Spotlight
@spotlightnsp.bsky.social
In-depth, public interest health journalism from South Africa. Reporting and analysis on TB, HIV, NCDs, health systems, and much more. www.SpotlightNSP.co.za
Reposted by Spotlight
Please let us know which health issues you would like to see Spotlight cover in 2026. Lenacapavir rollout. TB vaccines. GLP1RAs. NHI court cases. HCW shortages. What else?
January 6, 2026 at 1:30 PM
Please let us know which health issues you would like to see Spotlight cover in 2026. Lenacapavir rollout. TB vaccines. GLP1RAs. NHI court cases. HCW shortages. What else?
Please let us know which health issues you would like to see Spotlight cover in 2026. Lenacapavir rollout. TB vaccines. GLP1RAs. NHI court cases. HCW shortages. What else?
January 6, 2026 at 1:30 PM
Please let us know which health issues you would like to see Spotlight cover in 2026. Lenacapavir rollout. TB vaccines. GLP1RAs. NHI court cases. HCW shortages. What else?
Reposted by Spotlight
HISTORY OF HIV | Have a look at our interactive timeline that highlights scientific milestones, political controversies, activism, and the human stories that shaped one of the most significant public health challenges of our time.
www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2025/11/25/a...
www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2025/11/25/a...
TIMELINE | The journey of HIV through science, struggle, activism, and hope
From the first reported cases of HIV in 1981 to the latest breakthroughs in long-acting prevention, this Spotlight timeline traces key moments in the global and South African response to the virus. It...
www.spotlightnsp.co.za
December 18, 2025 at 1:30 PM
HISTORY OF HIV | Have a look at our interactive timeline that highlights scientific milestones, political controversies, activism, and the human stories that shaped one of the most significant public health challenges of our time.
www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2025/11/25/a...
www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2025/11/25/a...
DO YOU KNOW THEM? | Every August we highlight women across healthcare, science, and medicine who are leading with distinction locally and internationally.
See our list for 2025: shorturl.at/i3ICC
Join our mailing list: shorturl.at/Ntzoa
See our list for 2025: shorturl.at/i3ICC
Join our mailing list: shorturl.at/Ntzoa
December 19, 2025 at 11:33 AM
DO YOU KNOW THEM? | Every August we highlight women across healthcare, science, and medicine who are leading with distinction locally and internationally.
See our list for 2025: shorturl.at/i3ICC
Join our mailing list: shorturl.at/Ntzoa
See our list for 2025: shorturl.at/i3ICC
Join our mailing list: shorturl.at/Ntzoa
AGAINST THE ODDS | South Africa has an army of inspiring people making a difference. Read our newsletter from earlier this year showcasing some of these people and projects who are stepping up.
Dive in: tinyurl.com/y5atb8z
Join our mailing list: shorturl.at/Ntzoa
Dive in: tinyurl.com/y5atb8z
Join our mailing list: shorturl.at/Ntzoa
December 19, 2025 at 8:42 AM
AGAINST THE ODDS | South Africa has an army of inspiring people making a difference. Read our newsletter from earlier this year showcasing some of these people and projects who are stepping up.
Dive in: tinyurl.com/y5atb8z
Join our mailing list: shorturl.at/Ntzoa
Dive in: tinyurl.com/y5atb8z
Join our mailing list: shorturl.at/Ntzoa
STORIES WORTH SAVOURING | While our newsletter is on pause until next year, you can still read previous issues. One we think you might enjoy is this compilation of the year's special series.
Dig in: tiny.cc/va1w001
Join our mailing list: tiny.cc/ra1w001
Dig in: tiny.cc/va1w001
Join our mailing list: tiny.cc/ra1w001
December 19, 2025 at 6:37 AM
STORIES WORTH SAVOURING | While our newsletter is on pause until next year, you can still read previous issues. One we think you might enjoy is this compilation of the year's special series.
Dig in: tiny.cc/va1w001
Join our mailing list: tiny.cc/ra1w001
Dig in: tiny.cc/va1w001
Join our mailing list: tiny.cc/ra1w001
HISTORY OF HIV | Have a look at our interactive timeline that highlights scientific milestones, political controversies, activism, and the human stories that shaped one of the most significant public health challenges of our time.
www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2025/11/25/a...
www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2025/11/25/a...
TIMELINE | The journey of HIV through science, struggle, activism, and hope
From the first reported cases of HIV in 1981 to the latest breakthroughs in long-acting prevention, this Spotlight timeline traces key moments in the global and South African response to the virus. It...
www.spotlightnsp.co.za
December 18, 2025 at 1:30 PM
HISTORY OF HIV | Have a look at our interactive timeline that highlights scientific milestones, political controversies, activism, and the human stories that shaped one of the most significant public health challenges of our time.
www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2025/11/25/a...
www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2025/11/25/a...
