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Turning Commitment into Care: Cervical Cancer Elimination as a Women’s Health Imperative As South Africa marks Women’s Month, the country is called to reflect not only on social progress, but on the structural health barriers that continue to threaten women’s lives, dignity, and economic participation. Among these, cervical cancer remains one of the nation’s most pressing public health challenges. Ranking as the second most common cancer among South African women aged 15–44, cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in this age group, claiming nearly 6,000 lives annually. More than 95% of cases are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). Yet, because effective tools—ranging from life-saving HPV vaccines to high-performance screening—are available, the disease is largely preventable and treatable if detected early. Salomé Meyer, a director at the Cancer Alliance of South Africa, believes that: "Women's Month is not only a time to celebrate women—it is a time to protect their health and their future. No woman should lose her life to a disease that is both preventable and treatable." A Matter of Justice and Equity In a keynote address at a previous event on cervical cancer elimination, Minister of Health Dr Aaron Motsoaledi called cervical cancer “a matter of social justice and gender equality,” reaffirming South Africa’s commitment to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) 90-70-90 targets: 90% of girls fully vaccinated by age 15 70% of women screened at least twice in their lifetime 90% of women with pre-cancer or cancer receiving appropriate treatment The Department of Health’s expansion of the national school-based vaccination campaign to independent and private schools, alongside the adoption of single-dose guidelines, marks important progress. However, public health advocates stress that the true measure of success lies in implementation, equity, and reaching vulnerable groups. “One woman dies from cervical cancer …

Hearing well should feel natural, not exhausting This World Hearing Day 3 March, South Africa’s largest Audiology retail network is challenging the idea that hearing is just about ‘turning up the volume’. Hearing is about clarity and how efficiently our brains process sound. When hearing starts to change, people often do not notice it as a loss of sound, but as increased effort. To mark World Hearing Day this year on 3 March, Spec-Savers Audiology is challenging the notion that hearing is just about ‘turning up the volume’. Olivia Blackbeard, Head of Spec-Savers Audiology, says that if you are having to work harder to follow conversations, feel drained after meetings, or begin avoiding noisy environments because they feel fatiguing, this could be caused by your brain overcompensating. “Hearing well should feel natural, not exhausting, which is why checking your hearing is about protecting your energy, focus and overall performance, not only your ears,” she says. Unlike a routine eye test, which many people are more likely to attend because declining vision is more noticeable, hearing loss often goes undetected because it is invisible. “If your vision blurs, you notice it immediately. But with hearing, the brain adapts, you fill in gaps, you lip-read without realising and you blame background noise. It may feel manageable, until it starts impacting everyday life,” Blackbeard says. A simple hearing test checks clarity, speech, understanding and how well a person’s brain is processing sound. The impact of knowing your hearing status can be significant. Hearing loss affects approximately one in three adults between the ages of 65 and 74, and more than 80% of those aged 85 years or older. Hearing loss is also no longer a challenge only faced by older adults. In fact, an estimated 17% of teenagers and 19% of people in their 20s will already be experiencing signs of hearing loss, much of which can be attributed to prolonged exposure to loud sounds - a …

Bayer (Pty) Ltd Achieves Prestigious ISO 13485 Certification, Strengthening Commitment to Quality and Innovation Bayer (Pty) Ltd has reached a significant milestone with the successful certification of its Quality Management System to ISO 13485:2016 – Medical Devices, underscoring its dedication to the highest standards of quality, safety, and regulatory compliance. This achievement reinforces Bayer’s position as a trusted leader in driving innovation and excellence within the South African healthcare and medical device sectors. The South African Health Products Regulatory Agency (SAHPRA) has indicated that ISO 13485 certification is a prerequisite for the application or renewal of a medical device licence, with effect from 1 April 2025 – which effectively means that companies applying for licences from 1 January 2025 would need to be certified (considering the 90-day period before licence expiry). certification and requirements. ISO 13485 certification is a globally recognised standard that ensures every stage of a medical device’s life cycle — from research and development to sourcing materials, manufacturing, quality control, and packaging — meets the highest levels of safety and quality. The certification process rigorously evaluates compliance with these standards to guarantee full traceability and oversight across specialised functions, including sterilisation etc (where applicable) and contamination prevention for medical products. By adhering to ISO 13485 requirements, companies demonstrate their commitment to maintaining product integrity throughout the entire life cycle of the device. This ensures that the final product reaching consumers is not only safe and reliable but also performs exactly as intended — offering patients and healthcare providers complete confidence in its quality and effectiveness. The certificate handover ceremony took place on 14 October 2025 at Bayer’s plush corporate head office in Midrand, where representatives from JC …

