We know big sugar businesses have a history of misinformation to try to protect their profits [4]. Just like tobacco, sugary drinks are a major threat to our health and are contributing to the Non-Communicable Disease crises we are facing. We cannot allow greedy big businesses to bully government and capture politicians to protect their profits.   Big business and its associates continue to use their enormous resources to delay, dilute, and delegitimise decisions that are in the public interest. They have proven time and time again that they are bullies and continuously hold the country hostage with threats of job losses and divesting.  [1] https://www.da.org.za/2024/11/da-submits-tax-reform-proposals-to-bolster-growth-and-jobs [2] https://theconversation.com/new-research-shows-south-africas-levy-on-sugar-sweetened-drinks-is-having-an-impact-158320 [3] Researchers challenge cane growers’ claims that sugar tax killed jobs. By Tamar Kahn for Business Day. 11 June 2024. [4] SA’s proposed sugar tax: claims about calories & job losses checked: https://africacheck.org/fact-checks/reports/sas-proposed-sugar-tax-claims-about-calories-job-losses-checked 

It is extremely important because for too long young girls and women have suffered this chronic disease without getting medical assistance. Women's reproductive organs are badly affected and damaged by this condition. Not only that, it affects them emotionally, relationally psychologically and financially. For most women this condition has led to infertility. Personal testimony: "I was a victim from 13 years of age till I menopaused at 52 recently, from day one of my menstrual cycle I suffered severe pelvic pain and it proceeded to other parts of the body. I was diagnosed at 27 years old with stage 4 endometriosis. At that time I was married and trying to conceive, only to find that my entire reproductive system was damaged. Doctors tried, I conceived several times and miscarried all those pregnancies. Then I suffered 2 ectopic pregnancies. All my children died in the womb because someone downplayed and called "normal" the monthly horrible pains I suffered 14 days of every month without fail" Please add your name to this petition to support the call for early and accurate endometriosis diagnosis.  References [1] The low down on endometriosis. By Samantha Lee-Jacobs for News24. 01 April 2024 https://www.news24.com/news24/community-newspaper/peoples-post/the-low-down-on-endometriosis-20240401 [2]  Endometriosis among African women. By Mecha, E. O., Njagi, J. N., Makunja, R. N., A Omwandho, C. O., K Saunders, P. T., & Horne, A. W. for Reproduction & Fertility, 3(3), C40. https://doi.org/10.1530/RAF-22-0040. July 2022.

