BLKHLTH Team BLKHLTH

Join us in this episode as we navigate the complexities of the South African healthcare system and uncover root causes of the persistent structural inequities affecting access to quality care based on race, class, gender, and other identities. This exploration sheds light on both the strengths and hurdles of the system, offering a glimpse into the ongoing journey towards healthcare equity in South Africa.

Our guest, Pontsho Pilane, is a journalist, editor, media lecturer and trainer with a focus in health, race and gender and how they intersect. She is the communications manager at Soul City Institute for Social Justice, and the author of “Power and Faith: How Evangelical Churches are Quietly Shaping Our Democracy.” Pontsho is also a PhD candidate at Stellenbosch University, researching anti-obesity messaging and representations of fatness in media, science and policy texts and its impacts on fat women, particularly Black women.

Join BLKHLTH co-founders Mercie, Khadijah, and Matthew in this podcast episode in partnership with Planet Fitness for a crucial conversation on "Creating Equity in Fitness." Special guest Teddy Savage, National Lead Trainer at Planet Fitness, talks with the team about the intersection of fitness, nutrition, health equity, and social justice.

Together, they delve into topics such as social determinants of health, racial disparities in physical activity, food deserts, and the impact of neighborhood environments on health and wellbeing for Black communities.

Don't miss this empowering episode filled with actionable insights and strategies for promoting fitness and wellness for all!

BLKHLTH has partnered with Advil and Morehouse School of Medicine on the Advil Pain Equity Project, a long-term commitment to champion equitable and accessible pain relief. Through research, education, and collaboration, we are working to illuminate the issue of pain inequity in Black communities.

Join us for this special episode featuring Brytanny McClendon-Weary, a fourth-year medical student at Howard University College of Medicine. We are discussing the experiences of Black patients in pain and the need for a pain equity education course for medical students to achieve health equity.

In 2024, the Advil Pain Equity Project will launch a course for health professionals to educate them on pain equity and offer tools and skills to help address the issue both in and outside of medical facilities.

Stay up-to-date on this important initiative by going to https://www.believemypain.com/ and signing up for our mailing list. You can access all of the Advil Pain Equity Project resources mentioned in this episode at believemypain.com and #BelieveMyPain to share your stories with us!

We're discussing the political determinants of health: how policy and politics impact Black people’s access to health-promoting services, resources, and environments. We dive into specific issues such as the Supreme Court's decision to strike down affirmative action in college admissions, anti-"woke" policies at the state level, and Cop City in ATL.

In this episode, Felicity and Mbali of BLKHLTH SA sit down with Kim Windvogel, host of the Showmax docuseries Sex & Pleasure and co-founder of FEMMEPROJECTS, to talk all things sex, health, and ensuring one's physical, emotional, and spiritual safety.


In partnership with ⁠iQHAWE Magazine⁠. Check out ⁠this article⁠ from iQHAWE with a list of safe and inclusive sexual health resources in South Africa: https://www.iqhawemagazine.com/iq-corner/blkhlth-comprehensiveresourceguide

Cancer rates are on the rise for people younger than 50. We're talking about why that is and why it matters especially for Black people. Check out ProPublica's Cancer Heatmap ⁠here⁠: https://projects.propublica.org/toxmap/

A video of this episode is also available on our YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/Lwatz2hBecQ

Don't forget to follow us on social media @blkhlth on all platforms!