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Bhekisisa Centre for Health Journalism
@bhekisisa.org
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The award-winning Bhekisisa Centre for Health Journalism brings you solutions-based health analysis & features. Subscribe to our newsletter: http://bit.ly/20aLIdR
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Bhekisisa Centre for Health Journalism @bhekisisa.org · Oct 20
SA’s medicines regulator, SAHPRA will decide if #LEN — the twice-a-year anti-HIV jab — gets the green light by the end of October. If approved, roll-out starts Feb 2026 across 360 clinics via @miamalan.bsky.social. bhekisisa.org/health-news-...
The six-monthly anti-HIV jab could be in 360 clinics by February. Who should get the first doses? - Bhekisisa
One in ten clinics in South Africa — across 22 health districts in six provinces — will start to hand out a twice-a-year anti-HIV jab as early as February. The country’s medicines regulator, Sahpra,…
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Have you ever questioned why, despite the avalanche of self-help books and optimisation hacks, we remain embroiled in multiple global health crises?

Find out more in Anna-Maria van Niekerk's pick for our latest edition of #BhekisisaInYourInbox.

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Public health paradox
Welcome back to your desk. Here’s wishing you an easy transition back to work life. While you were out, we talked to more than a dozen experts in public health — including obesity, tobacco, artificial...
mailchi.mp
January 15, 2026 at 8:30 AM
bhekisisa.org
The #HIV prevention injection #lenacapavir rolls out in April — but only enough for 456 000 people. That's a fraction of the 173 000 new yearly infections.

Read what else experts say about the 2026 public health agenda.

bhekisisa.org/health-news-...
Here’s what’s on South Africa’s 2026 public health agenda - Bhekisisa
We talked to experts in obesity, tobacco, artificial intelligence, HIV, TB and the NHI to find out what we can expect — and what we can’t — this year.
bhekisisa.org
January 14, 2026 at 3:00 PM
bhekisisa.org
SA’s #PublicHealthAgenda in 2026: Breakthrough #HIVprevention, AI-powered TB screening and anti-obesity drugs.

But 9 court cases threaten the NHI and lifesaving meds cost more than most people earn.

Read more in today’s #BhekisisaInYourInbox.

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Public health paradox
Welcome back to your desk. Here’s wishing you an easy transition back to work life. While you were out, we talked to more than a dozen experts in public health — including obesity, tobacco, artificial...
mailchi.mp
January 14, 2026 at 2:29 PM
bhekisisa.org
SA’s #obesity treatment guidelines include recommendations for #GLP1 drugs like #Ozempic. But at R3 000-R6 000/month, they're out of reach for almost everyone.

Read what else is on the 2026 public health agenda.

bhekisisa.org/health-news-...
Here’s what’s on South Africa’s 2026 public health agenda - Bhekisisa
We talked to experts in obesity, tobacco, artificial intelligence, HIV, TB and the NHI to find out what we can expect — and what we can’t — this year.
bhekisisa.org
January 14, 2026 at 12:35 PM
bhekisisa.org
The Bhekisisa team is back from break on January 12th.

Wishing you all a safe and restful break.

Thank you for your support in 2025!

See you all in the new year!
December 12, 2025 at 1:00 PM
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Before you head out for the holidays, here's what kept you reading this year — from the 6-monthly anti-HIV jab roll-out to the funding cuts with their humanity intact. Our top reads + staff favourites from 2025. #LEN #TopReads2025