South African poor, black women are the face of health inequity [1].  Go to any public healthcare facility around the country's townships and you're likely to find snaking queues characterized by grant earners who are mainly there for their newborns, ailing or child immunization visits, or their own family planning services. This, unfortunately, happens on a daily. I should know because I am one of those women.    When my daughter was born on a cold June midday twelve months ago, I was immediately advised to take her to my nearest clinic for her three day's checkup. When I got there, the sister who had examined us then informed me that from then on, I would have to make use of the mobile clinic which operated around the area of Mailula Park in Vosloorus every Mondays and Thursdays. It was a relief to know that I wouldn't have to wake up in the wee hours of the morning, prepare myself and my newborn to brave the snaking queues every time just for her to get immunized. With the mobile clinic which always arrived at 10 O'clock on Thursday mornings, as per my day of preference, I would get there at the same time and got serviced without any hassles. However, with the main polyclinic, it was almost mandatory that parents bringing their children should get there before 8 O'clock or risk getting their heads bitten off by grumpy staff workers who didn't want to have to work overtime, understandably so.   The mobile clinic was a welcomed convenience, particularly for those women who lived in the informal settlement of Extension 20, that is far away from poly clinic as that meant that they no longer had to travel, either using money that they don't have for taxi fare, or by walking that long distance with sick children on their backs. However, when I took my baby for her nine month's immunization to the mobile clinic one March Thursday morning, I was shocked to find that I was the only one there with absolutely no queue in sight. A nearby neighbour eventually informed me that the service had been discontinued since January, apparently due to shortage of staff. I found it rather bizarre that that could've been an acceptable reason as it was just in September of 2018 that informal settlements that are not within 3 - 5 km radius from an established clinic around the city were promised to receive healthcare at a step closer through an additional 14 mobile clinics [2]. At my child's recent twelve month's immunization visit, I arrived at poly shortly after 7 O'clock to avoid her picking up germs by staying in the clinic longer than necessary while waiting to get serviced. Needless to say that that was a pointless exercise as not only was I beaten to the front of the queue, but there were scores of mothers who had brought their newborns to their three day's checkup, who arrived after me and had to be placed at the front of the queue as per the clinic's rule. No mother would have any problem with that as we had all been there before and appreciated the Ubuntu. In fact, it had already clocked 11am when one frail looking new mom came in and sat next to me at the reception where I was still waiting to get registered. I told her she didn't have to queue for the three day's checkup, to which she replied and said that she was already denied that privilege as she only arrived then and not before 8 O'clock. I could tell she had not slept a wink and was immediately reminded of my first 72 hours with a colicky infant. I felt it was unacceptable that she was expected to wait about four hours like I just had, just for herself and newborn to get examined. In summary, I asked those who came after me if she could at least be placed in front of us. I left the clinic two hours later, which makes it a total of six hours, with a flu infected child.    The World Health Organisation stated that any reform in primary healthcare represents a single great opportunity for the improvement of the lives of people and performance of the healthcare system as a whole [3]. Therefore, the convenience to basic healthcare services is not a privilege, it is a human right. Act now and let us remind the City of Ekurhuleni Municipality of the promise that they made in making basic healthcare services accessible to the poor. Sign this petition below.   [1] https://aho.org/news/south-african-poor-black-women-are-the-face-of-health-inequity    [2] https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/additional-mobile-clinics-ekurhuleni    [3] https://www.gov.za/news/media-statements/new-mobile-clinics-enhance-school-health-programme-and-access-people-informal 

For years, there have been reports by community members that the staff at the Bez valley clinic have been abusing their powers as healthcare professionals. They have been engaging in unacceptable and criminal behaviour of medical xenophobia. This issue of medical xenophobia is pressing and very problematic. Most undocumented foreign national patients have reported on various platforms that they have been denied their rights to healthcare and are often subjected to xenophobic comments from the staff. As the community we need to make sure that this message is very loud and clear; what is happening at our clinic is against the law. Undocumented individuals have the right to access various healthcare services, these include free access to contraception, HIV/Aids treatment and other basic needs; when it comes to hospital treatment and emergency healthcare these have to be paid for [1]. The criminal behaviour of turning away pregnant undocumented foreign nationals needs to be thoroughly investigated. The laws in South African are very clear and the clinic needs to abide by these laws.    Numerous reports have also surfaced on social media platforms where community members have documented how the staff is rude to patients and fail to provide service delivery. The clinic has been documented, repeatedly closing earlier than the scheduled hours; the gates remain open however when you get to the security or the admin section; you will be told that no patient will be assisted after 11 AM. This has also been placing an extreme strain on other clinics around Bez valley, patients end up going to Bedfordview clinic, Hillbrow clinic and Jeppe clinic.   On the Facebook group called “The Bez valley Community”; multiple users have submitted posts and videos of evidence where they are being discriminated upon. When these videos are posted they amount massive views and comments from the community members, where different users document their ill experiences at the clinic.  In one video, a user called S. Tshuma provides evidence where one of the nurses has instructed the staff not to attend to anyone that comes after 11am. The mother seen in this video is in distress because her child needs emergency assistance, but she had to be turned away because according to the clinic one cannot have an emergency after 11 AM [2].    On the 17th of October 2023, there was another post by L. Tlhageng, where he asked community members to detail their experiences at the clinic. Going through the comment section, it was evident that the majority of the community were expressing the dissatisfaction with the clinic and the main issues was medical xenophobia and the utter disrespect and disregard of their basic healthcare rights. In another video; one of the nurses can be seen shouting abuse at patients that were in the waiting area and telling them that she doesn’t care even if they take the video.   What is happening at our beloved Bez valley clinic is against the law. The Constitution states that all people in South Africa, regardless of status or nationality, have the right to have access to health care services, and that ‘no one’ may be refused emergency medical treatment [4].    As a community member you have the power to stop these xenophobic and discriminatory acts! We need to act now! We need to rise, come together and stand up for our rights and make sure that the Bez valley Clinic Manager takes proper urgent decisive action. References: [1] Migrants & Refugees: Health access; www.scalabrini.co.za.  [2] S. Tshuma,  https://www.facebook.com/reel/645461107742183 [3] https://www.facebook.com/groups/160190411141/search/?q=fikile) [4] Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996. By: Nomzamo Ngcobo

