Health e News
- ///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
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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
- ///News
In many parts of the world, including Africa, people rely on rainwater as a source of drinking water, as well as for other household and livelihood uses. One of the reasons is water scarcity – sub-Saharan Africa has the largest number of water-scarce countries in the world. But there are concerns about how safe rainwater is to drink. It can be contaminated by dust and ash in the surroundings or by heavy metal from roofing material. Another concern is the presence of manufactured chemicals called perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), or “forever chemicals”. As environmental scientist Ian Cousins and his team explain, they are a threat to the use of rainwater for domestic purposes. What are PFAS, and why should we be worried about them? PFAS are a group of man-made substances often described as “forever chemicals” because they never break down in the environment. They are found everywhere –
- ///Our Health
A distressed mother from the North West was left with more questions than answers after her nine-year-old son was diagnosed with bilharzia. It all started when Mokgadi Sebone* noticed blood stains on her son’s underpants. She immediately sat down with him before discovering that he’d been passing blood in his urine for some time. Worried sick, she took him to the nearest clinic where he was diagnosed with the tropical disease. “When I saw the blood, I thought it was prostate cancer or kidney failure. But bilharzia? I’d never heard of such a disease. I didn’t know how to feel or what to think. Was my baby going to die and where did he get it? I had so many questions,” said Mokgadi. The family lives in Moretele, a water scarce area far north of Pretoria, where residents have been using water tanks for over seven years. The area has
- ///News
A political storm has erupted in South Africa after a video went viral showing the health minister for the Limpopo province – which borders Zimbabwe – berating a Zimbabwean woman who was seeking healthcare. Responses have been divided. Some have called for Phophi Ramathuba to step down on the grounds that verbally abusing a patient was out of order. Others have supported her, saying she reflects the sentiments of South Africans living in the area. The Conversation Africa spoke to Kudakwashe Vanyoro, who has done research on the treatment of migrants in South Africa’s healthcare sector, to unpack the issue. What does the law say about treating non-South Africans? According to South Africa’s National Health Act, primary healthcare facilities run by the state must provide free care to everyone, except for people covered by private medical aid schemes. The country’s Refugee Act of 1998 stipulates that refugees are entitled to
The advocacy group, Healthy Living Alliance (HEALA), has set up a campaign warning the public of Nestle’s “blatant disregard” for child health. It claims the food giants have violated Regulation 991 relating to foodstuffs for infants and young children with their NIDO 3+ powdered milk product. What is R991? The #SayNoToNido campaign comes as a response to Nestlé’s Nido +3 #Childhoodmoments Masterclass which was hosted on Facebook on 30 July, two days before World Breastfeeding Week (WBW). Heala said after failing to get the event cancelled on social media, the campaign was their way to try and get Nestlé’s attention. It also wanted to raise public awareness of the violation of the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act or R991, which relates to foodstuffs for infants and young children. R991 under sales and promotions prohibits any promotional practice or device advertising of infant formula, follow-up formula and infant or follow-up formula
The family of a four-year-old boy who died after he was hit by a car last month believes he may have survived if it wasn’t for load shedding. Their nightmare started when a car hit Nhlakanipho Zondo while he was chasing a soccer ball. “The driver thought the ball was under his car. But Nkhlakanipho was under his car,” said Mandla Mahlangu, the boy’s uncle. A matter of life or death They rushed the little boy to the Alexandra Community Health Centre (CHC), five minutes from their home. But a security guard told them they could not enter due to load shedding. He also told them that the generator wasn’t working, advising them to take the seriously injured child to Edenvale Hospital. They begged the guard to let nurses on duty examine the child, but he told them to call an ambulance or take the boy to another hospital. Mahlangu
- ///Our Health
African men around the world are prone to a skin disorder called Acne Keloidalis Nuchae (AKN) which if left untreated, worsens causing scars and hair loss. Dermatologists said that AKN also affects people with curly or stiff hair. According to the American Academy of Dermatology Association (AADA), AKN is a common skin condition, which is often mistaken for acne or razor bumps on the back of the neck and scalp. Without proper treatment, AKN tends to worsen which makes it imperative to see a board-certified dermatologist as soon as bumps appear. If not treated immediately, raised scars and hair loss can occur. First-hand experience Health-e News spoke to Mluleki Sibiya, who has been suffering from AKN since he was 18. He believes he developed AKN after gaining weight and shaving with a razor blade almost every week. “I first noticed it when I gained weight due to a bad diet,