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Bhekisisa Centre for Health Journalism
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The award-winning Bhekisisa Centre for Health Journalism brings you solutions-based health analysis & features. Subscribe to our newsletter: http://bit.ly/20aLIdR
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SA’s medicines regulator, SAHPRA will decide if #LEN — the twice-a-year anti-HIV jab — gets the green light by the end of October. If approved, roll-out starts Feb 2026 across 360 clinics via @miamalan.bsky.social. bhekisisa.org/health-news-...
The six-monthly anti-HIV jab could be in 360 clinics by February. Who should get the first doses? - Bhekisisa
One in ten clinics in South Africa — across 22 health districts in six provinces — will start to hand out a twice-a-year anti-HIV jab as early as February. The country’s medicines regulator, Sahpra,…
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The Bhekisisa team is back from break on January 12th.

Wishing you all a safe and restful break.

Thank you for your support in 2025!

See you all in the new year!
December 12, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Before you head out for the holidays, here's what kept you reading this year — from the 6-monthly anti-HIV jab roll-out to the funding cuts with their humanity intact. Our top reads + staff favourites from 2025. #LEN #TopReads2025

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What you were reading in 2025
Like the rest of the world, our editor-in-chief, Mia Malan, spent far too much time sucked into the drama that is the Trump administration — and so did you, if our top read stories are anything to go...
mailchi.mp
December 12, 2025 at 12:02 PM
#Ketamine for #depression: medical breakthrough or dangerous shortcut? Our #HealthBeat investigation examined what's safe, what's legal, and why hype and desperation are driving patients to unproven treatments. #HealthBeat2025 bhekisisa.org/health-news-...
Bhekisisa’s top read stories and staff picks of 2025 - Bhekisisa
The top read stories this year were focused mainly on Trump’s funding cuts and the 6-monthly anti-HIV jab set to roll out next year. But our staff picks were more nuanced. Read what you most read and…
bhekisisa.org
December 12, 2025 at 11:00 AM
"A beautiful piece" — our senior programme manager on Dr Indira Govender's night shift at a rural KZN clinic, where no ambulances just meant finding another way. One of our staff favourites from 2025. #TopReads2025 bhekisisa.org/health-news-...
Bhekisisa’s top read stories and staff picks of 2025 - Bhekisisa
The top read stories this year were focused mainly on Trump’s funding cuts and the 6-monthly anti-HIV jab set to roll out next year. But our staff picks were more nuanced. Read what you most read and…
bhekisisa.org
December 12, 2025 at 9:32 AM
The US says it wants to grow the global market for the HIV prevention jab, #lenacapavir — yet it excluded #SouthAfrica, the world’s biggest market, from its funding list. @avac.org's Mitchell Warren says the move “undercuts the entire mission.” bhekisisa.org/health-news-...
When politics Trumps science: Why the US isn’t giving SA LEN - Bhekisisa
By shutting South Africa out of its overseas funding for the roll-out of the revolutionary six-monthly HIV prevention jab which could potentially end Aids, the Trump administration undercuts its own…
bhekisisa.org
December 11, 2025 at 1:30 PM
SA has the strongest #HIV prevention infrastructure in the world — 98% of clinics offer a daily anti-HIV pill. Experts say excluding SA from #lenacapavir funding “makes no sense economically or epidemiologically.” So why is the US doing just that? bhekisisa.org/health-news-...
When politics Trumps science: Why the US isn’t giving SA LEN - Bhekisisa
By shutting South Africa out of its overseas funding for the roll-out of the revolutionary six-monthly HIV prevention jab which could potentially end Aids, the Trump administration undercuts its own…
bhekisisa.org
December 11, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Read Rosaline Daniel's pick for today’s #BhekisisaInYourInbox, from Undark, where dream scientist Michelle Carr argues that our dreams and nightmares are essential pillars of who we are.

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Why the US isn’t giving SA LEN
In September, the US government announced that it would, through its international Aids programme, Pepfar, join the Global Fund to buy LEN for African countries with high HIV infection rates. The Trump...
mailchi.mp
December 11, 2025 at 11:30 AM
SA starts rolling out the twice-yearly anti #HIV jab from April 1. But the US won’t fund any of our doses — despite SA having the highest number of new HIV infections globally. A decision driven more by politics than public health via @miamalan.bsky.social. bhekisisa.org/health-news-...
When politics Trumps science: Why the US isn’t giving SA LEN - Bhekisisa
By shutting South Africa out of its overseas funding for the roll-out of the revolutionary six-monthly HIV prevention jab which could potentially end Aids, the Trump administration undercuts its own…
bhekisisa.org
December 11, 2025 at 9:30 AM
In today’s newsletter @miamalan.bsky.social asks: why is the #Trump government shutting out the world’s largest #LEN market from its overseas funding? mailchi.mp/bhekisisa.or...
December 11, 2025 at 8:45 AM
From the devastating impact of Trump's HIV funding cuts to the mental health fallout of KZN's 2022 floods, these longreads take you deep into the frontlines of #PublicHealth in SA. #HealthJournalism

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Our 2025 editors’ story picks
With HIV funding cuts and the roll-out of lenacapavir, the new six-monthly anti-HIV injection, dominating much of our coverage in 2025, we wanted to make sure you didn’t miss some of our favourite essays...
mailchi.mp
December 8, 2025 at 1:30 PM
From medical students grappling with death to rock climbing HIV researchers, some of our favourite reads of 2025 tell the stories that don't always make headlines but dig into the people on the frontlines of #PublicHealth. #EditorsPicks bhekisisa.org/health-news-...
Editors’ pick 2025: Our favourite essays and longform stories on public health in South Africa - Bhekisisa
We’ve put together a short list of our favourite essays and longform stories. These stories don't always make the headlines but they often take us deeper into the people and places on the frontlines…
bhekisisa.org
December 8, 2025 at 1:00 PM
“Migrant workers return from Gulf countries with failed kidneys, victims of extreme temperatures, grueling labour, and a global system that leaves them unprotected.”

