healthcare

Doctors' organisations and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have warned that South Africa could face a mass exodus of doctors if the National Health Insurance (NHI) policy is implemented in its present format.

They have also warned about the cost, saying how it will be funded has not been made clear.

They were responding to the Health Department's white paper on the NHI - intended to bridge the gap between private and public healthcare.

During the Ministry of Health’s Sexual Reproductive Health training in collaboration with Super Buddies, health workers agreed to give condoms, contraceptives and other services to young people without any intimidation.

The aim of the training was to capacitate health workers on adolescent health and provision of youth friendly services, to increase access to these services.

The Japanese ambassador in Mozambique, Akira Mizutani, and representatives of the three NGOs - Fondazione Terre des Hommes, of Italy, OIKOS - Cooperation and Development of Portugal, and the Mozambican organisation Kulima - signed the financing agreements in Maputo.

85 337 dollars will be invested in a project implemented by Fondazione Terre des Hommes in Boane district, in Maputo province, which seeks to improve education, water supply and sanitation in four schools.

Nationwide stay away by doctors’ hits hospitals, with all but the most critically ill are turned away.
 
The doctors’ strike began two weeks ago and is now in full swing with senior doctors having joined as well as doctors in rural district hospitals.
 
In a country struggling with an economic slowdown, the strike has hit the poorest the hardest and negotiations between the doctors and the government have not been successful.
 

The Department of Health says it is working on a plan to improve the clinics in South Africa.

The department says a team of experts from various departments, including the private sector, are in the process of designing a model for an ideal clinic which can be replicated across the country.

This was revealed by Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi at the opening of the three-day Hospital Association of South Africa conference in Johannesburg this week.

Economists, government officials and health experts agree that Zimbabwe’s deepening economic crisis is severely affecting the government’s ability to fund public health delivery and restricting poor people access to healthcare.

The economy showed signs of modest improvement under the government of national unity (GNU) between 2009 and 2013, however industry has been performing poorly and company closures have increased since the Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) won the general elections in July 2013.

The Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) is calling for the suspension of the Free State's health MEC and for a full disclosure of the province's health finances.

In a press statement, the organisation points out that, "Health MEC Dr Benny Malakoane must be suspended with immediate effect with an independent investigation into his conduct and failure to act [over problems in the health sector]."

World Vision Malawi handed over a community health facility worth K12.5 million in Msambanyali, Malawi.

As citizens commemorated Child Health Week, the facility serves as a response to an outcry from members of the community who experienced challenges due to lack of health facilities in the area, in which the nearest health facility is at a distance of over 10 kilometres.

Speaking during the handover ceremony, World Vision project manager for Njema area, Caroline Kajawo, stated that the organisation aims to improve the welfare of children across the country.