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South Africa News

South Africa conducts its first National TB Prevalence Survey 2017-2018

For several years South Africa’s National Department of Health (NDoH), has been planning to conduct its first National TB Prevalence Survey. The Survey aims to determine the true burden of TB disease through bacteriological assessment among the population aged 15 years and older. It will be implemented in 110 randomly selected clusters across the country and will consist of a sample size of 55 000 subjects. In partnership with the NDOH, the survey is being implemented by the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) and the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) over a period of 24 months. The WHO country office (WCO), in collaboration with WHO Headquarters (WHO HQ) has played a key role in the preparatory stages and implementation of the survey. This includes protocol and SOP development, resource mobilization, training and mentorship, as well as the coordination of partners.
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Communication Strategy for National Health Insurance

South Africa is moving towards universal health coverage (UHC) through the implementation of National Health Insurance (NHI) and establishment of a unified health system. The move is based on the principle of the Constitutional right of citizens to have access to quality healthcare services that are delivered equitably, affordably, efficiently, effectively and appropriately based on social solidarity, progressive universalism, equity and health as a public good and a social investment. Key to the implementation of NHI is a communication strategy to help stakeholders familiarize themselves with NHI. In order to understand the perceptions of various social groups on the National Health Insurance (NHI), the National Department of Health commissioned the Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER), Rhodes University to undertake focus group research as a specialized entity on communication and media engagement
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Peer review of WCO-South Africa end of biennium monitoring and reporting

The World Health Organization Country Office in South Africa organized the all staff peer review meeting on 14 December 2017 to cherish accomplishments of 2016-17 workplans, draw lessons from the challenges encountered and better execute the 2018-19 plans. After reviewing the output performance assessment the team revisited outputs which were partially achieved or not achieved. The office stands at 94% of the outputs achieved at the end of the biennium.
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Comparison of Private Hospital Prices in SADC countries with Hospital Prices in OECD...

Recent study by OECD concluded that private hospital prices in South Africa are expensive for South Africans. The study showed that price levels for private hospital services in South Africa are comparable to the levels observed across OECD countries and that they (price levels) are around the levels observed in countries with much higher GDP levels, such as France, Germany or the United Kingdom. The Board of Healthcare Funders (BHF) of Southern Africa has expressed interest in collaborating with WHO to replicate the study among the SADC countries. Experts on health financing have been consulted and they have agreed with WHO South Africa and BHF that the study is necessary in the SADC region.
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WHO commends South African parliament decision to pass tax bill on sugary drinks

The South African Parliament has taken a brave and powerful step towards promoting the health of the country’s citizens and reducing diet-related noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), such as diabetes, by passing a bill yesterday to implement a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages, according to Dr Rufaro Chatora, WHO’s Representative to South Africa.
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WHO participates in a forum on effective interventions to reduce harmful use of alco...

South Africa’s alcohol consumption rate is very high, with the country ranked as one of the top 10 most drinking nations in the world. Most education and awareness campaigns have been initiated to curb liquor abuse but have not had the kind of impact required. This, according to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), highlighted a need to debate and exchange knowledge and experiences on effective and impactful education and awareness campaigns to address the problem of liquor abuse in South Africa.

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WHO Ready to Assist SA Promote Health In Sustainable Development

22 January 2002  -- Johannesburg - The World Health Organization (WHO) is ready to assist South Africa in efforts to establish health at the centre of sustainable development initiatives, ahead of the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) to be held in Johannesburg in August.

This is the view of the Liaison Officer of the WHO's local office in Pretoria, Dr Welile Shasha, who said the Organization will stress the central role of health in the development process, and the linkages between health and poverty reduction in the months leading up to the WSSD.

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WHO welcomes South Africa's commitment to Traditional Medicine

Johannesburg, 30 March 2004 -- The World Health Organization (WHO) has welcomed the South African government's commitment to African Traditional Medicine in the health care delivery system.

Speaking on Tuesday at the African Traditional Medicine Conference in Johannesburg , WHO country representative, Dr Welile Shasha, said that official recognition and respect of traditional medicine was the right step towards integration into national health systems and services.

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South Africa: HIV Counseling and Testing figures increase by more than 500%

On the occasion to mark the World AIDS Day (December 1, 2010), the Deputy President Mr Kgalema Motlanthe and Minister of Health Dr Aaron Motsoaledi in their address to the nation in Mpumalanga Province commended South Africans who have heeded the “Presidential Call for Action” to stop the transmission of new infections by taking the simple step of taking a blood test to check for the presence of HIV infection in their bodies.

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South Africa’s Health Minister Unveils New TB diagnosis Technology

Marking World TB Day 2011, South Africa’s Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, gave South Africa's fight against TB a major boost when he unveiled a new TB diagnosis innovation, the GeneXpert machine. The machine tests for TB much faster and more accurately than microscopic tests that are used to diagnose the disease, which could take between three to five months to produce results. This new technology is able to complete TB testing in 2hrs. The equipment has been purchased to improve turn-around times in the testing of the human specimen of TB.

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