Latest news with #SasekaniManzini
The Citizen
20-06-2025
- Health
- The Citizen
Mpumalanga silent on 21 000 missing HIV patients
About 21 000 HIV patients have disappeared from Mpumalanga's treatment system, yet officials remain unclear or deny the extent of the crisis. The Mpumalanga department of health seems uninterested in addressing the problem of about 21 000 HIV/Aids patients who were on treatment disappearing without a trace. During a recent interview with SABC News, health MEC Sasekani Manzini conceded that some patients were missing and said she was optimistic the newly launched HIV campaign 'will help trace people who defaulted on their HIV treatment. 'In this number of 21 000 are those people who have taken treatment before and defaulted and those who have never taken treatment.' About 21 000 HIV patients disappeared from treatment system Surprisingly, yesterday, Mpumalanga department of health spokesperson Dumisani Malamule said: 'The department is not aware of any 21 000 HIV/Aids patients that have disappeared from our database. 'The MEC launched a campaign on 16 May, 2025, in collaboration with the Mpumalanga Provincial Aids Council (MPAC) and other stakeholders in the health sector as part of the province`s ongoing interventions to enhance uptake of life-saving HIV treatment to ensure 95% of people diagnosed with HIV receive and adhere to antiretroviral therapy (ART) to achieve viral suppression.' ALSO READ: South Africa's health advocacy groups: 'Health failing to shield kids from HIV' 'The HIV treatment campaign objective is to close the gap by putting an additional 1.1 million people nationally, while Mpumalanga's target is 134 000, who are living with HIV but are not on treatment by the end of December. All our quality HIV/ Aids treatment care services are continuing very well,' said Malamule. Last year, MPAC chair Sonto Nkosi conceded that the province was facing a problem of patients disappearing. She called on government to locate them and offer the necessary support. DA spokesperson on health in Mpumalanga Bosman Grobler said the party welcomed the fact that the department launched a provincial campaign to get an extra 150 000 people on ARV treatment, but expressed concern about the 21 000 people who are missing. Concern over missing patients He said they would be encouraging people to be on treatment and those who had stopped must also be located. 'We are concerned about the 21 000 Mpumalanga ARV patients that have vanished from the system. This is troubling because the viral load of these patients will increase and it will be easy for them to infect their partners with the virus.' ALSO READ: Over 8 000 SA healthcare jobs lost – and more could follow – after US Pepfar aid cuts 'The DA believes that if these patients are not found as soon as possible, it might reflect negatively on the province's viral load and derail the action of getting more people on ARV treatment. At present, Mpumalanga has the second-highest HIV viral load in South Africa.' Grobler urged the department to conduct door-to-door and radio campaigns to teach about adhering to ARV treatment. He said the department must try by all means necessary to get the 21 000 missing patients to come back to their facilities so that they can get their treatment. Mpumalanga has highest HIV prevalence of all provinces According to the South African HIV Prevalence, Incidence and Behaviour Survey released in 2024, Mpumalanga has the highest HIV prevalence of all provinces (17.4%), meaning that the province has 890 000 people living with HIV. The Mpumalanga department of health has reported that of the 890 000 HIV-positive people in the province, 630 000 are currently on ARV treatment. ALSO READ: Inside SA government's confused response to the USAid funding crisis Statistics show that South Africa has 7.8 million people living with HIV/Aids and at least 5.9 million are on ARV treatment.
