Health System in South Africa

Health System in South
Africa

Table of Contents
SECTION A.....................................................................................................................................1
SECTION B.....................................................................................................................................2
SECTION C.....................................................................................................................................4
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7

Table of Figures
Figure 1: South Africa Suicide Rate 2
Figure 2: Life expectancy in South Africa 4
Figure 3: Infant mortality rate in South Africa 5

SECTION A
The population of South Africa is 59,62 million. 7.8 per cent of the population comprises
of white south Africans. The status of healthcare in the country is varied. The most basic primary
health care services are provided by the state while the hi- tech services are provided by both
private and public sectors. However, there ae places where the public healthcare sector is under –
resourced.
With 450000 cases per year, Tuberculosis has become one of the serious public health
issues in South Africa. It is also a leading cause of death in the country. According to World
Health Organization, a total of 58000 people died of TB in the year 2019 (TB in South Africa -
Burden, strategic plan, key populations, 2021). 80 percent f [people dying from TB are those that
are also infected with HIV. Majority of the TB patients are those that carry a latent infection.
Only 5 per cent of the total TB patients are those that develop active TB within 18 months.
According to World Health Organization (WHO) the incidence of TB in 2019 in South Africa
was 360,000. The highest incidence was fond in KwaZulu-Natal, The Eastern Cape AND THE
WESTERN Cape. The government introduced TB testing with Genexpert that provided test
results within hours. National Strategic Plan on TB 2017- 2022 was also launched by the
government of South Africa (TB in South Africa - Burden, strategic plan, key populations, 2021)
Increased earning and rapid urbanization have acted as drivers for increased rate of
obesity in South Africa. Then western lifestyle that includes consumption of high levels of
animal fat leads to high incidence of obesity in the country. In the western Cao, 62 per cent of
women and 25 per cent of men are obese (Obesity: Is your waistline killing you?, 2020). The
prevalence of obesity is high in Black Africans in the country. The obesity is not limited to the
adult population but is also increasing in adolescents and children.
Suicide is a critical health issue that is covered under intentional injuries in the country. It
ranks at 8th number in terms of suicide rates in the world. Every year, 6000 to 8000 people
commit suicide in South Africa making it as the third greatest cause of unnatural death in the
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