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What you were reading in 2025
Like the rest of the world, our editor-in-chief, Mia Malan, spent far too much time sucked into the drama that is the Trump administration — and so did you, if our top read stories are anything to go...
mailchi.mp
December 12, 2025 at 12:02 PM
bhekisisa.org
#Ketamine for #depression: medical breakthrough or dangerous shortcut? Our #HealthBeat investigation examined what's safe, what's legal, and why hype and desperation are driving patients to unproven treatments. #HealthBeat2025 bhekisisa.org/health-news-...
Bhekisisa’s top read stories and staff picks of 2025 - Bhekisisa
The top read stories this year were focused mainly on Trump’s funding cuts and the 6-monthly anti-HIV jab set to roll out next year. But our staff picks were more nuanced. Read what you most read and…
bhekisisa.org
December 12, 2025 at 11:00 AM
bhekisisa.org
"A beautiful piece" — our senior programme manager on Dr Indira Govender's night shift at a rural KZN clinic, where no ambulances just meant finding another way. One of our staff favourites from 2025. #TopReads2025 bhekisisa.org/health-news-...
Bhekisisa’s top read stories and staff picks of 2025 - Bhekisisa
The top read stories this year were focused mainly on Trump’s funding cuts and the 6-monthly anti-HIV jab set to roll out next year. But our staff picks were more nuanced. Read what you most read and…
bhekisisa.org
December 12, 2025 at 9:32 AM
bhekisisa.org
The US says it wants to grow the global market for the HIV prevention jab, #lenacapavir — yet it excluded #SouthAfrica, the world’s biggest market, from its funding list. @avac.org's Mitchell Warren says the move “undercuts the entire mission.” bhekisisa.org/health-news-...
When politics Trumps science: Why the US isn’t giving SA LEN - Bhekisisa
By shutting South Africa out of its overseas funding for the roll-out of the revolutionary six-monthly HIV prevention jab which could potentially end Aids, the Trump administration undercuts its own…
bhekisisa.org
December 11, 2025 at 1:30 PM
bhekisisa.org
SA has the strongest #HIV prevention infrastructure in the world — 98% of clinics offer a daily anti-HIV pill. Experts say excluding SA from #lenacapavir funding “makes no sense economically or epidemiologically.” So why is the US doing just that? bhekisisa.org/health-news-...
When politics Trumps science: Why the US isn’t giving SA LEN - Bhekisisa
By shutting South Africa out of its overseas funding for the roll-out of the revolutionary six-monthly HIV prevention jab which could potentially end Aids, the Trump administration undercuts its own…
bhekisisa.org
December 11, 2025 at 12:30 PM
bhekisisa.org
Read Rosaline Daniel's pick for today’s #BhekisisaInYourInbox, from Undark, where dream scientist Michelle Carr argues that our dreams and nightmares are essential pillars of who we are.

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Why the US isn’t giving SA LEN
In September, the US government announced that it would, through its international Aids programme, Pepfar, join the Global Fund to buy LEN for African countries with high HIV infection rates. The Trump...
mailchi.mp
December 11, 2025 at 11:30 AM
bhekisisa.org
SA starts rolling out the twice-yearly anti #HIV jab from April 1. But the US won’t fund any of our doses — despite SA having the highest number of new HIV infections globally. A decision driven more by politics than public health via @miamalan.bsky.social. bhekisisa.org/health-news-...
When politics Trumps science: Why the US isn’t giving SA LEN - Bhekisisa
By shutting South Africa out of its overseas funding for the roll-out of the revolutionary six-monthly HIV prevention jab which could potentially end Aids, the Trump administration undercuts its own…
bhekisisa.org
December 11, 2025 at 9:30 AM
bhekisisa.org
In today’s newsletter @miamalan.bsky.social asks: why is the #Trump government shutting out the world’s largest #LEN market from its overseas funding? mailchi.mp/bhekisisa.or...
December 11, 2025 at 8:45 AM
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From the devastating impact of Trump's HIV funding cuts to the mental health fallout of KZN's 2022 floods, these longreads take you deep into the frontlines of #PublicHealth in SA. #HealthJournalism

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Our 2025 editors’ story picks
With HIV funding cuts and the roll-out of lenacapavir, the new six-monthly anti-HIV injection, dominating much of our coverage in 2025, we wanted to make sure you didn’t miss some of our favourite essays...
mailchi.mp
December 8, 2025 at 1:30 PM
bhekisisa.org
From medical students grappling with death to rock climbing HIV researchers, some of our favourite reads of 2025 tell the stories that don't always make headlines but dig into the people on the frontlines of #PublicHealth. #EditorsPicks bhekisisa.org/health-news-...
Editors’ pick 2025: Our favourite essays and longform stories on public health in South Africa - Bhekisisa
We’ve put together a short list of our favourite essays and longform stories. These stories don't always make the headlines but they often take us deeper into the people and places on the frontlines…
bhekisisa.org
December 8, 2025 at 1:00 PM
bhekisisa.org
“Migrant workers return from Gulf countries with failed kidneys, victims of extreme temperatures, grueling labour, and a global system that leaves them unprotected.”

