R6.65-billion — or $350-million. That’s how much South Africa receives in annual funding from the US government’s National Institutes of Health. If the country loses all of its NIH funding, the country could lose 70% of its medical research capacity, Bhekisisa’s data team’s sums reveal.
Linda Pretorius is a consultant for Bhekisisa’s data desk.
- Linda Pretoriushttps://bhekisisa.org/author/linda-pretorius/June 11, 2025
- Linda Pretoriushttps://bhekisisa.org/author/linda-pretorius/May 12, 2025
- Linda Pretoriushttps://bhekisisa.org/author/linda-pretorius/March 19, 2025
- Linda Pretoriushttps://bhekisisa.org/author/linda-pretorius/March 3, 2025
Jacques Verryn is a software developer and independent consultant, with special interest in data analysis and visualisation.
- Jacques Verrynhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/jacquesv/June 11, 2025
- Jacques Verrynhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/jacquesv/May 12, 2025
- Jacques Verrynhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/jacquesv/March 19, 2025
- Jacques Verrynhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/jacquesv/March 3, 2025
Instead of the Aids denialism of decades past, it’s US funding cuts that could lead to up to 300 000 more HIV infections in the next four years. Activists like Sisonke Msimang say the past has some answers for the current fight.
Ida Jooste is a seasoned health and science journalist. She has worked in newsrooms in Durban, Johannesburg and Nairobi, winning more than 20 national and international media awards for her work. An international trainer and speaker, she led a global COVID-19 media initiative and provides journalist mentoring in all areas of health science.
- Ida Joostehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/idaj/July 14, 2025
- Ida Joostehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/idaj/May 23, 2025
- Ida Joostehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/idaj/March 4, 2025
- Ida Joostehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/idaj/February 13, 2025
The health department is convinced that all US government funding for HIV and TB projects in SA will end by September 30. The department has calculated that it needs R2.82-billion to plug the gap for the rest of the financial year after the Trump administration cut more than half of such support to the country in February. But these funds have yet to be raised, and the stakes are high.
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/July 15, 2025
- Mia Malanhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/mia/July 2, 2025
- Mia Malanhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/mia/June 5, 2025
- Mia Malanhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/mia/May 28, 2025
Up to 16% of school-aged children and 4% of adults have attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, show international studies. But in South Africa, the proportion of people with ADHD who use government health facilities is as low as 2% because the public sector doesn’t have enough of the right health workers to diagnose people.
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/July 15, 2025
- Mia Malanhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/mia/July 2, 2025
- Mia Malanhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/mia/June 5, 2025
- Mia Malanhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/mia/May 28, 2025
Danny Booysen is a freelance audio technical producer and has over 30 years of experience in the broadcast industry.
- Danny Booysenhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/danny-booysen/March 6, 2025
- Danny Booysenhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/danny-booysen/February 26, 2025
- Danny Booysenhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/danny-booysen/February 11, 2025
- Danny Booysenhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/danny-booysen/January 30, 2025
Nicole Ludolph is Bhekisisa's engagement producer.
- Nicole Ludolphhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/nicoleludolph/December 5, 2024
- Nicole Ludolphhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/nicoleludolph/February 19, 2024
- Nicole Ludolphhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/nicoleludolph/February 6, 2024
- Nicole Ludolphhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/nicoleludolph/December 13, 2023
In her nearly 30 years in public healthcare, Rolene Wagner has risen to lead an institution that many had given up on: the debt-wracked, conflict-ridden Eastern Cape department of health. Her upbringing has custom-suited her to the task.
Sean Christie is a freelance journalist and author.
- Sean Christiehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/seanchristie/January 13, 2025
- Sean Christiehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/seanchristie/October 22, 2024
- Sean Christiehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/seanchristie/August 19, 2024
A modelling study shows the six-monthly anti-HIV jab, lenacapavir, could end Aids in SA by 2032 — but only if between two and four million HIV-negative people in the country would need to use the jab every year over the next eight years. How much should we pay for it?
