National and International News

AFRICA DAY: A FRANK DIAGNOSIS OF THE STATE OF THE CONTINENT

Positions of power have the potential to make or break those who hold them. It is often disheartening to see young people, whose aspiration of a better tomorrow is placed upon, assume positions of different rankings only to feed their own self-interests. Complacency, self-fulfilment and ego, are not exclusive to the youth but have been […]

National and International News

DR CHOONARA IS OPTIMISTIC CONCERNING GOVERNMENT’S RESPONSE TO COVID-19

PARKWOOD – Dr Choonara says she is concerned regarding the preparedness of public healthcare facilities. Independent public health practitioner and African Union Youth Advisory Council member Dr Shakira Choonara is optimistic regarding the South African government’s approach to addressing the Covid-19 pandemic. The Parkwood resident said, “For the first time since our democracy, we have seen the […]

National and International News

SHAKIRA CHOONARA: REFLECTING ON THE GIFT OF FREEDOM DURING LOCKDOWN

April 27 marked national Freedom Day when, in 1994, South Africans cast their votes – black people for the first time – to apply their democratic right. In the true spirit of triumph over apartheid’s oppressive regime, it must have been a time when celebrating out on the streets was nothing out of the ordinary. […]

National and International News

ODD DROP IN HOW COVID-19 NUMBERS GROW

NEWS ANALYSIS Speaking to the media on Wednesday night, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize  said, “We will only fight coronavirus with facts and evidence-based strategies, not fake news.” In a country still reeling from previous attempts at public health policies that ignored any scientific rationale, it is a refreshing change to our public health interventions. It […]

National and International News

SA LOCKDOWN IS A DILEMMA FOR PARENTS AND CHILDREN

Leaving children unsupervised as schools close is a worry. But the Covid-19 lockdown means parents staying at home too. Not earning is impossible for people struggling to afford the basics of life. South Africa has introduced sweeping measures to curb the spread of coronavirus, including closing schools and preschools, banning gatherings of more than 100 […]

National and International News

Africa needs activists, not leaders: Meet SA’s AU youth council member

Listen to insights from Shakira Choonara – award-winning, internationally recognised youth and healthcare activist. She describes herself as a research advocate- and active diplomat-extraordinaire. ‘Extraordinaire’ she certainly is – Dr Shakira Choonara’s long list of accolades includes being named Woman of the Year in Health in South Africa, and Most Powerful Woman Under 40 in […]

National and International News