We have been promised the bridge for the past 20 years, but not having the bridge is affecting us as residents, children are unable to get to school when it rains they are forced to only return to school in May after the rainy season, which impacts their schooling. High school learners are even forced to rent places closer to the school just so they are able to attend classes [2] We can’t go to the clinic to get treatment, we can't go to town. It's worse when someone passes on, we are forced to carry the coffin for a very long distance because we can't cross that river it's too dangerous. The river has claimed many lives and the delays by the municipality continue to threaten us as the community of Noqgala [3], if you add your name to this petition you can help us get the municipality to hear our cries we are tired of being ignored, 20 years is a long time and we need clear plans and a timeline of when will the bridge be completed. References [1] https://groundup.org.za/article/r97-million-spent-and-three-years-later-still-no-bridge/ [2] https://www.dispatchlive.co.za/news/2023-06-19-r10m-and-two-years-but-villagers-still-without-bridge/#google_vignette [3] https://youtu.be/XoMGTfRhokU

We have the power to protect children from hunger if we come together and demand the Minister of Finance to take action. Not only would increasing the Health Promotion Levy raise funds that could help fight child hunger, but it would also help reduce the consumption of sugary drinks, which contribute to Non-Communicable Diseases, which are a major health crisis. We’re not the only ones calling on Treasury to act, over 35 top experts on obesity, diet-related diseases and public health from some of the world’s leading universities have written to Treasury officials to support increasing the current HPL to 20%. They are also very impressed with the results of evaluations done on the current HPL.

South Africa rates 5th in the world in the amount of alcohol consumption among drinkers [1]. In addition, alcohol use plays a role in about half of all non-natural deaths [2]. Despite this, the alcohol industry continues to be bold and aggressive in its quest to increase the availability of alcoholic products and make more profits. The Beer Association of South Africa (BASA) in October started calling for beer to be sold at food shops [3]. This is in direct contravention of the National Liquor Act (2003), which prohibits the sale of alcohol other than natural wine at grocery stores and supermarkets. The association must be swiftly stopped in its tracks to protect South Africans from more alcohol harm. According to global trends, the government is supposed to be decreasing access to alcohol by limiting availability in the interest of public health. South Africa already has a disproportionate number of outlets for the population. Those who are supporting the move to allow beers into our food shops are supporting increased harm. If beer is made available in food shops, it will increase easy access and potentially come with discounts and special offers. Some will argue that individuals have the right to choose and take responsibility for their own health, but we know it is not that simple. Individual choice is influenced by the environment in which consumers find themselves. Beers on the shelves of our food shops will increase availability and send a message that beer is just another normal product, like milk, bread, and chocolates. But alcohol is not an ordinary commodity. Currently, South Africans who drink have an unhealthy relationship with alcohol. Statistics show that about one-third of people in South Africa aged 15 and above drink [4]. However, of those who drink, two-thirds drink to the point of intoxication (i.e., binge drinking), causing harm to themselves and others. This practice also diverts government resources away from development priorities like managing alcohol-related harm through policing, trauma admissions, social and disability grants and more. Our Health Minister has already issued a public plea for South Africans to reduce their ‘drinking sprees’ because of the excessive burden alcohol-related cases place on the healthcare system [5]. Already, the Health Ministry will have less budget available to it from next year because of budget cuts – it cannot afford to waste even more of its limited budget on a further increase in alcohol harm-related cases. COVID showed us that less alcohol availability means less trauma and fewer hospital admissions. It means a safer society for our people. This call by the liquor industry is irresponsible, showing a disregard for the health and welfare of the public and for the government purse. We call on everyone in Mzansi to support our call for #NoBeersInSAFoodshops. By signing this petition, you are joining us in saying we do not need beer in our food shops, there are enough places to buy beer. #NoBeerSalesInSAFoodshops #HandsOffLiquorAct #AlcoholSaferSA References: [1] https://www.who.int/publications-detail-redirect/9789241565639 [2] Parry South Africa: alcohol today. Addiction. 2005;100(4):426–9. [3] https://www.iol.co.za/weekend-argus/news/beer-association-wants-beer-to-be-sold-in-supermarkets-347d921a-068b-4697-85b8-00b521a3b1fc#:~:text=Cape%20Town%20%2D%20With%20more%20than,at%20grocery%20stores%20and%20supermarkets. [4] https://substanceabusepolicy.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13011-018-0182-1 [5] https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/drinking-sprees-bird-flu-and-cost-cutting-health-minister-joe-phaahla-worried-over-public-healthcare-20231012.

