I am a health professional and healthcare is an issue very dear to my heart. But healthcare can so easily become the victim of issues beyond its control. The recent events surrounding the withdrawal of the funding of key health initiatives around the world by the United States is an example of this. I have recently written about the danger of dependency by a country on foreign aid, but the danger of what has transpired goes much further than that. America is a democracy and its president was elected by more than 50% of those who went to the polls in what most would accept was a fair democratic process…
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Donor funding … a double edged sword
An Executive Order from the United States President halting foreign aid for an initial 90-day review period, amongst others to South Africa, has had far reaching implications around the world. South Africa has in addition been more specifically targeted with a further Executive Order indicating that all financial transfers to South Africa are halted. The major health implication for this country was funding allocated via PEPFAR and USAID for a wide spectrum of health related initiatives many of which are focused on programs supporting people living with HIV and AIDS. The sudden and largely unexpected actions of the US President have caused chaos and uncertainty. While it will be argued…
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Inspired by Youth … anything is possible!
I was privileged recently to attend a performance of the Ndlovu Youth Choir. What a stunning show it was which entranced a full-house at the Artscape Theatre in Cape Town. All the the members of the choir, which was formed in 2009, come from a small village, Elandsdoorn, in the Moutse district of Limpopo South Africa. Achieving prominence after their participation in the America’s Got Talent (AGT) television show, they have performed across South Africa and in many countries around the world, most recently at New York’s famed, Carnegie Hall. The story of the choir is an inspirational and well documented one which I will not repeat, but their performance…
