Health e News
OPINION: I recently met a young woman named Mercy who had five children and was struggling to make ends meet. She had tried oral contraceptives to prevent pregnancy, but admitted that she often forgot to take the pill every day. She then tried injectable contraceptives, which required her to visit to the health centre every quarter, but she often did not have enough money for transport. In fact, she became pregnant with her fifth child after missing one injection. By Dr. Bashir Issak
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LUSIKISIKI. – The country’s National Strategic Plan (NSP) to reduce HIV, sexually transmitted infections and TB offers a multi-pronged approach to tackle some of the country’s greatest health challenges.
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VHEMBE. ‘ The Executive Mayor here, Councillor Tshitereke Matibe, is encouraging the community to live healthily and try and avoid HIV/AIDS, TB, diabetes and other preventable diseases.
VHEMBE. ‘ A group of women from this community volunteers their time and services at the local Matavhela Clinic without expecting anything in return.
MTHATHA. – OR Tambo health district is among the 10 pilot sites for the proposed National Health Insurance (NHI) in South Africa. The district has had a visit from the Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi and various preparations have been done for the launch of this project, such as the training of health professionals.
TSHWANE- The Department of Health here finally responded to the community’s outcry for more health services by providing a mobile unit to service the Central View area which is situated far from the clinics in the surrounding Mabopane, Soshanguve and Winterveld areas.
LUSIKISIKI. ‘After months of complaining and eventually taking action through protest, the community of this Eastern Cape village finally received a response from their district health office about the poor facilities at the Village Clinic.
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Screening for lung cancer with low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) in current and former smokers has the potential to avert approximately 12 000 lung cancer deaths each year in the United States. That is the conclusion of a new analysis published in CANCER.
Progress in the 10 districts designated as National Health Insurance (NHI) pilots has been slower than expected, and dismal in the Eastern Cape’s OR Tambo district. Speaking last week health minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi likened it to building a house, and that they were busy digging the trenches while in the Eastern Cape ‘we are still designing the house’.
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New Zealand plans to follow Australia’s lead and remove all branding, including logos and colours, from tobacco products. However, authorities will wait until a challenge to Australia’s plain packaging law is resolved before implementing theirs.
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Although smokers are expected to pay around R1.50 more per pack of 20 cigarettes, experts believe this increase is insufficient to deter young people from taking up this unhealthy habit.
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MGUNGUNDLOVU. – Imbalenhle community health clinic in KwaZulu Natal recently commemorated Pharmacy Week. The theme for the week was “Toward Quality Care Together”, and it aimed to educate patients about medicine, particularly those on chronic medication.
