AIDS-related deaths increase due to funding cuts

SA’s HIV/AIDS epidemic continues to impose a heavy burden, with an estimated 53,000 AIDS-related deaths recorded in 2024. This marks a slowdown after two decades of major progress: deaths fell from 280,000 in 2004 to 81,000 in 2014, an 80% overall reduction, but gains over the past decade have stalled.

Transforming African Healthcare with AI

As global funding for HIV programmes declines—most notably from the US and other major donors—countries must strengthen adaptive, technology-enabled primary healthcare (PHC) systems to withstand reduced external support. – Daily Maverick (1 December 2025).

2,103 births to girls aged 10-14 in 2024

SA recorded 2,103 births to girls aged 10-14 in 2024 according to data from the Department of Home Affairs, reported TimesLive (1 Dec 2025)

SAMA warns about WHO’s new training model

The SA Medical Association (SAMA) raised strong concerns about the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) new competency-based medical training model launched for the African region. While the WHO argues that integrating theory and clinical practice from the start of medical training will produce work-ready doctors more quickly, SAMA warns that accelerated education must not compromise patient safety.

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