Blog 5: South Africa Improves Health Care

South Africa’s health care system has improved significantly since 1994. After the election of the Government of Nation Unity major changes were made to the health care services.  Availability to health care was made easier to citizens of low socio-economic status. The government’s goal is to have good quality health care to each citizen despite their employment and socio-economic statuses. Many services have become more accessible to women for child care and to improve the infant mortality rate by providing the HPV vaccination. Also, free means to contraceptives are easier for women access.  Since this change, life expectancy has risen, infant mortality has decreased among the white and black population. The South African government is continuing to improve the health of its citizens by providing more health facilities and prevention programs. The government also allowed more medical students to be enrolled in medical school to gain more doctors in their country.

South Africa has had severe trouble with the health of its citizens. Many are affected by HIV, TB, and malaria. Access to free healthcare now makes it easier to prevent and treat these illnesses. The South African government has launched many programs to improve the health of the country including, Primary Health Care and a National Development Plan. South Africa is a developing country gaining great healthcare moves. Many of the citizens in South Africa are in poverty suffering from these illnesses and malnutrition but with these healthcare changes these can be treated and more citizens will be healthier and able to work harder to get out of poverty.