Health e News
South Africa celebrated World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) earlier this year when South Africa was coming to terms with the devastating news of children in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal dying from severe acute malnutrition. Most shockingly, in January and February alone, 199 children succumbed to malnutrition in hospitals across the country. This national nutrition crisis compels South Africans to reflect on the importance of breastmilk in not only helping children survive but also helping them thrive. Breastmilk is the most important source of nutrition after a child is born – and the only food source they need for the first six months. Yet in South Africa, the number of exclusively breastfed infants is just 32%, among the lowest rates in the World. Exclusive breastfeeding is the practice of feeding children breastmilk only and no solid food or water in their first six months of life. Make breastfeeding the norm Government
- ///News
It’s hard to imagine a time when “coronavirus” wasn’t a household word. But for a long time, this family of viruses had merited very little attention. Believed to be ubiquitous among animals and avian species, the first coronavirus to infect and cause disease in humans was only isolated and identified in the 1960s. Seven human coronaviruses have been identified since then. Most cause only relatively minor health concerns: the common cold and seasonal respiratory infections that come around every year. But the 2003 outbreak in China and other parts of Asia of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), caused by SARS-CoV (now renamed as SARS-CoV-1), propelled the virus onto the global stage. Coronaviruses gained further infamy when, in 2012, cases of the much more severe Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) were identified in Saudi Arabia. Both outbreaks were relatively contained. Not surprisingly, the concern over coronavirus diseases largely faded from
South Africa runs the risk of an added barrier to achieving its national goals if it continues to close its eyes to the increasing number of people who are avoidably blind. Cataracts and uncorrected refractive errors continue to be an under-reported barrier to education, employment, and health. In a world where we depend on sight for productivity, safety and mobility, the increasing numbers of avoidably blind people remain a significant challenge. In 2020 the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) estimated that 11 million people in South Africa were living with vision loss. Of these 370, 000 were blind. South Africa remains one of the most unequal countries in the world, with gender inequity having a far-reaching impact, extending to eye health service delivery. Approximately 58% of people living with vision loss are females. South Africa has been a signatory to sight-saving programmes like Vision 2020, amongst others,
Almost two-thirds of South Africa’s children are facing their mental health problems alone; avoiding help or treatment when they need it most. And experts believe the only way to address this worrying trend is to become more vigilant about their children’s behaviour. Bongani Ndlovu, a 15-year-old from Soweto, knows what it’s like to feel all alone. “What breaks me is the fact that no one in my family noticed that I wasn’t okay. This means that I’m alone and have no one to turn to during this time,” said the teen. He said he never healed after he was mugged and his cellphone taken away for months. Michel’le Donnelly, Project Leader for Advocacy & Awareness at the South African Federation for Mental Health (SAFMH), said that 10% of children and adolescents worldwide experience a mental disorder, but most don’t seek help or the care that they require. Promoting children’s mental
- ///News
South African students have been “bracing themselves” through the country’s escalating energy crisis, and they are exhausted and frustrated. This is according to Mmusi Thema, a student at Wits University in Johannesburg. Thema is a member of the Student Representative Council. “We have built a high propensity for dealing with pressure, and we can withstand so much,” says Thema. “But that’s a problem because we shouldn’t have to.” Although most universities already have protocols to deal with load shedding – given that this has been going on since 2008 – the increased blackouts this year have delivered a blow to the wellbeing and safety of the student population. Read in Daily Maverick: Load shedding is adding to the anxiety, depression and mental health toll among South Africans It is a pervasive issue that impacts all students, staff and faculties, but it disproportionately harms students. Load shedding is an inconvenience at
- ///News
Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has turned HIV into a manageable chronic condition. When ART is working effectively, HIV cannot be transmitted. This allows people with HIV to live fuller lives without the fear of infecting others. It’s also led global HIV control efforts to focus on increasing ART coverage. The aim is to improve the health of people living with HIV, and to decrease and eventually halt the spread of the virus. UNAIDS set 90-90-90 targets to measure global progress by 2020: 90% of people with HIV know their status, 90% of those with a known status are on treatment, and 90% of those on treatment are virally suppressed (a blood test result that means ART is working effectively). These targets have now been increased to 95-95-95, to be reached by 2030. South Africa has achieved the first 90 target but it falls short on the second 90. Despite having more
- ///News, Our Health
