The Rural Health Advocacy Project (RHAP) advocates for access to quality and comprehensive rural health care in South Africa.
https://rhap.org.za/
Rural Health Advocacy Project
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2026 begins with a renewed commitment to rural health equity. It is a moment to reflect on the persistent gaps in access, resources, and outcomes that continue to shape the realities of rural communities.
Rural health funding must remain a priority despite economic strain, budget cuts should not deepen existing disparities in rural communities. It's critical to have strong, equitable budgeting to ensure accessible health services.
Read more: rhap.org.za/wp-content/u...
RHAP is dedicated to realising the right to health for people in rural areas by advocating for equitable access to healthcare and strengthening accountability systems. #ruralhealthcare
Read more in our policy briefs by visiting our resources page: rhap.org.za/resource_typ...
Long distances & poor roads delay rural healthcare. About 15% of the population travel 1hr+ to a clinic, while 20% are an hour away to a hospital, then face ambulance shortages. These delays can lead to poor health outcomes for TB patients.
Read more: rhap.org.za/wp-content/u...
ICYMI | Rural areas face unique healthcare challenges such as limited access to services and staff shortages. #RHC2025 highlighted how communities, health workers, and policymakers are driving activism and action for equity in rural health.
Read more: rhap.org.za/2025/09/rura...
Teenage pregnancy is a major driver of school dropouts in SA. A Bushbuckridge study found that almost 16% of grade 8–11 girls fell pregnant during the study, making them 2.36x more likely to drop out, repeat grades, or struggle with attendance.
Read more: bit.ly/3zBpjTp
In rural SA, mental health is under-resourced & often invisible. Dr Bianca Moffett warns: policies mean little without dedicated strategy & culturally relevant care. No one should be left behind. #WorldMentalHealthDay
Read more: rhap.org.za/2025/07/ment...
Malnutrition remains a major challenge in South Africa’s fight against TB. In EC, lack of nutritional support, unemployment, and household hunger make treatment harder. TB survivor, Vuyiswa Zanekile stressed that patients would manage treatment better with enough food. #NationalNutritionWeek
Breast cancer affects thousands of SAs each year, but in rural communities, access to info, screening & care remains limited. This #BreastCancerAwarenessMonth, we spotlight @CANSA's Zodwa Sithole who is working tirelessly to change this reality.
Read more: rhap.org.za/2024/10/cham...
Coming up at #RHC2025, Hombakazi Mercy Nqandeka will explore resilience through an indigenous healing lens in Africa. Her work shows how African heritage shapes health and healing in rural contexts.
We spoke to her to get her insights, read more here: rhap.org.za/2025/08/resi...
Video
With the theme ‘Rural Health in Real Life’, the 28th Rural Health Conference brought together health professionals, policymakers, researchers, and communities, to once again tackle […]
As a country South Africa has strong mental health policies on paper. But these are not being implemented equitably. Rural areas are especially disadvantaged, with […]
Breast cancer affects thousands of South Africans every year, yet rural communities often face the greatest barriers in accessing life-saving information, screening, and care. In […]
rhap.org.za
Growing up in Xhora, Elliotdale in the Eastern Cape, Hombakazi Mercy Nqandeka was surrounded by healers. “My grandmother was a fertility herbalist, helping women struggling […]
