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There’s less demand for human ivermectin in South Africa when the country is in between COVID waves. But nobody is tracking how many people may be using the animal formulation.

Karyn Maughan lives with diabetes and was partially vaccinated when she contracted the virus that causes COVID-19. But because of vaccination she survived the illness — unlike two of her unvaccinated colleagues, who also had diabetes, and died.

Driven by a more infectious new COVID variant, the second wave of South Africa’s coronavirus pandemic has seen considerably more infections than the first wave. This meant health workers have had to deal with more hospitalisations and deaths — and pressure. Bhekisisa visited George Mukhari Academic Hospital north of Tshwane to document the second wave realities experienced by doctors and nurses.

A study among adolescents and young women in South African universities found that girls who had experienced sexual violence were more likely to report an unintended pregnancy compared with those who had never experienced sexual violence.

25,000 grave violations were committed against children in conflict in 2019, says the UN, which hopes to highlight issue with new international day.

Get to know the cleaners, plumbers and therapists who work at the Nasrec field hospital. Plus, find out what happens to newspapers, food, and medical equipment used at the facility. 

Reporters for independent outlets, many in rural areas, say pressure won’t deter them from covering embarrassing stories.

An app, a few volunteers and buy-in from doctors can make the frontlines a kinder place for patients, staff and families.

Last week, President Cyril Ramaphosa was clear: COVID-19 funds have been stolen and misused, food parcels have been diverted from households in need and government officials and service providers have colluded to steal money. But will anti-corruption messages fix this?

Despite clear evidence they are most at risk, older people are seen as dispensable as younger patients are prioritised in the fight against COVID-19.

This country has more than 200-million people, so why has it only logged 22 000 coronavirus tests?

At 23 years old, Emma Theofelus is one of Africa's youngest Cabinent members. And taking office during the coronavirus epidemic has been a trial by fire.

Around the world, SARS-CoV-2 has stopped everyday life dead in its tracks. The virus has also scratched open old wounds between the health department and community health workers, a cadre essential to the fight against the pandemic.

South Africans in Wuhan are set to come back home on Friday, but our secret journaller has a few final thoughts to share in this final instalment of our series of first-hand accounts from citizens quarantined in China.

This South African has been quarantined for weeks. He doesn’t mind spending time alone, but these days he finds himself more and more puzzled by people, their habits, and strangely their attitude towards pens.

Being isolated for days on end was too much for this student, locked up alone in her dormitory room in Wuhan, China. Her friends haven’t seen her since the day she lost it, and that was weeks ago.