[WATCH] ‘There is one toilet for eight COVID doctors and this is also used by patients and the admin staff’

We asked 29 doctors and nurses about their fears, access to protective gear and whether they’ve been tested for COVID-19.

• Here’s the survey we sent out

• Read more: These health workers are more likely to die from COVID-19. Unions say not enough is being done to stop it

Want to know where we got the health worker figures from?

The figures in an earlier version of this video were sourced from two statements made by Health Minister Zweli Mkhize. The current figures come from Popo Maja, Health Department Spokesperson.

Read the statements:

• June 23, 2020: Health Minister Zweli Mkhize opens a COVID-19 field hospital in the Eastern Cape
• July 8, 2020: Minister Zweli Mkhize: Update to parliament on the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic

Dylan Bush

Dylan Bush was a health journalist at Bhekisisa from February 2016 to September 2023.

• Dylan Bush

  https://bhekisisa.org/author/dylan/

  

  November 2, 2023

  #TeamBhekisisa | From 2013 to 2023: Here’s what’s in a day’s work for Bhekisisa founder Mia Malan
• Dylan Bush

  https://bhekisisa.org/author/dylan/

  

  October 9, 2023

  [WATCH] Yvette Raphael’s incredible journey of two decades with HIV
• Dylan Bush

  https://bhekisisa.org/author/dylan/

  

  October 3, 2023

  Health Beat #12 | How to cope with taking HIV meds for life
• Dylan Bush

  https://bhekisisa.org/author/dylan/

  

  August 31, 2023

  [WATCH] Why treating sex workers badly makes HIV spread

Gopolang Makou

Gopolang Makou was the impact and engagement officer at Bhekisisa.

• Gopolang Makou

  https://bhekisisa.org/author/gopolang/

  

  October 11, 2021

  Welcome to the wonderful world of vaccination. Here’s why young people should get the COVID jab
• Gopolang Makou

  https://bhekisisa.org/author/gopolang/

  

  May 11, 2021

  Your guide to side-effects: What you can expect after a COVID jab
• Gopolang Makou

  https://bhekisisa.org/author/gopolang/

  

  April 23, 2021

  Q&A: Six things you’d want to know about COVID jabs
• Gopolang Makou

  https://bhekisisa.org/author/gopolang/

  

  February 23, 2021

  Child-friendly COVID messaging matters. Here’s how you can do it right

Mia Malan

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 Malan

  https://bhekisisa.org/author/mia/

  

  April 30, 2025

  Health Beat #29 | Baby Saver boxes: Lifelines to moms or criminal tools?
• Mia Malan

  https://bhekisisa.org/author/mia/

  

  April 17, 2025

  R2.82-billion. That’s what we need to plug the US funding gap — for now
• Mia Malan

  https://bhekisisa.org/author/mia/

  

  April 15, 2025

  [LISTEN] 8 in 10 ADHD cases are genetic. Can you outgrow it?
• Mia Malan

  https://bhekisisa.org/author/mia/

  

  April 8, 2025

  The 6-monthly anti-HIV jab could end Aids in SA by 2032