When was the last time you had a full medical check-up?
Data analysed by Bhekisisa reveals a dramatic shift. Over the past decade, the number of people older than 50 living with HIV/Aids has doubled.
The smallest HIV-positive group 15 years ago, today they are the second largest. If the trend continues, the number of HIV-positive people over 50 could triple by 2030 compared to 2015.
This raises a critical question: are older adults doing enough to look after their overall health?
'As people age, their risk for conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes increases. It doesn't matter what state your health is in, as an adult you should be going for routine medical check-ups,' said Lenmed.
We want to know when you last had a full medical check-up.
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The Citizen
13 hours ago
- The Citizen
Women's Month and the silenced voices of disabled women: A global and South African reckoning
SEDIBENG.- Women's Month is often reflected as a celebration of resilience, leadership, and progress. In South Africa, it commemorates the 1956 march of 20,000 women to the Union Buildings in Tshwane, protesting the apartheid regime's pass laws. This is also seen as a historic act of defiance that laid the foundation for gender justice. Yet, amid the speeches, campaigns, and corporate slogans, one group remains consistently overlooked: disabled women. Their voices, particularly within the disability and gender sectors, are often drowned out by ableist assumptions, patriarchal neglect, and systemic exclusion. Globally and locally, disabled women continue to face profound violations of their rights. Among the most egregious is forced sterilisation, a practice that persists not as a relic of the past but as a present-day human rights crisis. Across continents, disabled girls and women are sterilised without their consent, often under the guise of 'protection,' 'menstrual management,' or 'incapacity to parent.' These justifications are steeped in eugenic ideologies and patriarchal control, where disabled bodies are deemed unfit for reproduction. The practice is not only medically unethical, it is a violent denial of reproductive justice. In South Africa, reports from the Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) and civil society organisations have exposed cases where disabled and HIV-positive women were sterilised in public hospitals without informed consent. Despite the Sterilisation Act of 1998, which criminalises non-consensual sterilisation, enforcement remains weak, and accountability elusive. The law exists, but justice does not. This is not just a medical issue, it is a political failure. It reflects the inability of states to uphold the rights of disabled women, and the broader societal belief that some women are less worthy of autonomy, dignity, and motherhood. Forced sterilisation is not a one-time procedure, it is a lifelong sentence. It strips disabled women of their reproductive agency, undermines their identity, and reinforces societal narratives that they are incapable of nurturing, loving, or leading. The psychological trauma, compounded by social stigma, often leads to isolation, depression, and diminished self-worth. These women are not only denied the right to parent, they are denied the right to be seen as full human beings. Their bodies become battlegrounds for control, their futures shaped by decisions made without their voice. Politically, forced sterilisation entrenches exclusion. Disabled women are denied the right to participate fully in society, not just as mothers, but as citizens. Their absence from leadership roles, employment, and policy-making spaces is not incidental; it is the result of systemic erasure. As Lana Roy from Afrika Tikkun notes, disabled women face a 'double burden: gender and disability discrimination,' often being the last considered and the first ignored. This double marginalisation is compounded by race, class, and geography, making disabled women in rural and impoverished areas even more vulnerable. Globally, disabled women's movements have rallied under the banner 'Nothing About Us Without Us,' demanding inclusion in policy and advocacy. In South Africa, women like Lungi Mkwani, qualified, skilled, and determined, continue to be denied employment due to ableist hiring practices. Their stories expose the gap between rhetoric and reality during Women's Month celebrations. Organisations like the Her Rights Initiative and Afrika Tikkun are working to amplify these voices, offering support, vocational training, and platforms for advocacy. But systemic change requires more than charity, it demands political will, legal reform, and cultural transformation. We must move beyond tokenism and performative inclusion. Disabled women must be at the centre of policy design, healthcare reform, and employment equity. Their lived experiences must inform the laws that govern their bodies and futures. To honour Women's Month authentically, we must confront uncomfortable truths. Celebrating women's empowerment while ignoring the sterilisation of disabled girls is not progress, it is hypocrisy. Inclusion must be radical, intersectional, and unapologetic. Disabled women are not passive victims, they are agents of resistance. Their stories, often buried beneath layers of discrimination, must be unearthed and amplified. As we mark Women's Month, let it be a call not just to celebrate, but to reckon. To dismantle the systems that sterilise, silence, and sideline, and to build a future where every woman, regardless of ability, is free to choose, to lead, and to thrive. (Lucky Tumahole is a Diabled Persons Advocate, and the above is his opinion)
Mail & Guardian
a day ago
- Mail & Guardian
Here's what SA's teen girls want you to know about their state of mind