HIV IN GRAPHS | Earlier this year Spotlight launched a dashboard and graph generator based on the data produced by the Thembisa model, one of the underappreciated gems in our HIV response.
www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2025/11/14/e...
Access the dashboard here: www.spotlightnsp.co.za/hiv-dashboard/
www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2025/11/14/e...
Access the dashboard here: www.spotlightnsp.co.za/hiv-dashboard/
EDITORIAL | Spotlight launches new HIV dashboard
Spotlight has launched a new HIV dashboard and graph generator based on outputs from the Thembisa model. Our hope is that this dashboard will help the public and people working in healthcare to find i...
www.spotlightnsp.co.za
December 18, 2025 at 9:24 AM
HIV IN GRAPHS | Earlier this year Spotlight launched a dashboard and graph generator based on the data produced by the Thembisa model, one of the underappreciated gems in our HIV response.
www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2025/11/14/e...
Access the dashboard here: www.spotlightnsp.co.za/hiv-dashboard/
www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2025/11/14/e...
Access the dashboard here: www.spotlightnsp.co.za/hiv-dashboard/
ICYMI | Research led by Professor Adrie Bekker in Cape Town is paving the way for an important HIV medicine to be made available to newborns in a safe and much more convenient way.
www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2025/04/30/c...
www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2025/04/30/c...
Cape Town study brings hope to newborns left behind in HIV treatment advances
Research led by Professor Adrie Bekker is paving the way for an important HIV medicine to be made available to neonates in a way that is both safe and much more convenient than previous options. Biénn...
www.spotlightnsp.co.za
December 18, 2025 at 6:56 AM
ICYMI | Research led by Professor Adrie Bekker in Cape Town is paving the way for an important HIV medicine to be made available to newborns in a safe and much more convenient way.
www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2025/04/30/c...
www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2025/04/30/c...
SPOTLIGHT ON NHI | At our count, eight different court cases have been filed challenging the NHI Act, or parts of the Act. As we unpacked in this special series, we now have a good idea of the issues these court cases are likely to turn on.
www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2025/09/16/o...
www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2025/09/16/o...
On which legal arguments are the NHI court cases set to turn? Part 1: Affordability
Since President Cyril Ramaphposa signed the NHI Act into law last year in May, eight different groups have challenged it in court. One common argument is that it is irrational and unreasonable to rest...
www.spotlightnsp.co.za
December 17, 2025 at 9:18 AM
SPOTLIGHT ON NHI | At our count, eight different court cases have been filed challenging the NHI Act, or parts of the Act. As we unpacked in this special series, we now have a good idea of the issues these court cases are likely to turn on.
www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2025/09/16/o...
www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2025/09/16/o...
ICYMI | This year has been a whirlwind of developments in HIV prevention as well as major changes in the local and international health space. Spotlight editor @marcuslowx.bsky.social reflects on some of these noteworthy events.
www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2025/12/08/h...
www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2025/12/08/h...
Health in 2025: The year in fewer than 1 000 words
The year’s biggest health story by far has been the cuts to US aid for health and US support for health research. But it’s also been a year of important HIV prevention developments, NHI court cases, o...
www.spotlightnsp.co.za
December 17, 2025 at 6:43 AM
ICYMI | This year has been a whirlwind of developments in HIV prevention as well as major changes in the local and international health space. Spotlight editor @marcuslowx.bsky.social reflects on some of these noteworthy events.
www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2025/12/08/h...
www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2025/12/08/h...
SPOTLIGHT ON OBESITY | In recent years, Spotlight has produced several in-depth articles on obesity, including an thought-provoking profile of a leading activist and researcher who is ready to fight back on the country's obesity epidemic.
www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2025/08/20/d...
www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2025/08/20/d...
Dragon slayer in a time of dragons: Dr Nomathemba Chandiwana battles ‘SA’s new HIV epidemic’
The obesity epidemic will hit South Africa hard on top of our high HIV burden, but advocate researcher and scientist Dr Nomathemba Chandiwana says she is ready to fight back harder. She speaks to Ufri...
www.spotlightnsp.co.za
December 15, 2025 at 6:13 AM
SPOTLIGHT ON OBESITY | In recent years, Spotlight has produced several in-depth articles on obesity, including an thought-provoking profile of a leading activist and researcher who is ready to fight back on the country's obesity epidemic.
www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2025/08/20/d...
www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2025/08/20/d...