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/July 15, 2025
- Mia Malanhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/mia/July 2, 2025
- Mia Malanhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/mia/June 5, 2025
- Mia Malanhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/mia/May 28, 2025
What’s wrong about blaming teenage pregnancy on bad girls, bad families and bad men? It ignores the system that got them there in the first place.
Zoe Duby is a socio-behavioural researcher with the health systems research unit at the Medical Research Council in Cape Town and an honorary research associate with University of Cape Town’s school of public health. This study was funded by The Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria, through the Aids Foundation South Africa.
- This author does not have any more posts.
Every year, hundreds of newborns and foetuses are found dumped in the open veld, dumps and public toilets. Abandonment is often because of a lack of options. When mothers feel desperate, they may choose to dispose of their newborns. While it’s difficul …
Anna-Maria van Niekerk is Bhekisisa’s news editor. She joined the centre after six years as the managing editor of the investigative television show, Carte Blanche. Anna-Maria has an extensive career in in-depth health and human rights reporting and has been named both the Vodacom Journalist (2002) and Discovery Health Journalist of the Year (2010) for exposés on the selling of human body parts for muti in Limpopo and the devastating consequences of HIV denialism.
- Anna-Maria van Niekerkhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/anna-m/July 2, 2025
- Anna-Maria van Niekerkhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/anna-m/May 28, 2025
- Anna-Maria van Niekerkhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/anna-m/April 30, 2025
- Anna-Maria van Niekerkhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/anna-m/March 21, 2025
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/July 15, 2025
- Mia Malanhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/mia/July 2, 2025
- Mia Malanhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/mia/June 5, 2025
- Mia Malanhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/mia/May 28, 2025
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/July 2, 2025
- Jessica Pitchfordhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/jessica-pitchford/May 28, 2025
- Jessica Pitchfordhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/jessica-pitchford/April 30, 2025
- Jessica Pitchfordhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/jessica-pitchford/March 21, 2025
Yolanda Mdzeke was a junior multimedia reporter and multimedia reporter at Bhekisisa between March 2021 and June 2025.
- Yolanda Mdzekehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/yolanda/July 2, 2025
- Yolanda Mdzekehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/yolanda/May 28, 2025
- Yolanda Mdzekehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/yolanda/April 30, 2025
- Yolanda Mdzekehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/yolanda/March 21, 2025
Thatego Mashabela is a multimedia producer at Bhekisisa.
- Thatego Mashabelahttps://bhekisisa.org/author/thategom/July 2, 2025
- Thatego Mashabelahttps://bhekisisa.org/author/thategom/May 28, 2025
- Thatego Mashabelahttps://bhekisisa.org/author/thategom/April 30, 2025
- Thatego Mashabelahttps://bhekisisa.org/author/thategom/March 21, 2025
- Justin Barlowhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/justin-barlow/July 2, 2025
- Justin Barlowhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/justin-barlow/April 30, 2025
- Justin Barlowhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/justin-barlow/March 21, 2025
- Justin Barlowhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/justin-barlow/February 25, 2025
A leaked memo for grant management staff of the US government’s National Institutes of Health (NIH), dated March 25, instructs officers to hold “all [research] awards to entities located in South Africa”.
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/July 15, 2025
- Mia Malanhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/mia/July 2, 2025
- Mia Malanhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/mia/June 5, 2025
- Mia Malanhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/mia/May 28, 2025
As climate change intensifies, a toxic legacy grows more dangerous in Soweto. Residents living beside an old mine dump face health problems as more floods and heatwaves worsen the dangers of mining pollution.
- Bhekisisa Teamhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/bhekisisa-team/June 17, 2025
- Bhekisisa Teamhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/bhekisisa-team/May 15, 2025
- Bhekisisa Teamhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/bhekisisa-team/May 5, 2025
- Bhekisisa Teamhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/bhekisisa-team/March 12, 2025