Many of us don't realise that some food products we buy threaten our health [1]. Big food businesses have used adverts and health claims to influence what we eat for years. Massive profits have been made selling us products high in sugar, salt, fat and added sweetener. We are seeing more and more people in our communities suffering from diseases like type-2 diabetes and high blood pressure that can lead to stroke or heart disease [2]. Our children are targeted by adverts and marketing strategies that can influence what they eat for years. But we have an opportunity to help change this. The good news is that government is listening to public health experts and considering regulations that would limit advertising and force businesses to put warning labels on their unhealthy products [3] so we know what is in our food. But some big businesses will do anything to protect their profits even if it hurts our health. Cigarette companies tried to stop government warning labels on their products [4], and already some big food businesses have been finding ways to lobby the health department behind closed doors [5].  We only have until the end of the 21st of September 2023 to send in enough public comments to show the health department that we support warning labels on all unhealthy food and regulating advertising aimed at children and misleading health claims. The evidence is on our side [6], so if enough of us come together to send public comments to support stronger regulations with no loopholes, our leaders may have no choice but to listen. [1] https://sajs.co.za/article/view/3761 [2] https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(16)30113-9/fulltext [3] https://www.gov.za/sites/default/files/gcis_document/202304/48460rg11575gon3337.pd [4] http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/tid/ldc73a99/pdf [5] https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2022-05-30-heres-why-you-should-care-about-the-food-industry-lobbying-the-health-department-behind-closed-doors/ [6] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0195666322003749 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9388905/ https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0257626

To civil society organisations and individuals across the country, The Enyobeni Tavern tragedy doesn’t just affect the families, friends and communities of the 21 young people who died in the early hours of 26 June 2022. It affects all of us because it could have happened anywhere in the country – in alcohol outlets in cities, towns and villages across all provinces, in rich or poor areas, in suburbs, townships or informal settlements. It’s easy to point a finger at the adults responsible for running the tavern. Some people even blame the parents, the children themselves. But where does the real responsibility lie? We elect local, provincial and national governments to serve us, to ensure our health, safety and wellbeing, to protect us from harm. We expect government to put in place laws that set guidelines for what can and can’t be done and to ensure that those laws are enforced. We expect government to identify challenges in society and to address them. We expect government to be responsive, to listen to us, the people who voted them into service. Please sign this petition and share it with others.  We need to speak with a loud voice to call on the President to ensure there is a proper inquiry into the Enyobeni Tavern tragedy and that effective steps are taken to make sure it never happens again. The lives of the Enyobeni 21 can never be brought back, but we can make sure that their deaths are not in vain, that they can lead to the creation of an alcohol-safer South Africa going forward. Sign the petition now and share with everyone you know! Issued by the Southern African Alcohol Policy Alliance in SA (SAAPA SA), supported by the Scenery Park 21 Families Support Organisation and the South African Council of Churches (SACC), Eastern Cape

