Today is World Obesity Day, and the international focus is on childhood obesity. The Department of Health is deeply concerned about the growing obesity rate in the country and urges all South Africans to adopt healthier lifestyles. Obesity rates in South Africa are increasing rapidly,…
Geneva: Taxing sugary drinks can lower consumption and reduce obesity, type 2 diabetes and tooth decay, says a new World Health Organization (WHO) report. Fiscal policies that lead to at least a 20% increase in the retail price of sugary drinks would result in proportional…
World leaders today signalled an unprecedented level of attention to curb the spread of infections that are resistant to antimicrobial medicines. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) happens when bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi develop resistance against medicines that were previously able to cure them. For the first…
The Presidents of France and South Africa today called for urgent investments globally to create new jobs in the health sector in order to prevent a projected shortfall of 18 million health workers primarily in low- and lower-middle-income countries, and help countries to maximize the…
On Tuesday, 20 September 2016, H.E. Mr François Hollande, President of France, and H.E. Mr Jacob Zuma, President of South Africa, will present the report of the High-Level Commission on Health Employment and Economic Growth to United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at a side event…
Key updates Countries and territories reporting mosquito-borne Zika virus infections for the first time in the past week: None Countries in the Western Pacific Region have been reporting new cases as seen in Singapore, Philippines and Malaysia. Countries and territories reporting microcephaly and other central…
The Minister of Health Dr Aaron Motsoaledi has asked the Office of Health Ombudsman to investigate allegations that 36 psychiatric patients in Gauteng died after transferred from Life Health Care, Esidimeni into care of Non-governmental organizations early this year. The decision to ask the Health…
Since 2013, an unexpected rise in the number of reported cases of the neurological disorder Guillain-Barré syndrome2 (GBS) in French Polynesia, Brazil and other countries in the Americas led specialists to infer a link with an ongoing outbreak of Zika virus infection. Reports of unexpected…
A major part of the largest emergency vaccination campaign against yellow fever ever attempted in Africa has been completed, with more than 7.7 million people vaccinated in record time in the city of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). In less than two weeks, the…
The National Department of Health will from September 1, 2016 offer test and treat for all HIV positive patients in line with the World Health Organization's guidelines. In December 2015 the World Health Organisation announced new guidelines for the treatment of people living with HIV…