming over 1.5 million lives per year, and despite significant progress over the past few decades, it is still a major problem in South Africa.
Typically, in January as part of their new year’s resolutions many people embark on a healthier lifestyle journey involving exercise or balanced eating habits. For some this becomes a way of life that leads to a healthier and better-rounded person.
Alcohol and substance abuse affects communities across the world and the risks associated with them are well documented. The scourge of alcohol, drug and substance abuse knows no bounds and cuts across race, class and social barriers.
The world has come a long way since we first heard of HIV and Aids in the early eighties when the mysterious new disease emerged which quickly spread across the globe. It claimed many lives and became the leading cause of death in many areas.
Our 30 Years of Freedom is a stark reminder of South Africa’s history of racial discrimination and segregation was reinforced by all the pre 1994 laws and policies – which included it provision of health services. The segregation of health services was used to further disempower the black majority population.