Children in South Africa face extraordinarily high levels of adversity that increase their risk of developing mental health problems: - Two-thirds of children (63%) live below the upper-bound poverty line. - Nearly one in two children (42%) have experienced violence, including physical violence (35%) and sexual abuse (35%). In some communities such as Soweto, 99% of children have either witnessed or experienced violence in their homes, schools and/or communities. It's therefore not surprising that more than 1 in 10 children in South Africa have a diagnosable and treatable mental disorder. This includes neurodevelopmental disorders such as ADHD and autism as well as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, conduct, learning and substance-use disorders. And COVID-19, conflict and climate change are placing increasing pressure on young people's mental health. * WHY SHOULD WE CARE ABOUT CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH? Mental disorders in young people not only cause distress for children and their families. They interfere with children’s ability to function in everyday life. Without adequate support, children may struggle at school with higher rates of absenteeism, grade repetition and dropout, undermining their education and economic prospects. Others may start to self-medicate with substances or resort to self-harm to cope with their symptoms, or they may channel their anger and distress outwards through disruptive, harmful, and, some instances, criminal behaviour. In this way, our failure to support children's mental health ripples out across their lives - and across generations. Fifty per cent of all mental disorders begin before the age of 14 years. So we need to intervene early in childhood and adolescence to break the cycle of violence, poverty and poor mental health. * WHY ARE CHILD AND ADOLESCENT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN CRISIS? There are only 15 child and adolescent psychiatrists working in the public health system. In most communities, mental health services for young people are simply unavailable - leaving 9 in every 10 children with a diagnosable mental disorder unable to access treatment. Few health facilities have dedicated facilities for children and adolescents with acute mental illness. As a result, adolescents are kept in adult wards where they may be exposed to adult psychiatric patients and assessed by staff who lack the appropriate skills and expertise. These problems are rooted in government's failure to allocate adequate resources to mental health services and violate children's rights to mental health care.

On the 1st of April, the day the HPL increase was to start, Treasury issued a statement postponing the increase [1]. Treasury did not justify this last-second decision, which has raised concerns about what evidence was used to make this decision. Did Treasury choose to put profits before health by agreeing to the demands of the sugar industry? The sugar industry has a conflict of interest when it comes to the sugary drinks tax. That's why it is important Treasury reassure the public that the sugar industry did not influence their decision. The sugar industry has used its power and resources to attack the sugary drinks tax [2]. HEALA has called on Treasury to provide the research and information that was used to make the decision to delay the HPL increase by a year. HEALA has also called on Treasury to confirm whether they engaged with the sugar industry and its associates. If so, in the interest of transparency, Treasury must share meeting minutes and records of engagements and communication with industry. But Treasury has refused to respond to HEALA. The organisation had to resort to submitting a Public Access to Information Act (PAIA) application, but the deadline to respond has come and gone. But if enough of us come together, we can turn up the public pressure on Treasury to be transparent and accountable when it comes to decision-making processes which greatly impact the health of millions of people in South Africa. [1] Media Statement: Release of Revised Draft Rates and Monetary Amounts and Amendment of Revenue Laws Bill. National Treasury. 1 April 2022. [2] Well-conceived sugar tax needs further strengthening to save lives of millions. By Mikateko Mafuyeka and Petronell Kruger for Daily Maverick. 22 September 2022.

https://youtu.be/nuVHJT_rhgI Imagine your teacher smoking in the classroom. For some of us, this was the reality until new rules were put in place by government in 1993 [6]. But why had government not acted sooner? In their paper published in 2003, Mia Malan and Rosemary Leaver outline the relationship between the biggest tobacco business and government [7] [8]. Government eventually put public health before profits, thanks to the work of health advocates. But big businesses are still using their power to protect their profits at our expense. Researchers have pointed out that big businesses have worked to delay and delegitimize important health policies by using their associations and different strategies [9]. Researchers and civil society groups are not allowed to attend a standing meeting between the National Department of Health and big food businesses [9]. State capture has shown us we have a lot of work to do. But we are making some progress in improving transparency and accountability. Politicians have to declare financial interests [10], and political parties now must disclose who funds them [11]. We need to keep building on this momentum. We can't afford to have a repeat of 2014 where big businesses that make food like polony did not agree with government's proposed hygiene rules and instead wanted to self-regulate [12] [13]. Government should have stood up to those big businesses in 2014 and put the new rules in place anyway. Government has to stand up to big business bullies. Their job is to serve the people, not private interests. References can be found here: https://amandla.mobi/big-business-bullies-references