The Citizen
04-06-2025
- General
- The Citizen
Phelophepa Health Train on Bushbuckridge's doorstep
Bushbuckridge communities are encouraged to make use of the quality medical services provided at the Transnet Phelophepa Health Train, which has been stationed at the Ximhungwe Train Station since June 2. A team of dedicated health professionals is on board to provide quality healthcare, Monday to Friday until June 13. The Mpumalanga MEC for health, Sasekani Manzini, and the executive mayor of Bushbuckridge, Lydia Moroane, welcomed the train on June 3. The Phelophepa Health Train is a mobile clinic initiative that brings essential healthcare directly to communities, enhancing the reach and effectiveness of service delivery. It offers primary healthcare support, eye care, dental care, psychology and pharmacy services. ALSO READ: University of Mpumalanga celebrates Africa Day in style Community members are encouraged to arrive at the train earlier as services are available on a first come, first served basis with a limited number of patients assisted per day. They need to bring along their ID, birth certificates or passports for children and some cash for the dispensary of some medication such as R5 for eye drops, R10 for dental services and R30 for a pair of glasses. ALSO READ: Arnot community receives much-needed mobile clinic In the province, the train started in Mkhondo, then moved to Belfast and Komatipoort before Ximhungwe. As per the schedule, it will be moving to Limpopo next, therefore, Mbombela residents would not have the privilege to make use of the health train. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
01-06-2025
- Health
- The Citizen
Arnot community receives much-needed mobile clinic
The Mpumalanga MEC for health, Sasekani Manzini, said the Mpumalanga Department of Health (DoH) has plans to build a permanent facility to service Arnot residents. This after the Arnot OpCo Mine in the Steve Tshwete Local Municipality handed over a new mobile clinic in Arnot near Middelburg last Tuesday. 'The mobile clinic has all the services you will find in a permanent structure. This is a gift that will make the work of the Mpumalanga DoH easier and we are very grateful,' Manzini told the community members at the handover. 'As government, we fully embrace public-private partnerships because they are ideal in helping both the government and the private sector to touch and impact people's lives positively. Plans are currently under way to erect a permanent clinic structure in the area to continue to serve the masses of the province.' ALSO READ: Fake, expired and unsafe food products confiscated in Hazyview Arnot OpCo's CEO, Bontle Aphane, echoed Manzini's words while also encouraging all men to make healthier lifestyle decisions and follow through with clinical check-ups. 'The mine is determined to work hard for the benefit of the company and the communities they operate in,' said Aphane. ALSO READ: Eight hours without electricity on Sunday – which areas of Mbombela will be affected? Manzini urged the public to consistently check their health status, making use of health facilities available within communities, affirming the DoH's aim to close the 134 000 HIV treatment gap by December 2025. This campaign was launched two weeks ago. 'It should be the norm to everyone to visit their nearest facility to check their health, even when they do not feel sick,' she said. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
09-05-2025
- Health
- The Citizen
Over 50% decline in Mpumalanga malaria cases
The Mpumalanga Department of Health has recorded a 59% reduction in malaria cases in the 2024/25 fiscal year. In the current year 1 066 cases were recorded, a significant drop compared with 2 578 in 2023/24. The MEC for health, Sasekani Manzini, said a further reduction is expected, especially in the Ehlanzeni district, as most cases were linked to individuals in Bushbuckridge, Mbombela and Nkomazi. ALSO READ: Missing girl update: Police bring in hovercraft boat in hopes of finding 3-year-old Aqhama 'We have a story to tell of significant achievement regarding malaria deaths, which have been reduced from 21 to three deaths between 2023/24 and 2024/25. That translates to an 86% reduction in deaths. During 2024/25, we had only one local and two imported transmissions leading to deaths. Our local transmission has also been reduced from 702 to 69 local cases, which is a 90% reduction,' she said. Manzini revealed these statistics in her keynote address at the commemoration of World Malaria Day, held at Nutting House Lodge on Friday, May 2. The day was observed under the theme, 'Malaria ends with us to reinvest, reimagine, reignite', which is aimed at publicising the need for continuous investment in malaria elimination. ALSO READ: Influenza season comes earlier than expected Manzini said malaria is preventable, treatable and curable, while urging the public to take note of the early signs of infection such as fever, headache, body pains, extreme sweating, vomiting and diarrhoea. She said that any person who is experiencing one or more of these symptoms – and who has been in an area where malaria is prevalent – should not delay visiting their nearest healthcare facility. She added that a malaria infection can get complicated quickly, making it hard to manage, which could lead to death. The event was attended by government dignitaries, clinical health services workers, provincial malaria spray operators, members of the Traditional Health Organisation and community members. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
28-04-2025
- Health
- The Citizen
Mpumalanga's first-ever burns unit opens at Rob Ferreira Hospital
Until recently, Mpumalanga's healthcare services were in need of a dedicated burns unit. This posed significant challenges, especially for patients having to travel to Gauteng's hospitals for assistance. The first specialised burns unit in the province was officially opened at Rob Ferreira Hospital by the Mpumalanga MEC for health, Sasekani Manzini, on April 16. Manzini said the unit is equipped to provide critical care for even severe burns. Twelve beds have already been made available since January 29, as a pilot phase, enabling the team to provide patient care, while adhering to capacity restrictions. The unit's medical team consists of a plastic and reconstructive surgeon (as the head of the unit), four medical officers, an operational manager, an area manager, eight nurses during the day and six at night. Additional support staff are also available to the unit. Manzini said the unit will accept referrals of patients across three districts in the province. ALSO READ: Mbombela's Rob Ferreira hospital lets patients down again It was vital for the unit to function at this particular district hospital, mentioning its statistics in dealing with burn patients. 'Statistics from the hospital show that 324 children and 244 in adults were treated for severe burns between May 2023 and January 2025. Around 40% of these patients died due to the burns.' She said burns are a cause of many deaths in the province and nationwide. ALSO READ: Lift with 13 people in Rob Ferreira Hospital fails, plunges into basement 'Approximately 3.2% of the South African population sustains serious burn wounds every year. That is 1.6 million cases per year, of which 35 000 are children. This is common mostly in low- and middle-income countries like ours,' said Manzini. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
