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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.

More than 876-million school-age children are at risk of becoming infected with potentially sight-stealing parasites.

A sight for sore eyes: Teachers test pupils’ eyes to keep them in school

Children need more than books to flourish at school. De-worming may be one of the most cost-effective ways to increase school participation in Africa.
Sexism in parliament: Former Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba made unscripted comments in his budget speech which suggested women fall pregnant to get child support grants.

‘Imali yeqolo’: Really, Gigaba? Women fall pregnant to get child support grants?

Gender activists are outraged by the former finance minister’s side comments on government grants during his budget speech.
A new online tool lets you calculate your chances of falling pregnant via IVF.

Scars of conflict: ‘We should not forget Africa’s women’

Community health workers are bringing healthcare to the homes of HIV-infected pregnant women in rural Cameroon. It has saved many babies.

Catholic priest: Why it’s wrong to open our churches

Is it responsible to allow religious gatherings during level 3 lockdown? This church leader says no — there are safer ways to provide people with spiritual support during the COVID-19 epidemic.
The gold industry is appealing the decision to compensate mineworkers for damages sustained due to silicosis acquired on the mines.

Gold industry’s appeal in miners’ silicosis class action is shameful

Widows and children stand to inherit damage claims from the mining industry, but their decision to appeal doesn't bode well.
In a world where historically unravelling the tobacco lobby’s intentions has been a game of smoke and mirrors

Show us the data: Bhekisisa responds to #BigTobacco

Dear Tisa, you have a point but we’ve got a reason to be wary.
Does going for "the snip" lead to risk disinhibition in men?

Medical male circumcision offers a gateway to HIV testing and medical check-ups

Circumcision can prevent thousands of HIV infections by 2030 at a relatively low cost, but the uptake has been slower than expected.
What started as a bizarre press release touting a "potential HIV cure" has gone viral leading media houses all over the world to lash out over firm Zion Medical's latest claims.

South Africa on the cusp of HIV vaccine breakthrough

Recently the first participants in the HVTN 702 study received jabs of a vaccine that could stop HIV in its tracks
National guidelines say babies should get nothing but their mother’s milk for the first six months of life. But fewer than one in 10 women makes it to six months.

‘I thought I’d breastfeed my baby for a year. That dream was short-lived’

We tell moms to exclusively breastfeed. But we don’t tell them about all the things that get in the way of that, including depression.
Man holds three silver condoms.

The business of love: Why condom factories and job creation could go hand-in-hand

Every year, the continent falls 3-billion condoms short of what it needs. Could investing in condom factories be the answer — and create jobs to boot?

Old habits die hard: J&J’s failure to deliver COVID jabs to SA is nothing...

South Africa is still awaiting millions of COVID vaccines from Johnson & Johnson even though the country contributed to its COVID research through the Ensemble and Sisonke studies.

Global health still mimics colonial ways: here’s how to break the pattern

Why it's time we look within for expertise on how to fix Global South healthcare issues.
We can get polio out of Africa this year and out of every country in the world in the next several years, say Bill and Melinda Gates.

Four factors blocking medicines made in Africa

Setting up a continent-wide medicines regulator in Africa could be key to getting the continent’s people the treatments and COVID vaccines they need. Here’s why more countries need to put their weight behind it.

What developing countries can teach the Global North about how to respond to a...

When it comes to leadership and innovation, there's much that industrialised nations can learn.
Junior doctors lives stand still as they wait to be paid after the human resource staff failed to capture their details to the payroll system on time.

Health systems innovation is the path to better health

New health discoveries are often not immediately accessible or affordable to the average individual, particularly in low and middle-income countries.
At least one in four children in Africa is still not receiving the vaccinations they need.

African leaders step up to the plate to narrow immunisation gaps

African ministers are taking new steps to provide vaccines for children who don't have access.