The need for indigenous midwives as part of the rural healthcare, How do we make this possible and what is the current state of rural health care in SA?

Guest: Hombakazi Mercy Nqandeka, PhD candidate in health sciences at Stellenbosch University Guest: Russell Rensburg, Director of the Rural Health Advocacy Project An interesting article written by Hombakazi Mercy Nqandeka, a PhD candidate at Stellenbosch University on the need for indigenous midwives as part of the rural healthcare. How do we make this possible and what is the current state of rural health care in SA? There should be a way for indigenous midwives to be recognised and allowed to complement the national health system. They are physically closest to the people and usually the first point of contact when there are birth emergencies. Indigenous midwifery is as ancient as humanity itself. I am a second-year Health Sciences PhD candidate at Stellenbosch University, and living between Bulungula, Xhorha Mouth, and Mqele in Elliotdale, Eastern Cape as I do, my research focuses on indigenous knowledge health systems, looking into the resilience of the indigenous healers of AmaBomvana in Elliotdale. Hombakazi’s article + argument The state of the rural health care The support so far (hospitals, clinics, community health workers) Rural health care and NHI