HEALTH IN 2025 | From US funding cuts and NHI court battles to HIV prevention, here’s a tour of this year’s health journey: tinyurl.com/4dd3c6dp
Join our mailing list: tinyurl.com/82jdsfjy
Join our mailing list: tinyurl.com/82jdsfjy
December 12, 2025 at 7:03 AM
HEALTH IN 2025 | From US funding cuts and NHI court battles to HIV prevention, here’s a tour of this year’s health journey: tinyurl.com/4dd3c6dp
Join our mailing list: tinyurl.com/82jdsfjy
Join our mailing list: tinyurl.com/82jdsfjy
PROTECTING BABIES | A new respiratory syncytial virus vaccine to protect infants from severe illness is available in South Africa’s private sector. Earlier this year, an expert group recommended making it available to all pregnant women.
www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2025/07/15/g...
www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2025/07/15/g...
Government is considering providing a vaccine to protect babies from RSV
A new respiratory syncytial virus vaccine to protect infants from severe illness is available in South Africa’s private sector but not yet in public clinics. The country's advisory group on immunisati...
www.spotlightnsp.co.za
December 11, 2025 at 11:37 AM
PROTECTING BABIES | A new respiratory syncytial virus vaccine to protect infants from severe illness is available in South Africa’s private sector. Earlier this year, an expert group recommended making it available to all pregnant women.
www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2025/07/15/g...
www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2025/07/15/g...
FLASHBACK | Earlier this year, the Special Tribunal ordered four ambulance companies run by Thapelo Buthelezi to pay back over half-a-billion rand. The matter relates to contracts by the Free State government, which were first reported on in Spotlight.
www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2025/05/12/h...
www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2025/05/12/h...
#Health4Sale | Tribunal orders controversial ambulance companies to pay back over half-a-billion rand
The Special Tribunal has ordered four ambulance companies run by Thapelo Buthelezi to pay back a total of over half-a-billion rand. The matter relates to contracts awarded by the Free State government...
www.spotlightnsp.co.za
December 11, 2025 at 8:08 AM
FLASHBACK | Earlier this year, the Special Tribunal ordered four ambulance companies run by Thapelo Buthelezi to pay back over half-a-billion rand. The matter relates to contracts by the Free State government, which were first reported on in Spotlight.
www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2025/05/12/h...
www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2025/05/12/h...
HAVE A LOOK | The National Health Laboratory Service released tallies per province of viral load tests, CD4 counts, TB tests, syphilis tests, and full blood counts. Spotlight and GroundUp obtained the data through the Promotion of Access to Information Act.
www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2025/11/27/r...
www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2025/11/27/r...
Release of useful health statistics: 2015 to 2025
The National Health Laboratory Service has provided HIV, TB, syphilis and cholesterol data, which Spotlight and GroundUp obtained through the Promotion of Access to Information Act.
www.spotlightnsp.co.za
December 10, 2025 at 1:47 PM
HAVE A LOOK | The National Health Laboratory Service released tallies per province of viral load tests, CD4 counts, TB tests, syphilis tests, and full blood counts. Spotlight and GroundUp obtained the data through the Promotion of Access to Information Act.
www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2025/11/27/r...
www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2025/11/27/r...
THROWBACK | Several studies have flagged problems with our death registration processes. A critical first step to addressing it is to replace our paper-based process with an electronic one, argue the SAMRC's Dr Pam Groenewald and Professor Debbie Bradshaw.
www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2025/05/30/e...
www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2025/05/30/e...
Electronic death registration is a win-win for SA - let’s make it happen
Several studies have flagged problems with South Africa’s death registration processes. A critical first step to addressing it is to replace our paper-based process with an electronic one, argue Dr Pa...
www.spotlightnsp.co.za
December 10, 2025 at 11:29 AM
THROWBACK | Several studies have flagged problems with our death registration processes. A critical first step to addressing it is to replace our paper-based process with an electronic one, argue the SAMRC's Dr Pam Groenewald and Professor Debbie Bradshaw.
www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2025/05/30/e...
www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2025/05/30/e...
ICYMI | A landmark ruling from the Supreme Court of Appeal means specially trained pharmacists will soon be allowed to dispense antiretrovirals without a doctor’s script.
www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2025/10/27/p...
www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2025/10/27/p...
ARVs without a script: What next after major court ruling?
A landmark ruling from the Supreme Court of Appeal means specially trained pharmacists will soon be allowed to dispense antiretrovirals without a doctor’s script. Pharmacists with the required trainin...
www.spotlightnsp.co.za
December 10, 2025 at 7:50 AM
ICYMI | A landmark ruling from the Supreme Court of Appeal means specially trained pharmacists will soon be allowed to dispense antiretrovirals without a doctor’s script.
www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2025/10/27/p...
www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2025/10/27/p...
