Latest news with #GautengDepartmentofHealth
IOL News
2 days ago
- Health
- IOL News
Health challenges facing youth demand urgent action
Free condom distribution remains inconsistent across the province, leaving young people at risk of HIV/AIDS and other Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs). The health challenges facing our youth require immediate attention, especially regarding resources for sexual health and accessibility to medical care, including mental health support. Free condom distribution remains inconsistent across the province, leaving young people at risk of HIV/AIDS and other Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs). This gap undermines efforts to promote safe sex among youth. Moreover, access to medication and surgical care is severely constrained. Chronic conditions like diabetes require consistent medication, yet public facilities frequently face shortages. Surgical backlogs in Gauteng's hospitals delay critical procedures, prolonging suffering. This shortage leaves many young people facing mental health issues without sufficient support, which increases the risks of substance abuse and, ultimately, suicide. The Gauteng Department of Health must ensure that condoms are distributed effectively across the province, particularly in underserved areas. This initiative should be backed by a thorough sex education campaign. Additionally, to tackle challenges like medication shortages, surgical delays, and the mental health crisis, the department needs to ensure increased funding, recruit more healthcare professionals, and expand health facilities. Madeleine Hicklin MPL, DA Gauteng Spokesperson for Health
The Citizen
2 days ago
- Health
- The Citizen
Pretoria hospitals prioritised for winter infrastructural upgrades
The Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) has prioritised upgrading winter-related equipment throughout its facilities to accommodate heavy usage at this time. Steve Biko Academic, Pretoria West, and Kalafong Provincial Tertiary hospitals were among the local facilities which received these upgrades. The department said it has prioritised infrastructure such as boilers, chillers, heat pumps and air conditioners, all of which age and come under pressure during winter. Last month, several facilities reported breakdowns in their boiler systems, resulting in an inconsistent supply of hot water. The department has since said its contractors are on standby to respond to emergencies and were able to restore the systems of all affected facilities. 'The reality we are facing is that critical equipment such as boilers, chillers, heat pumps, and air conditioners is old and has not been serviced appropriately for a long time. This is one of the reasons we have now capacitated the departmental infrastructure unit so that it can implement the maintenance programme in-house,' said Health and Wellness MEC, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko. Nkomo-Ralehoko added that the department has set aside R100-million in the current financial year to recapitalise critical equipment across facilities. Pretoria West Hospital experienced leaking pipes, while Kalafong and Steve Biko hospitals were among the facilities reporting issues with their calorifiers (water tankers that heat and store water for later use), which have since been resolved. The department assured residents that its recapitalisation programme is currently underway and is instrumental in reducing further breakdowns, and thanked them for their patience. Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to bennittb@ or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading! Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App here
The Citizen
2 days ago
- Health
- The Citizen
Gauteng health warns of immunity gap in measles fight as cases rise
Gauteng Health has launched targeted school vaccination drives to curb rising measles cases, especially in hotspots like Mamelodi and Winterveld. With 181 confirmed measles cases, the Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) is ramping up school and community vaccination, focusing on hotspot areas and boosting surveillance to contain the outbreak. The continued rise in measles cases across the province has revealed an immunity gap, particularly among children who are either not fully vaccinated or have never received the measles or rubella vaccine. 'We must close the immunity gap in our communities and prevent further spread of the highly contagious diseases, particularly measles and rubella,' said the Gauteng MEC for Health and Wellness, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko. 'We must close the immunity gap' – Health MEC 'Vaccination is simple and safe and is our best protection against harmful diseases. We encourage everyone to support our outreach teams and protect our children's health.' The department reported 181 laboratory-confirmed cases from 1 January to 13 June, with many cases originating from the Johannesburg, Tshwane, and Ekurhuleni districts. ALSO READ: 'Immunity gap' drives rubella outbreak in South Africa According to GDoH spokesperson Motalatale Modiba, in the latest reporting period, Gauteng recorded 15 new cases, with 10 of these reported in Tshwane, two in Johannesburg, two in Ekurhuleni, and one in the West Rand. 