We talked with 50 teenage girls and young women from communities with high rates of HIV, early pregnancy and school drop-out rates to hear what's stressing them out — and how they are keeping it together. (Eric Ward/Unsplash) Think of a young woman's world like a series of circles, each one influencing the next. At the centre is the girl herself — her thoughts, feelings and personal struggles. Around her are her relationships with family and friends, and with school and the community. And then there's the bigger picture — a society fraught with inequality and impossible expectations. Our The data is limited, but what we do know shows numbers that are staggering. A 2022 Our earlier work highlighted what we called a We sat down with over 50 young women between the ages of 15 and 24 from two communities — one in KwaZulu-Natal and the other in North West — with high rates of HIV, early pregnancy and school drop-outs. What they shared with us showed how stress doesn't just come from one place — it strikes from every angle. But they also told us how, despite the challenges they face, they somehow manage to keep it together. I break down four things that influence their mental health and five ways to cope. Four things that hurt young women's mental health Individual-level struggles: Girls described low self-esteem, academic pressures and discrimination related to being gay, lesbian or bisexual as daily worries, fuelling bad coping strategies, like substance use. Early pregnancies made many feel future opportunities had slipped away. As one young woman put it, 'We blame and judge ourselves even before other people can blame us,' capturing the internalisation of shame and guilt that heightens isolation. Interpersonal problems: A striking number felt emotionally isolated, citing a lack of trusted people to confide in. Trouble talking with parents or caregivers and a general lack of people they feel safe opening up to makes girls more likely to struggle with mental health problems. Peer dynamics added to this stress: bullying, gossip, body shaming and the huge social pressure to 'fit in'— whether through clothing or material items — led to girls taking risks, sometimes leading them into relationships with 'We want to do things that parents cannot afford … a girl might end up doing everything they say because she wants to impress her friends,' one young woman told us. Home and family troubles : Domestic strife — like conflict, heavy drinking or parents neglecting or abusing their children — further undermined young women's mental and emotional foundations. Girls also said they felt powerless to oppose gendered burdens like unpaid housework or caring for relatives, which left them with less time for school work and looking after themselves. Environmental hardships: Poverty, unreliable access to enough food and feeling unsafe — especially when it comes to gender-based violence — means ongoing anxiety is built into girls' environment atop an already challenging teen world. Societal norms privileging male siblings and persistent gender inequality added to the load girls carried, leaving them with little say in what happens at home. Five ingredients for coping Despite these daunting odds, many young women found ways to cope and push forward. Their stories painted an inspiring picture of remarkable resilience. These new findings echo themes from Positive mindset and self-care: Some girls described consciously focusing on positive experiences, from enjoying music or sports to simply getting a good night's sleep. Journalling and compartmentalising stresses — keeping school problems separate from home issues — emerged as effective self-regulation tools. Finding meaning and identity : For some, faith and being part of a religious community gave them a safe place and sense of belonging, helping them feel calmer and more hopeful in uncertain times. Reaching out: The ability to confide in friends, family or trusted adults was transformative. 'I do talk to my close friend … I talk to her about everything I need to,' shared one girl, underlining the healing role of open communication. Older peers and adults who had faced similar problems became role models and gave helpful advice, especially for younger girls working their way through the emotional storms of their teenage years. Psychosocial support: Being able to see a social worker — though they weren't always available — was seen as an important ingredient for coping. Girls who got this help described meaningful improvements in mood, confidence and skills for coping with the future. The gamechanger: Perhaps the most hopeful findings stem from recent programmes that combined mental health support with sexual and reproductive health services. Girls who had participated in the One participant of the programme told us: 'I have never been so happy in my life … [Now] I am happy.' Empathetic programme staff, coaches and social workers made a big difference: 'I was able to open up and share my story … I am a happy person, I'm free and I am enjoying the life I am living now'. What next? Collectively, these stories and data point to clear recommendations for policymakers, practitioners and communities: Given the strong link between psychological distress and risky behaviours, every programme for adolescent girls and young women — at schools, in clinics or through nongovernmental organisations — should include a mental health component. Effective support targets the individual, the relationships around them (family, friends, teachers) and takes into consideration the wider socio-economic adversities like violence, poverty and gender inequality. Fostering environments where girls can voice their emotions, ask for help, and can be part of solving problems increases both competence and self-confidence. Training teachers and setting up peer or mentor groups work particularly well. Expanding social work support, making the public sector more reliable and investing in community-led projects will help young women to not slip through the cracks at the moments they need it most. Even with big challenges like poverty and gender inequality that stack the odds against these young women, the right support at home, at school and in the community, can help them reclaim their voices and build a generation defined not by struggle, but by strength. Zoe Duby is a socio-behavioural researcher at the South African Medical Research Council . She specialises in sexual and reproductive health research in South Africa. This story was produced by the . Sign up for the .
The Citizen
a day ago
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Ratang Bana cares for Alexandra's vulnerable children amid funding cuts
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