JC Auditors (JCA) in Bid to Raise Awareness of SAHPRA Medical Device Licence Requirements January 2024: JC Auditors (JCA), a leader in the certification industry, has embarked on a campaign to raise awareness about the critical importance of ISO 13485 certification as a prerequisite for obtaining medical device licenses in South Africa. South African Health Products Regulatory Agency (SAHPRA) has indicated that ISO 13485 certification is a prerequisite for the application or renewal of a medical device licence, with effect from 1 April 2025 – which effectively means that companies applying for licences from 1 January 2025 would need to be certified (considering the 90-day period before licence expiry). “It is essential that we educate and resource the medical device industry to meet these essential regulatory requirements before the deadline” said Oliver Naidoo, managing director of JC Auditors. “We are encouraging the medical device industry to start training their teams on the requirements and develop the framework quite soon” adds Naidoo. ISO 13485 is an internationally recognized standard specifically tailored for the quality management systems (QMS) of medical device manufacturers. “It plays a pivotal role in ensuring the consistent quality and safety of medical devices, aligning businesses with global best practices”, according to Lindie Fouche, JCA’s Gauteng medical device auditor. With SAHPRA's decision to make ISO 13485 certification mandatory for medical device licenses, it is vital for all role players in the medical device supply chain to be well-informed about the standard's requirements. The Key ISO 13485 Standard Requirements that the medical device sector need to consider include the following basic requirements: Quality Management System (QMS): ISO 13485 emphasizes the establishment and maintenance of a comprehensive QMS that covers all aspects of the entity's operations, from product design and development to production, warehousing, …

Breathe easy: unmasking lung cancer myths and the promise of immunotherapy Lung cancer takes almost 1.8 million lives worldwide, earning it the grim title of the world’s most common cancer.1 South Africa is firmly caught in its grasp as lung cancer ranks as one of the top five cancers.2 Almost 9000 people were newly diagnosed with lung cancer in 2020, and men are particularly vulnerable. 2 Of these newly diagnosed cases, over 6 000 were men.2 The disease is more common in older adults. Most people diagnosed with lung cancer are 65 or older. However, it can occur in younger individuals as well.3 Recognising lung cancer to respond early Cancer is a silent attacker, often revealing no symptoms in its early stages4. Yet, understanding potential signs of lung cancer can arm us with the knowledge we need to fight back. The main symptoms of lung cancer include4: • Persistent or worsening cough • Persistent breathlessness • Coughing up bloody phlegm • Shoulder ache or pain when breathing or coughing • Repeated chest infections • Loss of appetite • Constant fatigue • Unexplained weight loss Conditions like cardiovascular disease, allergies, COVID-19 and bronchitis, can have similar warning signs to lung cancer. 5 It’s important to find out what’s going on so you can get the right treatment.5 In South Africa, the outlook is bleak, as <10% of patients have potentially curable disease at presentation.6 Early detection is our greatest weapon, and for every 320 scans conducted, we have the potential to save one life from lung cancer. 6 What’s raising your odds for lung cancer? Smoking is a leading risk factor and data shows that 33.4% of South African males and 8.3% of females above the age of 15 are smokers.6 Even exposure to second-hand smoke can increase your chances of lung cancer.7 If you're a smoker, the thought of quitting might seem daunting, but there are resources available to help you. To get started on your smoke-free journey, visit …