'The outbreak remains active in specific hotspot areas, including Mamelodi and Winterveld in Tshwane, where 35 and 10 cases have been reported, respectively,' Modiba said. There have been 16 reported hospital admissions linked to measles in Tshwane, all of whom have since been discharged. 16 hospital admissions linked to measles in Tshwane In response, the department has intensified its targeted vaccination campaign in schools, vaccinating more than 18 000 pupils to date across 15 schools in both Mamelodi and Winterveld. Additionally, inter-facility immunisation has commenced, providing booster doses of measles-rubella to all age groups, regardless of their vaccination history. ALSO READ: Health officials warn of rising German measles cases in South Africa GDoH reported that immunisation coverage for the second dose of the measles vaccine remains below 75% in both Johannesburg and Tshwane — well below the threshold needed to prevent outbreaks. This has contributed to the steady increase in cases, including among individuals who had previously been vaccinated and even among some adults. Modiba said the department launched a targeted response in the Johannesburg district, vaccinating close contacts and running outbreak campaigns in areas including Diepsloot, Midrand, Cosmo City, Hillbrow and Rosettenville. Targeted response by department against measles outbreak More than 3 500 people have received vaccinations in the district thus far, and additional campaigns are planned for busy community locations, such as Diepsloot and Cosmo City taxi ranks. In Ekurhuleni, teams conducted targeted campaigns in Daveyton, Slovo Park, Tembisa, and Barcelona, where they have already vaccinated 560 children. ALSO READ: Measles cases surging again in Europe: WHO The West Rand and Sedibeng districts, while not currently experiencing outbreaks, remain on high alert. 'GDoH is working closely with districts to strengthen surveillance, ensure rapid response, and improve vaccination coverage. The department is expected to embark on a comprehensive four-week province-wide vaccination campaign as part of broader intervention activities,' Modiba said. The MEC has called on all parents and guardians to ensure their children are immunised and to collaborate with health teams that run community and school campaigns. Call for parents to vaccinate children The department has instructed health facilities to isolate positive cases immediately and vaccinate their close contacts without delay. 'The public is reminded that individuals infected with measles must isolate at home for at least seven days to prevent further transmission. All suspected cases are provided with vitamin A supplements to reduce the risk of complications,' Modiba said. NOW READ: Measles cases rose 79 percent globally last year: WHO
The Citizen
3 days ago
- Health
- The Citizen
Pretoria sees sharp rise in measles cases
Pretoria is facing a surge in measles cases, with the majority of new infections reported in hotspot areas such as Mamelodi and Winterveld. In response, the Gauteng Department of Health has intensified its vaccination campaign across schools and communities in Tshwane, aiming to close the growing immunity gap and prevent further spread of the highly contagious disease. According to spokesperson Motalatale Modiba, in the latest reporting period, Gauteng recorded 15 new measles cases, with 10 reported in Tshwane, two in Johannesburg, two in Ekurhuleni, and one in the West Rand. 'The outbreak remains active in specific hotspot areas including Mamelodi and Winterveld in Tshwane, where 35 and 10 cases have been reported respectively.' Modiba said the department has embarked on an aggressive targeted vaccination campaign in schools, with over 18,000 learners vaccinated to date in more than 15 schools in Mamelodi and 16 schools in Winterveld. 'In response, Inter-facility immunisation has also commenced, offering measles-rubella booster doses to all age groups regardless of prior vaccination history. 'The outbreak has revealed a concerning immunity gap in the province, particularly among children who are either not fully vaccinated or have never received the measles or rubella vaccine.' He said immunisation coverage for the second dose of the measles vaccine remains below 75% in both Johannesburg and Tshwane, significantly below the level required to prevent outbreaks. 'There have been 16 reported hospital admissions linked to measles in Tshwane, all of whom have since been discharged. No deaths have been reported.' Modiba said health facilities have been instructed to isolate positive cases and vaccinate close contacts immediately. 'The public is reminded that individuals infected with measles must isolate at home for at least seven days to prevent further transmission. All suspected cases are provided with Vitamin A supplements to reduce the risk of complications. 