A new SECTION27 report says South Africa's 2025 health budget does not meet the needs of women, particularly those in poor and rural areas. It finds under investment in infrastructure is limiting access to care, while floods and heatwaves are damaging facilities and increasing demand.
The report notes 89% of professional nurses are women and that women do most unpaid care work, yet funding to support them remains low. SECTION27 is calling for a gender-responsive and climate-resilient health budget and says government must close the gap between policy commitments and actual spending. We spoke to SECTION27 Budget Analyst, Matshidiso Lenqcoasa.