Reposted by Spotlight
At Spotlight, we monitor South Africa’s response to TB. Visit our website for our latest TB stories: spotlightnsp.co.za/tb-response/
December 8, 2025 at 1:05 PM
At Spotlight, we monitor South Africa’s response to TB. Visit our website for our latest TB stories: spotlightnsp.co.za/tb-response/
ICYMI | South Africa is one of the few countries that buys blood glucose meters and test strips en masse, but there are still lots of people who are treated with insulin who don’t have access to them.
Find out why: www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2025/12/04/p...
Find out why: www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2025/12/04/p...
Patients left vulnerable as diabetes supplies dwindle
Getting to grips with rising diabetes rates is arguably one of the most urgent tasks for South Africa’s public healthcare system, but the setbacks keep coming. While some communities are facing shorta...
www.spotlightnsp.co.za
December 9, 2025 at 8:43 AM
ICYMI | South Africa is one of the few countries that buys blood glucose meters and test strips en masse, but there are still lots of people who are treated with insulin who don’t have access to them.
Find out why: www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2025/12/04/p...
Find out why: www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2025/12/04/p...
At Spotlight, we monitor South Africa’s response to TB. Visit our website for our latest TB stories: spotlightnsp.co.za/tb-response/
December 8, 2025 at 1:05 PM
At Spotlight, we monitor South Africa’s response to TB. Visit our website for our latest TB stories: spotlightnsp.co.za/tb-response/
MUST READ| Spotlight editor @marcuslowx.bsky.social takes stock of some of the year's biggest health stories, including the cuts to US aid for health and support for research, important HIV prevention developments, and NHI court cases. www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2025/12/08/h...
Health in 2025: The year in fewer than 1 000 words
The year’s biggest health story by far has been the cuts to US aid for health and US support for health research. But it’s also been a year of important HIV prevention developments, NHI court cases, o...
www.spotlightnsp.co.za
December 8, 2025 at 6:31 AM
MUST READ| Spotlight editor @marcuslowx.bsky.social takes stock of some of the year's biggest health stories, including the cuts to US aid for health and support for research, important HIV prevention developments, and NHI court cases. www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2025/12/08/h...
STORIES WORTH SAVOURING | Alongside our standalone pieces, Spotlight also ran a number of special series – bringing you compelling, high-quality, and in-depth health journalism on topics that matter. Dig in here: tiny.cc/va1w001
Join our mailing list: tiny.cc/ra1w001
Join our mailing list: tiny.cc/ra1w001
December 5, 2025 at 7:02 AM
STORIES WORTH SAVOURING | Alongside our standalone pieces, Spotlight also ran a number of special series – bringing you compelling, high-quality, and in-depth health journalism on topics that matter. Dig in here: tiny.cc/va1w001
Join our mailing list: tiny.cc/ra1w001
Join our mailing list: tiny.cc/ra1w001
MUST READ | Getting to grips with rising diabetes rates is arguably one of the most urgent tasks for South Africa’s public healthcare system, but the setbacks keep coming.
www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2025/12/04/p...
www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2025/12/04/p...
Patients left vulnerable as diabetes supplies dwindle
Getting to grips with rising diabetes rates is arguably one of the most urgent tasks for South Africa’s public healthcare system, but the setbacks keep coming. While some communities are facing shorta...
www.spotlightnsp.co.za
December 4, 2025 at 8:01 AM
MUST READ | Getting to grips with rising diabetes rates is arguably one of the most urgent tasks for South Africa’s public healthcare system, but the setbacks keep coming.
www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2025/12/04/p...
www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2025/12/04/p...
There has been much confusion and misunderstandings about how cannabis and associated products are regulated in South Africa. Dr Andy Gray clearly sets out the current legal and regulatory situation and where we’re heading.
www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2025/12/03/i...
www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2025/12/03/i...
#InsideTheBox with Dr Andy Gray | Where are we on the road to more coherent cannabis regulation?
There has been much confusion and misunderstandings about how cannabis and associated products are regulated in South Africa, with government’s own missteps adding to the uncertainty. In his last #Ins...
www.spotlightnsp.co.za
December 3, 2025 at 6:26 AM
There has been much confusion and misunderstandings about how cannabis and associated products are regulated in South Africa. Dr Andy Gray clearly sets out the current legal and regulatory situation and where we’re heading.
www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2025/12/03/i...
www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2025/12/03/i...