'The department remains committed to containing the spread of measles and rubella in the province and urges the public to remain vigilant, get vaccinated, and take the necessary precautions to protect themselves and those around them.' Measles symptoms show up around 7 to 14 days after contact with the virus. The first symptoms usually are: High Fever, Dry cough. Runny nose. Red, watering eyes, called conjunctivitis. About 2 to 3 days after the first symptoms, you also may see tiny white spots inside the mouth, called Koplik spots. About 3 to 5 days after symptoms first start, or about 14 days after you come into contact with the virus, it's common to see a rash. The rash is made up of large, flat spots and small raised bumps. The rash starts on the face or neck and spreads down the body from the chest to the arms and legs. A person with measles can spread the virus four days before the rash appears and four days after. Measles can spread very easily. Also read: Tax Season 2025: Here is everything you should know Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to bennittb@ or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading! Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App here
The Citizen
3 days ago
- Health
- The Citizen
System shutdown blamed on clinic's unpaid bills
The Gauteng Department of Health has attributed the recent disconnection of electricity and water services at Jack Hindon Provincial Clinic in Pretoria North to administrative delays caused by a system shutdown at the end of the financial year. This comes after the Tshwane metro confirmed that services to the clinic were terminated on May 22, due to outstanding debts of more than R100 000. According to municipal spokesperson Lindela Mashigo, the two unpaid accounts stood at R53 949 and R46 701, and the disconnection followed a notice issued to the department on May 4, which received no response or written commitment. Mashigo explained that the metro acted in line with its credit control policy, which applies uniformly to all debtors, including government departments, schools, and clinics. 'While the metro acknowledges the sensitivity of health facilities, inspections are conducted before disconnections to assess the potential impact,' said Mashigo. The result has been a deeply disruptive service interruption at a clinic relied upon by hundreds of patients in the Pretoria North community. With no running water and electricity, critical operations have been delayed, raising serious concerns about patient care, hygiene, and the safety of medical supplies. Gauteng Department of Health spokesperson Motalatale Modiba responded to growing public concern by explaining the cause of the delay. He said the department was unable to generate purchase orders at the time due to the temporary shutdown of the Systems Application and Products (SAP) platform as the 2025/26 financial year came to an end. 'This has resulted in the delay in payment to the Tshwane municipality, which led to the disconnection of water and electricity at Jack Hindon Clinic. 'The situation was not unique to this clinic. The matter has since been addressed,' said Modiba. ♦️In Pictures♦️ Today, the MMC of Health and Councillor Meyers of Ward 2 visited Jack Hindon Clinic to assess its current conditions, particularly in light of the crucial issues regarding the lack of water supply and electricity. We understand the significance of these… — 𝔹𝕝𝕖𝕤𝕤𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕋𝕤𝕙𝕖𝕘𝕠 𝕆𝕣𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕝𝕨𝕖 (@Ngwana_Badimu) June 2, 2025 Ward 2 Councillor Quentin Meyer confirmed that he had been working to mediate between the two government entities. He said the clinic is now functional, with services restored. 'To be transparent, the services were cut due to non-payment of the account. The city acted within its legal rights. 'However, we cannot ignore the fact that this clinic serves critical patients, and the lack of basic services is severely impacting their care and the work of the clinic staff,' he said. Residents in the area have expressed outrage and disbelief over the situation. Lennard de Beer, who lives directly across from the clinic, noted that a generator has been used to keep the clinic operational, but not without complications. 'The generator starts up as early as 05:00, even though the clinic only opens at 08:00. That's a waste of fuel and money. Sometimes, it even runs at night and on weekends,' said De Beer. He explained that the generator was initially installed as a backup for load-shedding and not to support daily operations due to mismanagement and unpaid bills. The disconnection has disrupted the facility's ability to maintain clean, safe conditions. Without water, sanitation was compromised, and without reliable electricity, medication storage and basic diagnostic procedures were at risk. ALSO READ: Tshwane energy summit pushes for small nuclear reactors as future power solution Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to bennittb@ or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading! Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App here
