Will health workers who bully women as they give birth face the law?

All the best health stories from
the Bhekisisa team this week

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This week, the Bhekisisa Centre for Health Journalism looks at five things mothers should ask before casting their votes

We investigate the hardships of sex work

And, a National Health Insurance scheme has been working in an unlikely place

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What to ask politicians as a mother ahead of voting day. (Delwyn Verasamy)

South Africa heads to the polls in less than a week. If the country's population is anything to go by, more than half of voters casting their ballot next week will be women.

But did you know that many companies still dock the pay of working moms who take law-abiding breaks to breastfeed or express breast milk?

And that healthcare workers can verbally and physically abuse women during labour and get away with it?

Shocked? Then take a look at this must-read by Julie Mentor and Rumbi Gordema Görgens of Embrace before you head to the polls.

Get the full story

Like what you're reading? Give it a share on Twitter:

Will the abuse of women in labour become a punishable crime? @Bhekisisa_MG reports this #SAElection2019: http://bit.ly/2GYooPi

One in three sex workers in South Africa say they’ve been raped by a police officer. Could a change in the law solve this?

Are you an avid sports fan but can't stand the thought of decriminalising sex work? You might want to rethink that logic, workers say.

Sex workers sell sex, but professional athletes sell their bodies every day on the pitch and on the field.

However, only one of them has to consider stigma, rape and murder as workplace hazards.

Our Dylan Bush goes to Cape Town to tell the stories of three women fighting to feed themselves and their families — and stay alive while doing it.

Watch the video

And in case you missed it, here's why it's time politicians put science before morals and decriminalise the profession.

[WATCH] 'We don't sell our bodies, we sell sex.' Go with @Bhekisisa_MG onto the streets of Cape Town: http://bit.ly/2Y0ezpJ

Did you watch the video? Then you'll have met Netta Marcus, one of the women Dylan interviewed. She sent us this message via Facebook:

"We'd like to thank you for making and sharing this video with the world."

Support quality journalism monthly and look good doing it. If you pledge R300 a month or more, we'll send you one of these great T-shirts — our reporters designed the shirts themselves.

Families await medical treatment outside the All India Institute of Medical Sciences. Ayushman Bharat, a free state insurance scheme, aims to ease the burden of medical costs for India’s poor. (Amrit Dhillon)

The National Health Insurance (NHI) is on its way. But, some South Africans are still unconvinced it's going to work.

India road tested an NHI and in some areas, patient bills went from catastrophic to basically nothing. Zilch. Nada.

The Guardian's Amrit Dhillon looks at how free healthcare is working in the country and what its major challenge is at this point.

Read more

Then in case you missed it, our Mia Malan wrote an article last year about what the coming NHI means for you and your pocket.

Will a National Health Insurance work? Why SA could take a page from this country's playbook, via @Bhekisisa_MG & @GdnDevelopment: http://bit.ly/2PIxdzw

What else was Bhekisisa up to this week?

There are only five days left before South Africa goes to the polls.

But before then, politicians will say anything to get your vote — including some really xenophobic things like claims about the "foreign threat" to healthcare.

Don't believe the hype. Here's what foreign nationals really should be paying for healthcare. Spoilers: It's free. Just like for South African citizens.

Health shouldn't be the only thing we consider when casting a vote. Previously the country only allocated the equivalent of an out of the box, entry-level car to respond to climate change.

And, in case you haven't heard, we'll be hosting a policy dialogue at the 9th annual SA Aids Conference in Durban on one of the biggest challenges facing the country's HIV response: Blessers, blessees and sex.

Interested? You can RSVP by clicking here: health@bhekisisa.org. Remember to tell us your dietary requirements.

Did our last newsletter get lost in your inbox? You can read it here.

Opportunities from around the web:

Call for applications, Mandela Institute for Development Studies (Minds): Diamond Empowerment Fund Scholarship — South Africa

The application process is now open for the Minds Diamond Empowerment Fund Scholarship. The opportuntunity is open to post-graduate students in a field that meets the needs of improving the quality of life of people on the African continent.

Preference will be given to students who want to gain critical skills in short supply on the continent such as biotechnology and neuroscience.

Only students from Angola, Botswana, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Liberia, Namibia, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania and Zimbabwe may apply.

Deadline: 31 May
Find out more

Conference, Wits Up to SPAED 2019 — 20 to 23 June, Johannesburg

Organised by the Wits Paediatric Fund, the 7th annual Up to SPAED conference will discuss the latest trends and research in paediatrics and child health in areas such as genetic disorders and therapy as well as drug-resistant infections in infants.

Pre-conference workshops on research in the modern era and radiotherapy will be offered as well as a full day of psychosocial activities with a strong patient focus.

The conference serves as a fundraiser to assist the three main teaching hospitals in Johannesburg that train paediatricians and allied health workers in related fields.

Deadline: 7 June
Find out more

Community support adviser, UNAIDS — Botswana

UNAIDS seeks to appoint a community support adviser to be based in Gaborone, Botswana on a fixed-term contract of two years.

The adviser will report to the UNAIDS country director and will work in close collaboration with the Departments of Community Support, Social Justice and Inclusion. They will advise on, stimulate and foster engagement and coordination among civil society organisations in country-level decision-making mechanisms. The adviser will also provide support to the Joint UN Team on Aids.

The successful candidate will have an advanced university degree in social science, public health, human rights or international development. A specialisation in one of these complemented by a degree or studies in international relations, public administration or a social science will be considered an advantage. The candidate must have a minimum of five years' experience.

Deadline: 10 May
Find out more

Call for entries, Eppendorf & Science Prize for Neurobiology

Young scientists can now send in their entries for the Eppendorf & Science Prize for Neurobiology.

The prize is for outstanding contributions to neurobiological research based on methods of molecular and cell biology. Only researchers under the age of 35 can apply.

The grand prize is US$25 000 and the researcher who walks away with it will have an essay about their research published in the journal Science. The winner will also receive full support to attend the prize ceremony held in conjunction with the Meeting of the Society for Neuroscience in the United States as well as a 10-year AAAS membership and online subscription to Science and an invitation to visit Eppendorf in Hamburg, Germany.

Deadline: 15 June
Find out more

Call for comment, Draft enforcement policy, Office of Health Standards Compliance

The Office of Health Standards Compliance (OHSC) is responsible for monitoring healthcare to improve quality as well as reporting non-compliance of prescribed norms and standards.

This 16-page draft policy sets out a vision for how the office will enforce compliance among health facilities. The document proposes six ways to deal with non-compliant healthcare facilities: Written warnings; request for a written response from management; fines; prosecution; referrals to a relevant authority or revocation of the facility’s certificate of compliance and closure.

Comments or enquiries can be directed to Adv Makhwedi Makgopa-Madisa at mmakgopa-madisa@ohsc.org.za.

Deadline: 26 June
Download the draft legislation

Call for abstracts, Public Health Association of South Africa, 16 - 18 September — Cape Town

Abstract submissions are now open for the Public Health Association of South Africa’s annual meeting, entitled, “The Right to Health – 25 years into our Constitutional Democracy”.

The conference will seek to tackle, among other issues, existing inequalities within the health system and crises in provincial health departments.

Abstracts of no more than 350 words are currently being accepted in the areas of scientific as well as operational research on issues such as health economics, violence and injuries and bioethics and health law.

Deadline: 31 May
Find out more

Have something to say or an opportunity to share? Let us know. Email tip-offs, comments or story and opinion suggestions to health@bhekisisa.org.

Follow us on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram for daily updates.

The Bhekisisa Team

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