Impressions of health in the new South Africa: a period of convalescence

摘要

South Africa is a fledgling democracy. With a fair, and generally peaceful, first election in April 1994 it has shown the world that its people can make decisions that would do credit to a more mature democracy. Fears that the end of apartheid would be accompanied by a bloodbath were proved wrong. South Africa is an extreme example of inequity in every sphere of life including health care. This series of five articles tries to capture a picture of the health of South Africa. I spent three weeks in South Africa and met doctors, administrators, politicians, and others who could enlighten me. In Cape Town, Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban, and Kwazulu I visited hospitals, townships, and shanty towns that I was told were representative—and safe to visit.