South Africa's government must provide better leadership to improve the country's healthcare system, according to a report released by the medical journey The Lancet.

The report notes that, although South Africa country doesn't rank as poor, the state of health of its inhabitants is comparable to those in the developing world. While more than ten percent of South Africans are infected with HIV, the previous president, Thabo Mbeki, refused to allow retroviral drugs into the country, suggesting that beetroot and garlic be used to treat HIV/AIDS.

Another burden for the healthcare system is the high incidence of violent crime and rape. While child mortality is down in most countries, it’s been up in South Africa since 1990.

Responding to the report, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi acknowledged that mistakes have been made, but says his country is still grappling with the legacy of colonialism and apartheid.
 

(Photo by Flickr/Hot Foot, workshop in Durban, South Africa)