When you’re not feeling rested and refreshed after a night’s sleep, your thinking is fuzzy, your reaction time drops and you feel sluggish at work. But more and more research shows that sleeping poorly is a big public health worry. Today, on World Sleep Day, two experts explain why.
Linda Pretorius is Bhekisisa’s content editor. She has a PhD in biosystems from the University of Pretoria has been working as a science writer, editor and proofreader in the book industry and for academic journals over the past 15 years. At Bhekisisa she helps authors to shape and develop their stories to pack a punch.
- Linda Pretoriushttps://bhekisisa.org/author/linda-pretorius/April 25, 2024
- Linda Pretoriushttps://bhekisisa.org/author/linda-pretorius/March 27, 2024
- Linda Pretoriushttps://bhekisisa.org/author/linda-pretorius/January 23, 2024
- Linda Pretoriushttps://bhekisisa.org/author/linda-pretorius/January 19, 2024
Anxiety, guilt and anger. That’s how young people in 10 countries felt when asked how they feel about climate change. For South Africans violence, unemployment and HIV were bigger concerns but, as natural disasters increase so will the mental health problems they cause. Tanya Pampalone’s newsletter on the link between climate change and health launches today. Sign up for helpful news, resources and research.
Tanya Pampalone is Bhekisisa's business development consultant. Pampalone is the former managing editor of the Global Investigative Journalism Network, executive editor of the Mail & Guardian and head of partnerships and audience development for The Conversation Africa. Now a communications, strategy and fundraising consultant, she works with non-profit and mission-driven media groups in San Francisco and Johannesburg.
- Tanya Pampalonehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/tanya-pampalone/April 17, 2024
- Tanya Pampalonehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/tanya-pampalone/December 4, 2023
- Tanya Pampalonehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/tanya-pampalone/November 7, 2023
When e-cigarettes were first tested by cigarette smokers, there were complaints about them being too smooth. So propylene glycol was added to give users that harsh hit at the back of the throat they were used to. A lung doctor explains why the clouds of smoke that accompany vapes aren’t clean steam, but chemicals.
Yolanda Mdzeke is a multimedia reporter at Bhekisisa.
- Yolanda Mdzekehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/yolanda/April 11, 2024
- Yolanda Mdzekehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/yolanda/April 2, 2024
- Yolanda Mdzekehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/yolanda/March 8, 2024
- Yolanda Mdzekehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/yolanda/March 6, 2024
Thatego Mashabela is a multimedia producer at Bhekisisa.
- Thatego Mashabelahttps://bhekisisa.org/author/thategom/April 2, 2024
- Thatego Mashabelahttps://bhekisisa.org/author/thategom/March 5, 2024
- Thatego Mashabelahttps://bhekisisa.org/author/thategom/February 26, 2024
- Thatego Mashabelahttps://bhekisisa.org/author/thategom/January 30, 2024
Mohale Moloi worked at Bhekisisa as a television producer and health journalist from July 2021 to March 2024.
- Mohale Moloihttps://bhekisisa.org/author/mohale/April 11, 2024
- Mohale Moloihttps://bhekisisa.org/author/mohale/April 2, 2024
- Mohale Moloihttps://bhekisisa.org/author/mohale/March 8, 2024
- Mohale Moloihttps://bhekisisa.org/author/mohale/March 5, 2024
Cervical cancer affects almost 11 000 women a year in South Africa, leading to about 5 000 deaths. It starts with an infection by the human papillomavirus (HPV). If the infection is caught early enough, it can be treated to prevent cancer from developing in the first place. Doing a self-test for an HPV infection can help. Here’s how it works.
Mohale Moloi worked at Bhekisisa as a television producer and health journalist from July 2021 to March 2024.
- Mohale Moloihttps://bhekisisa.org/author/mohale/April 11, 2024
- Mohale Moloihttps://bhekisisa.org/author/mohale/April 2, 2024
- Mohale Moloihttps://bhekisisa.org/author/mohale/March 12, 2024
- Mohale Moloihttps://bhekisisa.org/author/mohale/March 5, 2024
Yolanda Mdzeke is a multimedia reporter at Bhekisisa.
- Yolanda Mdzekehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/yolanda/April 11, 2024
- Yolanda Mdzekehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/yolanda/April 2, 2024
- Yolanda Mdzekehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/yolanda/March 12, 2024
- Yolanda Mdzekehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/yolanda/March 6, 2024
Curious about how we run our operations? Meet Soley Crooks Chissano – our programme associate – the brains behind our newsletter, social media and events.
Yolanda Mdzeke is a multimedia reporter at Bhekisisa.
- Yolanda Mdzekehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/yolanda/April 11, 2024
- Yolanda Mdzekehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/yolanda/April 2, 2024
- Yolanda Mdzekehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/yolanda/March 12, 2024
- Yolanda Mdzekehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/yolanda/March 8, 2024
“We are not saying tobacco should be banned,” says Tshweu Mosedi, an anti-tobacco activist who wants to keep e-cigarettes away from kids. He supports the new Tobacco Bill that will restrict vape marketing and sales. The Health Beat team meets Mosedi in Katlehong on Joburg’s East Rand, where fruity flavours and flashy adverts have tricked youngsters and parents into believing that e-cigarettes are healthy.
Mohale Moloi worked at Bhekisisa as a television producer and health journalist from July 2021 to March 2024.
