Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women worldwide, after breast, colorectal, and lung cancer. It remains a public health concern, and is especially common in low- and middle-income countries. Although a cancer diagnosis can sound frightening, cervical cancer is also one of the most preventable cancers. With effective vaccination programmes and routine screening, it can often be detected at an early stage when treatment is highly successful. This makes awareness, prevention,...

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections globally, with most sexually active people being exposed at some point in their lives. It is a virus that affects both men and women. While many HPV infections resolve on their own within 1 to 2 years, persistent infections with high-risk HPV types can lead to serious health problems, including cervical cancer, anal cancer, penile cancer, throat cancer and genital warts. The HPV vaccine is given before...

The mental health landscape of South Africa is a growing concern. As a country, we have a low level of mental health literacy, yet Section 27 of the Constitution of South Africa guarantees all citizens the right to access health care services, including mental health care. Despite this legal framework, there is a general lack of awareness about what symptoms should alert us to mental disorders and what resources are available to support affected parties. Mental health services are often...