Find out in Nicole Ludolph’s pick, from Grist, for today’s #BhekisisaInYourInbox.

mailchi.mp/bhekisisa.or...
December 8, 2025 at 12:15 PM
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Three #MentalHealth breakdowns. One rural #KZN clinic. No ambulances. Indira Govender's essay about one night at work is a masterclass in ubuntu and the "unmeasured collective strength" of rural healthcare. #EditorsPick bhekisisa.org/health-news-...
Editors’ pick 2025: Our favourite essays and longform stories on public health in South Africa - Bhekisisa
We’ve put together a short list of our favourite essays and longform stories. These stories don't always make the headlines but they often take us deeper into the people and places on the frontlines…
bhekisisa.org
December 8, 2025 at 10:00 AM
bhekisisa.org
A medical student's essay about death, dying and broken hospitals made it into Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana's budget speech. Sarah Stein wrote what many health workers feel but can't say. #EditorsPicks #HealthJournalism bhekisisa.org/health-news-...
Editors’ pick 2025: Our favourite essays and longform stories on public health in South Africa - Bhekisisa
We’ve put together a short list of our favourite essays and longform stories. These stories don't always make the headlines but they often take us deeper into the people and places on the frontlines…
bhekisisa.org
December 8, 2025 at 7:17 AM
bhekisisa.org
On Thursday, the High Court ruled that the government and police have to stop vigilantes from blocking anyone seeking health services in Yeoville and Rosettenville Clinics in Johannesburg. Find out more in our latest edition of #BhekisisaInYourInbox. mailchi.mp/bhekisisa.or...
December 5, 2025 at 2:15 PM
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In the US, a nationwide movement is helping heal trauma by turning guns into garden tools. Read Anna-Maria van Niekerk’s pick for our latest #BhekisisaInYourInbox. mailchi.mp/bhekisisa.or...
December 5, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Reposted by Bhekisisa Centre for Health Journalism
miamalan.bsky.social
Can South Africa make its own #lenacapavir jabs? Find out about the country's plans from my latest @bhekisisa.org story. bhekisisa.org/health-news-...
SA wants to make its own six-monthly HIV prevention jabs by 2027. But there’s a hitch - Bhekisisa
The South African government says it could fill the potential gap in the number of doses it will need of the twice-yearly HIV prevention jab to end Aids by 2043 by getting a group of local pharmaceuti...
bhekisisa.org
December 3, 2025 at 9:31 AM
bhekisisa.org
Sharon Ekambaram from Lawyers for Human Rights says the blockades are fuelled by corruption, the cost of Zimbabwean passports, and institutionalised xenophobia — and clinics must step in. 🏥 #HealthBeat youtu.be/j8i7XsNFNMw?...
Courts orders clinics to get rid of xenophobic groups
What’s driving anti-immigrant healthcare blockades? Sharon Ekambaram from Lawyers for Human Rights says it's everything from the sky-high cost of Zimbabwean passports and corruption to South Africa’s…
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December 5, 2025 at 5:00 AM
bhekisisa.org
Judge Stuart Wilson: “Xenophobia is one of the greatest threats to democracy.” Clinics now have five days to remove vigilantes and ensure safe access for everyone. 🇿🇦 #RightToHealth #CourtOrder bhekisisa.org/health-news-...
BREAKING: Court orders government, police to block vigilantes from two clinics — and put up warnings at entrances - Bhekisisa
What’s driving anti-immigrant healthcare blockades? Sharon Ekambaram from Lawyers for Human Rights says it's everything from the sky-high cost of Zimbabwean passports and corruption to South Africa’s…
bhekisisa.org
December 4, 2025 at 3:30 PM
bhekisisa.org
BREAKING: The South Gauteng High Court has ordered the government and police to stop Operation Dudula from blocking foreign nationals at Yeoville and Rosettenville clinics — and to put up warning posters at all entrances. 🚨#HealthRights bhekisisa.org/health-news-...
BREAKING: Court orders government, police to block vigilantes from two clinics — and put up warnings at entrances - Bhekisisa
What’s driving anti-immigrant healthcare blockades? Sharon Ekambaram from Lawyers for Human Rights says it's everything from the sky-high cost of Zimbabwean passports and corruption to South Africa’s…
bhekisisa.org
December 4, 2025 at 2:27 PM
bhekisisa.org
How much does your dog contribute to climate change? Find out in Nicole Ludolph’s pick, from Grist, for today’s #BhekisisaInYourInbox.
mailchi.mp/bhekisisa.or...
December 2, 2025 at 4:01 PM