OurHealth is a project that trains and supports local activists and aspiring health journalists. Our citizen journalists (CJs) live in rural and poorly-covered areas in South Africa, and report on health issues affecting their communities.
Mpumalanga twins Lwandile and Lwanele Mkhonza (16) were born with a rare genetic skin disorder, Xeroderma pigmentosum (XP), that makes them photosensitive or highly sensitive to sunlight. Lwandile and Lwanele can only walk outside in the afternoon, night or when…
Access to adequate sanitation continues to be a problem in South Africa. The latest census report states that thousands of South Africans are still without proper toilets. Almost four million households still use pit toilets, 2.1% use bucket toilets and 2.6% use…
The Free State Health Department is turning to digital innovations to streamline healthcare services and improve patient and healthcare outcomes. The province recently launched its digital health strategy with the focus on four key projects. The first project is telemedicine.…
The South African Weather Service has advised people to drink a lot of water during the heatwave that’s hit the country. But this is a big ask of people in Mangaung in Bloemfontein who have been without water for over…
Poor maintenance and water shortages are causing further delays in finishing the construction of the theatre unit at the Boitumelo Hospital in the Free State according to Montseng Tsiu, chairperson of the provincial legislature committee on education, health and social…
In October 2017, Reokopetswe Molobi (33) from Ramaphosa village in Moretele Local Municipality, had a difficult and prolonged labour. “My pregnancy was great. I had no complications until my due date. I was admitted and spent three days in labour,”…
It’s been more than three weeks since Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality in the Free State collected refuse in the Bloemfontein inner city and surrounding areas. Some residents have resorted to using their own transport to collect the waste. The municipality says…
The Free State health department recently launched a programme to have medication for chronic conditions delivered to elderly patients’ homes. Deliveries will be made by health assistants or community health workers. These are usually community members who are trained in…
“Wheelchair breaker! Fatty boom boom!” These are the words hurled at 42-year-old Nomakhephu Nelane when she had to board the patient transport to transfer her from Pelonomi to Botshabelo Hospital in August 2023. She has kidney failure and it is…
South Africa has one of the most liberal abortion legislation in the world. But this has not translated to easy access to abortion. Many women still struggle to get the services. fWhen they do, they are faced with bad attitudes…
Twelve years back, the North West Department of Health started construction on a multi-million rand, state-of-the-art community health centre (CHC) in Mathibestad in the Moretele local municipality. The project was meant to be completed in 2015. But the unfinished building…
Ten Morgan community members in Winterveldt, north of Pretoria, are up in arms. They have had to contend with a “fly infestation” for more than a month now. Residents say the pests come from the nearby poultry farm. Philly Khoza…
It’s been three months since expectant mothers in Seutelong in Moretele, North West province have been able to get an ultrasound scan at Sediane clinic. Patients say they have repeatedly been told that the doctor is not available. The clinic…