Find out in Nicole Ludolph’s pick, from Grist, for today’s #BhekisisaInYourInbox.

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December 8, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Three #MentalHealth breakdowns. One rural #KZN clinic. No ambulances. Indira Govender's essay about one night at work is a masterclass in ubuntu and the "unmeasured collective strength" of rural healthcare. #EditorsPick bhekisisa.org/health-news-...
Editors’ pick 2025: Our favourite essays and longform stories on public health in South Africa - Bhekisisa
We’ve put together a short list of our favourite essays and longform stories. These stories don't always make the headlines but they often take us deeper into the people and places on the frontlines…
bhekisisa.org
December 8, 2025 at 10:00 AM
A medical student's essay about death, dying and broken hospitals made it into Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana's budget speech. Sarah Stein wrote what many health workers feel but can't say. #EditorsPicks #HealthJournalism bhekisisa.org/health-news-...
Editors’ pick 2025: Our favourite essays and longform stories on public health in South Africa - Bhekisisa
We’ve put together a short list of our favourite essays and longform stories. These stories don't always make the headlines but they often take us deeper into the people and places on the frontlines…
bhekisisa.org
December 8, 2025 at 7:17 AM
On Thursday, the High Court ruled that the government and police have to stop vigilantes from blocking anyone seeking health services in Yeoville and Rosettenville Clinics in Johannesburg. Find out more in our latest edition of #BhekisisaInYourInbox. mailchi.mp/bhekisisa.or...
December 5, 2025 at 2:15 PM
In the US, a nationwide movement is helping heal trauma by turning guns into garden tools. Read Anna-Maria van Niekerk’s pick for our latest #BhekisisaInYourInbox. mailchi.mp/bhekisisa.or...
December 5, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Reposted by Bhekisisa Centre for Health Journalism
Sharon Ekambaram from Lawyers for Human Rights says the blockades are fuelled by corruption, the cost of Zimbabwean passports, and institutionalised xenophobia — and clinics must step in. 🏥 #HealthBeat youtu.be/j8i7XsNFNMw?...
Courts orders clinics to get rid of xenophobic groups
What’s driving anti-immigrant healthcare blockades? Sharon Ekambaram from Lawyers for Human Rights says it's everything from the sky-high cost of Zimbabwean passports and corruption to South Africa’s…
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December 5, 2025 at 5:00 AM
Judge Stuart Wilson: “Xenophobia is one of the greatest threats to democracy.” Clinics now have five days to remove vigilantes and ensure safe access for everyone. 🇿🇦 #RightToHealth #CourtOrder bhekisisa.org/health-news-...
BREAKING: Court orders government, police to block vigilantes from two clinics — and put up warnings at entrances - Bhekisisa
What’s driving anti-immigrant healthcare blockades? Sharon Ekambaram from Lawyers for Human Rights says it's everything from the sky-high cost of Zimbabwean passports and corruption to South Africa’s…
bhekisisa.org
December 4, 2025 at 3:30 PM
BREAKING: The South Gauteng High Court has ordered the government and police to stop Operation Dudula from blocking foreign nationals at Yeoville and Rosettenville clinics — and to put up warning posters at all entrances. 🚨#HealthRights bhekisisa.org/health-news-...
BREAKING: Court orders government, police to block vigilantes from two clinics — and put up warnings at entrances - Bhekisisa
What’s driving anti-immigrant healthcare blockades? Sharon Ekambaram from Lawyers for Human Rights says it's everything from the sky-high cost of Zimbabwean passports and corruption to South Africa’s…
bhekisisa.org
December 4, 2025 at 2:27 PM
How much does your dog contribute to climate change? Find out in Nicole Ludolph’s pick, from Grist, for today’s #BhekisisaInYourInbox.
mailchi.mp/bhekisisa.or...
December 2, 2025 at 4:01 PM
South Africa's health department says the #LEN shots SA is expecting in February is “a pivotal moment in South Africa’s HIV response”. Here’s what a model shows about using them wisely. bhekisisa.org/health-news-...
SA’s first batch of LEN jabs will arrive in February. Use our dashboard to find out who should get them - Bhekisisa
The first batch of lenacapavir shots, a new six-monthly anti-HIV injection, should “be managed strategically”, said Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi in October. But who should get what slice of the…
bhekisisa.org
December 2, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Who should get SA’s first #LEN shots? Today’s #BhekisisaInYourInbox has an interactive dashboard where you can play around with some numbers.

mailchi.mp/bhekisisa.or...
December 2, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Modelling can be somewhere between an art and a science. But describing real life with maths is a good way to get a feel for who #SA’s first #LEN doses should go to. Have a look. bhekisisa.org/health-news-...
SA’s first batch of LEN jabs will arrive in February. Use our dashboard to find out who should get them - Bhekisisa
The first batch of lenacapavir shots, a new six-monthly anti-HIV injection, should “be managed strategically”, said Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi in October. But who should get what slice of the…
bhekisisa.org
December 2, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Who should get what slice of the #LEN pie? Look at our graphic and interactive dashboard to see how different scenarios compare. bhekisisa.org/health-news-...
SA’s first batch of LEN jabs will arrive in February. Use our dashboard to find out who should get them - Bhekisisa
The first batch of lenacapavir shots, a new six-monthly anti-HIV injection, should “be managed strategically”, said Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi in October. But who should get what slice of the…
bhekisisa.org
December 2, 2025 at 9:50 AM