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The Bhekisisa Centre for Health Journalism is based in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Bhekisisa is one of only a few media outlets in the Global South specialising in solutions-based narrative features and analysis. We not only uncover problems but also critically evaluate the solutions meant to fix them. It’s an approach we also take with our opinion pieces.

What makes a good op-ed? What can I expect from the editing process? Who do I pitch a possible opinion piece to? Get the answers to all these questions along with some handy writing tips here before you make a submission.

Almost half of all Kenyan women aged 15 to 49 years have a child under the age of five. For most of these women

How women who work are held back by a lack of quality daycare in...

The increasingly disjointed nature of life in urban slums means there’s no network of family support for mothers who want to work.
Betty Walakira was one of the scientists who pitched her innovation

From the judges’ seat: Three lessons for scientists

Here are three tips to help keep your scientific presentations interesting, full of life and not sleep inducing.
About half the country’s population is younger than 15.

Young women told: ‘If a man touches you, you’ll get pregnant’

Unintended pregnancies and abortions in Nigeria could be reduced if myths are dispelled and young women have the right information.
African drumming can help treat people with depression and other mental illnesses.

African drumming: New rhythm in therapy

Drumming therapy can help to reduce anger and tension and increase a sense of wellbeing.
A Nigerian schoolgirl is vaccinated against polio during a mass nationwide polio inoculation.

Five lessons Nigeria learnt when it clamped down on polio

Success hinges on a number of key factors, ranging from government buy-in to harnessing the support of traditional leaders and civil society.
Making a difference: Bongani Ngcobo.

Solutions-based health reporting to take flight in Africa

With a new donor on board, Bhekisisa will be covering the continent's health issues at source – their new website launches today!
Telling compelling stories: Amy Green

Crack journalistic team driven by the prospect of telling the continent’s stories

With its expansion to the rest Africa, the Bhekisisa health reporting team is growing.
At least one in four children in Africa is still not receiving the vaccinations they need.

SA must close the immunisation gap that parallels class

Vaccines take centre stage in times of crisis but outside of public health emergencies they do not always get the attention they deserve.
Although the scheme's white paper was released at an economically uncertain time.

NHI a healthy dose to cure South Africa’s sickly system

Although the scheme's white paper was released at an economically uncertain time, it brings possibilities to those in need.
Making pretty: Occupational therapists and psychologists have found that colouring-in – alone or in a group – is good for people of all ages and health stages.

Colouring-in lightens grey matter

Colouring-in is for adults too and brings balance, mindfulness and helps the unarty to be creative.
Free fall: Alcohol and drugs fuel the HIV infection rate

They suffer the cruelty of our care

SA society continues to betray traumatised young women who spiral into a life of drugs and abuse.
Over the last decade a growing number of studies have raised the alarm about men's low involvement in HIV services.

HIV treatment: Where are the men?

Our failure to adequately engage men with health services reduces the effectiveness of the many impressive, new HIV prevention breakthroughs.
Better prevention strategies are helping to stem the tide of HIV.

The stigma of HIV still kills

December 1 is #WorldAisDay: HIV was discovered more than 30 years ago. Why do we still stigmatise HIV-infected people?
More community-based care is needed to help mental health patients put together the pieces of their lives.

Broken minds need community care

The high cost of treatment makes mental healthcare inaccessible to those using public health services.
Help: Community health carers protest after they lost their jobs

Free State breaks the backbone of basic care for the destitute

The Mma Mokoenas of community health still dispense help despite having been dismissed.
Pills and more: The health department says it has developed comprehensive guidelines for the prevention of TB in prisons and the treatment of those prisoners who have the disease.

Government tackles TB in prisons

Initiatives in the past four years have greatly increased inmates’ access to healthcare.