Francois Venter
@francoisventer.bsky.social
University of the Witwatersrand clinician-researcher mainly focused on HIV, obesity, and non-communicable diseases: human rights, mountains, perfect backhands.
Going to be so interesting.
November 7, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Going to be so interesting.
www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025... ".., despite a circular from ... National Department of Health, Dr Sandile Buthelezi, greenlighting six-month ART dispensation for eligible patients in February 2025, no facilities were officially implementing this strategy..."
Report spotlights ‘system-wide slide’ in basics for health facility standards after Pepfar cuts
A report by the community-led monitoring group Ritshidze has shown that among 326 public health facilities surveyed by the team, 48% reported reduced capacity after the Pepfar disruptions that took pl...
www.dailymaverick.co.za
October 21, 2025 at 6:09 PM
www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025... ".., despite a circular from ... National Department of Health, Dr Sandile Buthelezi, greenlighting six-month ART dispensation for eligible patients in February 2025, no facilities were officially implementing this strategy..."
groundup.org.za/article/phar... And now on appeal, with costs. These court cases have set our HIV response back by years.
Pharmacists can treat people with HIV, appeal court rules
“Legitimate and compelling public interests” to allow pharmacists to initiate antiretroviral treatment, says judge
groundup.org.za
October 10, 2025 at 9:04 AM
groundup.org.za/article/phar... And now on appeal, with costs. These court cases have set our HIV response back by years.
www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/... Pinkwashing and hollow solidarity
Beyond the pink ribbon: Breast cancer and the battlefield of a woman’s body
If breast cancer teaches us anything, it is that our bodies cannot wait for political promises. South African women deserve more than pink campaigns that do not translate into measurable change.
www.dailymaverick.co.za
October 4, 2025 at 6:00 AM
www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/... Pinkwashing and hollow solidarity
Reposted by Francois Venter
ICYMI last night #SCOTUS ruled in AVAC's legal case to give the Administration a free pass to withhold #foreignaid. A dissenting judge warned that the stakes in this case are too significant to be decided through the Court’s emergency docket.
September 27, 2025 at 11:00 AM
ICYMI last night #SCOTUS ruled in AVAC's legal case to give the Administration a free pass to withhold #foreignaid. A dissenting judge warned that the stakes in this case are too significant to be decided through the Court’s emergency docket.
Reposted by Francois Venter
Please, we are begging you, listen to REAL doctors and scientists.
And in case anyone needs a reminder: neither Donald Trump or RFK Jr. are doctors.
And in case anyone needs a reminder: neither Donald Trump or RFK Jr. are doctors.
September 23, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Please, we are begging you, listen to REAL doctors and scientists.
And in case anyone needs a reminder: neither Donald Trump or RFK Jr. are doctors.
And in case anyone needs a reminder: neither Donald Trump or RFK Jr. are doctors.
www.who.int/news/item/26... "The era of governments subsidizing the profits of private industries by footing the long-term health care costs of cheap tobacco, alcohol and sugary drinks must end."
More ways, to save more lives, for less money:
World Health Assembly adopts more Best Buys
to tackle noncommunicable diseases
The World Health Organization has expanded the list of ‘NCD best buys’. The updated list was approved at the 76th World Health Assembly, a move that will support governments to select lifesaving inter...
www.who.int
September 21, 2025 at 5:26 PM
www.who.int/news/item/26... "The era of governments subsidizing the profits of private industries by footing the long-term health care costs of cheap tobacco, alcohol and sugary drinks must end."
www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2025/09/19/e... "Whichever way you slice it, the harsh truth is that even in 2025, the devastating crisis in Gauteng’s health system shows no sign of improvement. Corruption still plagues the department just as severely as it did a decade ago, if not more so."
EDITORIAL | The rot runs deep: Gauteng Health’s dance of impunity betrays the people it is meant to serve
The courts have spoken. The health ombud has issued devastating reports. The Auditor-General has again put damning evidence on the table. Civil society has protested. Yet, the devastating crisis in Ga...
www.spotlightnsp.co.za
September 21, 2025 at 5:22 PM
www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2025/09/19/e... "Whichever way you slice it, the harsh truth is that even in 2025, the devastating crisis in Gauteng’s health system shows no sign of improvement. Corruption still plagues the department just as severely as it did a decade ago, if not more so."
www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025... Brilliant article. Especially about those armchair right wingers and empty statements from government.
SA’s new emergency: Accountability is becoming a death sentence
We cannot afford to look away from the assassination of lawyer Bouwer van Niekerk – the latest in what appears to be an escalation of threats and attacks against lawyers, investigators, auditors, whis...
www.dailymaverick.co.za
September 8, 2025 at 9:48 PM
www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025... Brilliant article. Especially about those armchair right wingers and empty statements from government.
A second government health system collapses on our border - and I am pretty sure two others are too - but crisis, what crisis?
August 26, 2025 at 7:55 PM
A second government health system collapses on our border - and I am pretty sure two others are too - but crisis, what crisis?
blogs.jwatch.org/hiv-id-obser... This. THIS!
Does the Fact That AI Is Brilliant at Writing “Learning Objectives” Prove They're Not Really Needed?
Recently, I was invited to speak at a primary care conference on a terrific topic: “Can’t Miss Diagnoses in ID for the PCP.” Love it. So many great examples come to mind — endocarditis, Lemierre syndr...
blogs.jwatch.org
August 26, 2025 at 6:03 AM
blogs.jwatch.org/hiv-id-obser... This. THIS!
www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025... Fascinating history.
Why we should not forget the yellow fever story
A primary driver of the monumental endeavour to develop the yellow fever vaccine was a shared sense of responsibility that America, having the means and knowledge, should use its resources for the goo...
www.dailymaverick.co.za
August 21, 2025 at 1:49 PM
www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025... Fascinating history.
Reposted by Francois Venter
For more than 27 years, raw sewage has been flowing into the Kruger National Park from Phalaborwa. Sewers and pump stations in Phalaborwa are barely working, despite having been refurbished.
Read groundup.org.za/article/sten... by Bernard Chiguvare
Read groundup.org.za/article/sten... by Bernard Chiguvare
Auditor-General investigates sewage flowing into Kruger National Park
But a separate investigation by the Blue Scorpions appears to have stalled
groundup.org.za
August 8, 2025 at 7:00 AM
For more than 27 years, raw sewage has been flowing into the Kruger National Park from Phalaborwa. Sewers and pump stations in Phalaborwa are barely working, despite having been refurbished.
Read groundup.org.za/article/sten... by Bernard Chiguvare
Read groundup.org.za/article/sten... by Bernard Chiguvare