- Mohale Moloihttps://bhekisisa.org/author/mohale/April 11, 2024
- Mohale Moloihttps://bhekisisa.org/author/mohale/April 2, 2024
- Mohale Moloihttps://bhekisisa.org/author/mohale/March 12, 2024
- Mohale Moloihttps://bhekisisa.org/author/mohale/March 8, 2024
Yolanda Mdzeke is a multimedia reporter at Bhekisisa.
- Yolanda Mdzekehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/yolanda/April 11, 2024
- Yolanda Mdzekehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/yolanda/April 2, 2024
- Yolanda Mdzekehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/yolanda/March 12, 2024
- Yolanda Mdzekehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/yolanda/March 8, 2024
Thatego Mashabela is a multimedia producer at Bhekisisa.
- Thatego Mashabelahttps://bhekisisa.org/author/thategom/April 2, 2024
- Thatego Mashabelahttps://bhekisisa.org/author/thategom/March 12, 2024
- Thatego Mashabelahttps://bhekisisa.org/author/thategom/February 26, 2024
- Thatego Mashabelahttps://bhekisisa.org/author/thategom/January 30, 2024
About two-thirds of women and almost a third of men in South Africa are overweight or have obesity. It’s a new public health threat, which, if not acted on now, will have serious consequences for the wellbeing of the country. But rather than making it a game of blame and shame, there are two things that can be done right now.
Nomathemba Chandiwana is a research clinician with extensive experience in clinical trials at Ezintsha. Ezintsha is a research and policy unit based at the faculty of health sciences at Wits University.
- Nomathemba Chandiwanahttps://bhekisisa.org/author/nomathemba-chandiwana/December 1, 2021
Francois Venter is the head of Ezintsha. Ezintsha is a research and policy unit based at the faculty of health sciences at Wits University.
- Francois Venterhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/francois-venter/March 30, 2022
- Francois Venterhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/francois-venter/December 1, 2021
- Francois Venterhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/francois-venter/September 30, 2020
Dive into the world of “upper deckys” and “Zynbabwes”. Nicotine pouches have sparked a global sensation, hailed by some as the future of tobacco cessation. Yet, behind the catchy nicknames and promises of harm reduction lie the exploitation of legal loopholes and questionable science. What’s really the deal?
Christina Pitt is a health journalist at Bhekisisa.
- Christina Pitthttps://bhekisisa.org/author/christinapitt/April 3, 2024
- Christina Pitthttps://bhekisisa.org/author/christinapitt/January 29, 2024
- Christina Pitthttps://bhekisisa.org/author/christinapitt/October 20, 2023
- Christina Pitthttps://bhekisisa.org/author/christinapitt/October 4, 2023
At a conference towards the end of last year, some of the great names in African public healthcare shared their lessons about what can — and can’t — work on the continent, from setting up new hospitals to implementing national health insurance. Sean Christie was there.
Sean Christie is a freelance journalist and author.
- Sean Christiehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/seanchristie/January 17, 2024
- Sean Christiehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/seanchristie/November 3, 2023
- Sean Christiehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/seanchristie/September 26, 2023
- Sean Christiehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/seanchristie/August 16, 2023
Are e-cigarettes healthier than traditional smokes? The vaping and tobacco industries would have us believe that they are, but doctors and researchers are sceptical. We find out why young people are getting hooked on nicotine-enhanced fruity flavours — and break down the potentially deadly consequences.
Mia Malan is the founder and editor-in-chief of Bhekisisa. She has worked in newsrooms in Johannesburg, Nairobi and Washington, DC, winning more than 30 awards for her radio, print and television work.
- Mia Malanhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/mia/April 2, 2024
- Mia Malanhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/mia/February 6, 2024
- Mia Malanhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/mia/January 30, 2024
- Mia Malanhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/mia/December 11, 2023
Jessica Pitchford is Bhekisisa's TV and multimedia editor. She's been a journalist since the early nineties and has reported on some pivotal events in South Africa’s political history, such as the country’s transition to democracy and the work of the Truth & Reconciliation Commission.
- Jessica Pitchfordhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/jessica-pitchford/April 2, 2024
- Jessica Pitchfordhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/jessica-pitchford/February 9, 2024
- Jessica Pitchfordhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/jessica-pitchford/January 30, 2024
- Jessica Pitchfordhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/jessica-pitchford/December 1, 2023
Mohale Moloi worked at Bhekisisa as a television producer and health journalist from July 2021 to March 2024.
- Mohale Moloihttps://bhekisisa.org/author/mohale/April 11, 2024
- Mohale Moloihttps://bhekisisa.org/author/mohale/April 2, 2024
- Mohale Moloihttps://bhekisisa.org/author/mohale/March 12, 2024
- Mohale Moloihttps://bhekisisa.org/author/mohale/March 8, 2024
Yolanda Mdzeke is a multimedia reporter at Bhekisisa.
- Yolanda Mdzekehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/yolanda/April 11, 2024
- Yolanda Mdzekehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/yolanda/April 2, 2024
- Yolanda Mdzekehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/yolanda/March 12, 2024
- Yolanda Mdzekehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/yolanda/March 8, 2024
Thatego Mashabela is a multimedia producer at Bhekisisa.
- Thatego Mashabelahttps://bhekisisa.org/author/thategom/April 2, 2024
- Thatego Mashabelahttps://bhekisisa.org/author/thategom/March 12, 2024
- Thatego Mashabelahttps://bhekisisa.org/author/thategom/March 5, 2024
- Thatego Mashabelahttps://bhekisisa.org/author/thategom/January 30, 2024
- Ruan Visserhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/ruanv/April 2, 2024
- Ruan Visserhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/ruanv/January 30, 2024