Events

Typhoid fever remains a global public health concern, with 11–21 million infections and up to 188 000 deaths annually. While South Africa records a relatively low incidence (0.1/100 000), recent outbreaks in areas such as Hammanskraal and Bronkhorstspruit underscore the ongoing challenges linked to water safety, sanitation, and disease surveillance. Despite overall improvements, sporadic outbreaks persist, often worsened by overcrowding and inadequate infrastructure, highlighting the need for sustained vigilance and strengthened prevention and response systems.

Governments tend to introduce austerity measures in response to economic crises. However,these measures have far-reaching effects, including economic depressions, increased inequality, strained social welfare, and potential impacts on specific marginalised demographic groups (e.g. women, the elderly and children) and those living in certain localities (e.g. the countryside).
 
It is in this context that ASSAf, through its Standing Committee on Science for the Reduction of Poverty and Inequality (SCfRPI), is hosting a webinar in a series on “Social Protection and Employment Creation” to examine the impact of austerity on the livelihoods and social welfare of vulnerable populations, with a view to strategising and collectively prioritising wellbeing over austerity.