A mom from Cape Town described her teenage daughter’s experience of endometriosis as a rollercoaster ride with the young girl experiencing harrowing levels of pain. Shuneen Adams, the mother of 19-year-old Alicia Van Wyk, shared their story which started when her daughter was only 14. For five long years, Alicia struggled with endometriosis and received no help from government facilities. “She was once diagnosed but later, her symptoms multiplied and I had no idea what it was. I just thought eventually, the pain will go away. But as time goes on, I realised that this is not normal. My daughter started to feel indescribable pain, fever, fainting and what felt like cysts,” said Adams. Adams continued: “It has been such a rollercoaster getting my daughter the help she needs. Often, we’re met by rude medical staff who don’t care at our local health facilities: Greyton Clinic and Caledon Hospital.” Endometriosis
Most of the world’s domestic workers – (76%) – are women. They mainly do housework like cleaning, washing clothes, cooking and childcare, usually in private households. Domestic workers often have low incomes and are excluded from basic labour rights and employment benefits like pensions and paid leave. There are over 76 million domestic workers globally, representing between 1% and 2% of the global workforce. Around 80% of domestic workers work informally. Of all working women in South Africa, around 12% work as domestic workers. These workers have little or no safety nets. This work takes place in people’s homes, quite a personal context. It’s, therefore, difficult to make sure the sector applies regulatory frameworks. Domestic workers often depend on the goodwill of their employer to access components of maternity protection. The International Labour Organization offers a definition of comprehensive maternity protection. It includes health protection at the workplace and a
- ///Our Health
With the arrival of the Phelophepa train in Mokopane in Limpopo, residents have been able to overcome long queues, medicine stock-outs and a lack of privacy. The state-owned Transnet mobile clinic has provided free healthcare to thousands of South Africans living in rural areas since 1994. Town residents didn’t waste any time flocking to the train to experience the wonderful service firsthand last week. A breath of fresh air Anna Moganedi wasted no time in visiting the train. “I used to suffer from various ailments and go to clinics or hospitals but when I heard the Phelophepa train is coming, I wasted no time. Here, there is no such thing as a shortage of medicines or waiting for hours because the staff is on lunch or knocking off before you enter,” said Moganedi. Asked if she was satisfied with the medication that she got from the Phelophepa train, she responded,
- ///News
A vaccine candidate, called R21, has been shown to be up to 80% effective at preventing malaria in young children, according to the latest trial results. This follows from a study published in 2021 from the same team at Oxford University which showed that the three-dose vaccine was up to 77% effective at preventing malaria. Their latest study shows that a booster, given a year later, maintains the levels of protection at 70% to 80%, suggesting that long-term protection is possible. The Oxford researchers told the BBC that their vaccine can be made for “a few dollars”, and they have a deal to manufacture over 100 million doses a year. However, there is still a large hurdle to overcome. Phase 3 clinical trials – the final phase of testing in humans before regulatory approval can be sought – are yet to be conducted. A long road with many dead ends
- ///News
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for pandemic preparedness in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) with vulnerable populations. LMICs face a double burden during pandemics because they are often last in line to access available medicines and vaccines to reduce life-threatening diseases. This does not bode well for LMICs with overburdened public healthcare systems. Domestic intellectual property reform is necessary for pandemic preparedness to enable local production and manufacturing. It will also aid the transfer of technology. Most importantly, it will increase access to affordable medicine and realise people’s right to healthcare services. Why TRIPS waiver is important Domestic intellectual property law reform is not limited to pandemics or COVID-19 medical technologies access. People in South Africa still struggle to access life-saving medicines for diseases like cancer due to high prices driven largely by intellectual property barriers and limited access options. For instance, bendamustine is a cancer drug that treats
- ///Health
In South Africa, reports of xenophobic incidents are a daily reality. Now migrants using the country’s strained public health system is a hot-button issue as impartial access to healthcare has recently become highly politicised. Operation Dudula’s anti-migrant protestors targeted the sick and vulnerable outside Kalafong Hospital in Tshwane to reach a political objective. They profiled patients allegedly by skin colour and language, turning away anyone who failed to pass muster. The protestors also targeted Hillbrow Community Health Centre, where they intimidated migrants accessing care. Days earlier, Limpopo health MEC Dr Phophi Ramathuba berated a Zimbabwean patient, claiming migrants are “killing my health system”. In an interview, politician, Gayton McKenzie, said he would switch off a foreign national’s oxygen to save a South African. Migrants left in the lurch After days of silence, the South African Government finally publicly condemned the xenophobic protests by Operation Dudula, emphasising that “the right to