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Here’s how an abortion works from week 13

Abortions can be done using two methods. One is called a medical abortion and the other is surgical, which involves a small procedure. When a pregnancy is past 12 weeks only doctors are allowed to do it. We speak to Marie Stopes SA about how a surgical abortion works and what you can expect.

People with weak immune systems can now walk in for booster jabs on top...

The system South Africa uses to track COVID-19 vaccines has been updated to allow people with weak immune systems to come in for a booster shot. This is in addition to the extra dose they received last year, as the jabs offer less protection in people with certain health conditions like cancer or HIV.

[VIDEO] One, two, three, buy! Here’s who is in charge of buying medications in...

South Africa’s public hospitals and clinics won’t be getting a new COVID-19 treatment called molnupiravir. The tablets have regulatory approval but they aren’t the right fit for the country.

[WATCH] The science of ‘black don’t crack’

Black skin shows signs of ageing at a later stage than white skin because it has more protection against damage from the harmful rays of the sun.

[WATCH] Mix & match: How to pick a booster vaccine

Do you know which COVID vaccine you’re going to pick as your booster dose? Here’s a handy guide to the latest research on the mix and match approach.

10 questions answered about phone-in abortions

Private clinics started to offer phone-in abortion services when COVID-19 lockdowns began in 2020. Forty one per cent of the terminations of pregnancies Marie Stopes South Africa did since January 2020 were such self-managed terminations. Mohale Moloi asked Melusi Dhlamini, who headed up the introduction of self-managed abortions by Marie Stopes at the time, how such terminations work.

[WATCH] A beginner’s guide to smoking laws

The vaping industry is up in arms because of two new proposed laws. A fight is bound to ensue, but tobacco control is a very particular game. This video will help you get to know the players ahead of public hearings.

[VIDEO] Fancy pharmaceuticals? Your guide to the newest COVID treatments

South Africa’s medical regulator is currently reviewing applications for an oral COVID treatment called molnupiravir. The tablet can reduce people’s chances of falling very ill or dying from the disease. Here’s how it works.

Tech talk: Unpacking and assembling the puzzle pieces of a COVID vaccine

One of the scientific breakthroughs that came with the COVID-19 pandemic was the introduction of new vaccine technology, like those used in the Pfizer jabs. A new vaccine plant in Cape Town will now make similar vaccines on local soil, but making these specialised shots often require some hands-on help.

[VIDEO] A tale of two mothers: Inside the losses of South Africa’s femicide epidemic

Over half of all women killed in South Africa are murdered by their partners. Here are stories from two mothers who lost children to gender-based violence in Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga — and what could have been done to prevent this abuse.

[VIDEO] Anatomy 101: What COVID does to your heart

Reports of a rare heart condition linked to the Pfizer COVID vaccine should not deter teens from getting the jab.
How to prevent HIV with a pill

[WATCH] PrEParing to protect yourself: What young people need to know about this free...

HIV prevention pills can reduce your chances of contracting HIV through sex by up to 96%. The pills are becoming easier to access with over 2 000 South African hospitals and clinics making them available for free. We find out how much university students know about this prevention option.

Three reasons not to take animal medicine

The use of ivermectin to treat COVID-19 remains unproven with little to no evidence that it works. Although the medication can now be legally accessed with a doctor’s supervision, some people continue to use the animal version of the drug. Here’s why that’s dangerous.

[WATCH] The boosters are here. What does that mean?

For now, booster COVID vaccines are mostly offered to those with weakened immune systems. Here’s what we know about how long COVID shots can protect you.

[WATCH] Getting COVID: Is it safe to go to the movies and soccer stadiums?

December holidays are upon us and so are family braais, going to the movies and sports events. But is it safe to do these things? Well, yes and no. It depends how many people there are, how far they’re sitting from each other and how much ventilation there is.

[WATCH] Is one better than none? Why SA’s teens are only getting half a...

South Africa has enough unused doses of Pfizer vaccines to immunise half of the country’s 6.5-million children aged 12 to 17. This means matriculants will be protected as they sit their final school exams. But they’ll only be getting one dose of the two-shot vaccine.