In this in-depth story, Jesse Copelyn analyses the drivers of growing heroin use in South Africa, the policies that could help curb it, and those that could make it even worse.

spotlightnsp.co.za/2024/04/17/sa-…

What problem is this proposed treaty actually solving? Why is it in the public interest to create the rights described here? Thanks for another informative thread James Packard Love

Prof Meintjes: 'For me the message is still consistent. When used in first line, dolutegravir resistance is extremely rare.'

I just reread the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Strategy and Plan of Action on Public Health, Innovation and Intellectual Property adopted by member states in 2008. I suggest negotiators of the #PandemicAccord do the same before #INB9 resumes: apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_f…

The latest Thembisa figures also indicate that life expectancy in South Africa has continued its upward trend following a blip in 2020 and 2021 caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

As shown in this graph, the number of new HIV infections is still higher than the total number of deaths in people living with HIV.

Of the estimated 7.8 million people living with HIV in South Africa in 2023 (12.6% of the population), just under 5.9 million were on treatment. This translates to treatment coverage of 75%, or one in every four people living with HIV not being on treatment.

JUST PUBLISHED | New estimates of HIV in South Africa: Around 50 000 people died of HIV-related causes and around 7.8 million were living with #HIV in 2023. | Marcus Low
spotlightnsp.co.za/2024/04/04/one…

MUST READ | Condom distribution in South Africa has dropped dramatically over the last five years, finds a Spotlight analysis of data recently published in the Health System Trust’s District Health Barometer. | Catherine Tomlinson

spotlightnsp.co.za/2024/04/02/con…

Great thread. Thanks James Packard Love

JUST IN | A massive and much anticipated clinical trial of an experimental #TB vaccine kicks off in SA. It could be the first new TB vaccine in 100 years | Marcus Low tinyurl.com/589sxdeu #WorldTBDay #EndTB #YesWeCanEndTB

Excellent news that the bill has finally passed. Credit to those political parties who did not fall for all the fear mongering.

The Bill's now on its way to the President. Let's hope that this time he won't dither.

Spotlight editor Marcus Low argues the stakes are high in South Africa's most consequential and most competitive upcoming elections since 1994 when it comes to #NHI and the Gauteng and KZN health departments. Jay Rosen SECTION27 @tac National Department of Health
spotlightnsp.co.za/2024/01/24/edi…

Matar, Barrett, Cusk, Applebaum, Spiegelhalter, and more. The Nunez is already out so surprised to see it listed here.

Spotlight’s wrap of the year in health - in fewer than 1 000 words spotlightnsp.co.za/2023/12/11/hea… SECTION27 @tac @healthza Francois Venter yogan pillay Jack Bloom Linda-Gail Bekker Alicestine October PMG

Not the odds, but the stakes.

'The media needs to decide whether they are covering this election as if it’s an election like any other, or the election that will decide whether the MAGA movement succeeds in ending American democracy.' —Michael Podhorzer

weekendreading.net/p/mad-poll-dis…

In-depth: What new World Health Organization (WHO) TB numbers mean for SA by Catherine Tomlinson spotlightnsp.co.za/2023/11/10/in-… TBProof equitableaccess_russrensburg @tac SECTION27 TBAC_sa TBThinkTank @healthza yogan pillay Francois Venter

Breaking: The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 280k people fell ill with TB in SA in 2022. This number is somewhat lower than expected. Confidence intervals are wide, so there is still significant uncertainty. 1/4

Just published: Exciting health reforms are possible if we can move beyondall the political sclerosis, writes Marcus Low spotlightnsp.co.za/2023/10/20/opi… SECTION27 equitableaccess_russrensburg Francois Venter UCT Division of Public Health Medicine PHASA yogan pillay Wits Faculty of Health Sciences @tac @healthza