Africa: Spotlight's Top 9 Health Stories to Watch in 2026

From the limited rollout of a new HIV prevention jab to developments with new weight loss medicines, to high-stakes court cases relating to National Health Insurance (NHI), 2026 is… Read more »

Africa: Timeline | the Journey of HIV Through Science, Struggle, Activism, and Hope

From the first reported cases of HIV in 1981 to the latest breakthroughs in long-acting prevention, this Spotlight timeline traces key moments in the global and South African… Read more »

Africa: Withdrawal of US Aid Has Hurt South Africa's HIV Programme

The number of HIV viral load tests is significantly lower than expected, according to an analysis of data from the National Health Laboratory Service which Spotlight and GroundUp… Read more »

Africa: A New HIV Prevention Jab Could End Aids - Unless Secrecy and Greed Get in the Way

A new HIV prevention jab has the potential to bring an end to the AIDS epidemic. But a lack of ambition and unjustifiable secrecy over pricing is holding it back, argue three… Read more »

Africa: Tongue Swabs - Where Might These Experimental TB Tests Eventually Fit In?

While likely years away from widespread use, a test for TB that relies on a simple tongue swab instead of a person having to cough up sputum is showing promise. Spotlight takes… Read more »

Africa: A Jab That Could Protect Against HIV for a Year At a Time, and Other Highlights From Major Conference

A single shot of a new formulation of the antiretroviral drug lenacapavir could potentially provide protection against HIV infection for as long as a year. Spotlight reports on… Read more »

Africa: It Is a Time for Solutions, Says Prof Tulio De Oliveira in Face of U.S. Funding Cuts

Cuts to United States spending on aid and medical research have caused widespread havoc and anxiety in the last month. Professor Tulio de Oliveira sat down with Spotlight's… Read more »

Africa: U.S. Funding Cuts Imperil Search for HIV Vaccine

A groundbreaking project to study potential HIV vaccines in several African countries has been derailed by an abrupt cut in funding from the United States government. As a result,… Read more »

Africa: U.S. Funding Remains Frozen for Many Life-Saving Services

Despite a waiver on life-saving humanitarian aid, USAID funding for crucial medical services remains frozen. Services remain closed as organisations await approval of revised… Read more »