Health e News
- ///Our Health
An elderly lady in Limpopo is still recovering from severe allergic reactions after a nursing sister at Rebone Clinic forced her to take cotrimoxazole tablets nearly two months ago. Nora Mocheko, 73, pleaded with the nurses to look at her records about her severe reaction to cotrimoxazole. But according to her family members, her pleas fell on deaf ears. Her granddaughter, Thabiso Mochiko, said her granny has since developed burn-like wounds after taking the pill on 19 June. “The nursing sister insisted she must take the pill if she wanted her cough cured,” said Thabiso. Desperate measures “My granny, still sceptical, took the pill home but didn’t drink it that day. She eventually did the next day because her cough was worsening,” added Thabiso. She continued: “Immediately after ingesting the pill, her body reacted with burning sensations in her stomach. Severe sores, like burn-like wounds, started rapidly appearing across most
- ///Health
The world stands at an inflexion point once more in the war against HIV. For those of us working in the field in South Africa, it feels eerily like the battle that was fought 25 years ago. At the time, I was doing my internship as a doctor at Chris Hani Baragwanath. Antiretroviral therapy was available in rich countries but not yet in Africa. It was heartbreaking to know that a simple, yet often inaccessible, intervention was the difference between suffering and relief. We knew we could make a difference. We could stop the transmission from mother to child. We could turn the tide. We could manage the medical conditions of HIV-positive patients, rendering the sickness chronic, rather than the death sentence it had been with its inevitable progression to AIDS – if only we could prescribe and dispense those life-saving ARVs. Ultimately, we were. Turning the corner on this
Breastfeeding is a relationship between two people in a thrilling new, highly vulnerable position: a mother and her newborn. It’s a bonding experience shaped by physiology, emotion and the good and bad realities of life. It is far more than the disembodied and mechanical way in which breastfeeding tends to be communicated in mainstream messaging. This is something that society should be thinking about as we marked World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) between 1 to 7 August. A joint campaign undertaken by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and WBW aims to draw attention to how public health systems, civil society, legislators, policymakers and businesses can strengthen protections for breastfeeding and postpartum parents. Several realities are lost This year’s international theme, “Step up for breastfeeding”, is a call to support the mother-child breastfeeding dyad. Whilst this is an important advocacy point, we must be sure to frame conversations about breastfeeding with mothers
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Sweet foods were an important energy source, but now we consume too much.(Photo Credit: Unsplash/Rod Long, CC BY) Cherie Russell, Deakin University; Carley Grimes, Deakin University; Mark Lawrence, Deakin University; Phillip Baker, Deakin University, and Rebecca Lindberg, Deakin University Humans have an evolutionary preference for sweetness. Sweet foods, like fruit and honey, were an important energy source for our ancestors. However, in the modern world, sweetened foods are readily available, very cheap and advertised extensively. Now, we are consuming too much sugar in foods and drinks – the kind that is added rather than sugar that is naturally occurring. Consuming too much added sugar is bad news for health. It is linked to obesity, type 2 diabetes and tooth decay. Because of these health concerns, manufacturers also started using non-nutritive sweeteners to sweeten food. These sweeteners contain little to no kilojoules and include both artificial sweeteners, such as aspartame and
- ///Our Health
Patients in KwaZulu-Natal who receive their chronic medication through a distribution system claim their pre-packed medicine is often incorrect and inadThe National Department of Health launched the Central Chronic Medicines Dispensing and Distribution (CCMDD) program of Health in 2014. It provides an alternative mechanism to facilitate access for those on chronic medication. But some patients feel shortchanged after they open their boxes only to discover shortages. ‘It happens quite often.’ Joyce Ziqubu* usually collects her chronic medication at Clicks in Hillcrest after receiving an SMS. Her medication was short on at least three occasions. “I normally get seven items, but recently, it seems as if it has become the norm to receive five or six packs. What’s funny is that the receipt inside the box stipulates seven. And if I follow up at the pharmacy, they tell me they are not the ones who pack the medication,” said Ziqubu. She
- ///News
Patients were forced to jump through hoops to access healthcare services at the Thembisa Provincial Tertiary Hospital (TPTH) as violent service delivery protests erupted across the Ekurhuleni township yesterday. Residents blockaded all major roads with burning tyres and rocks, demanding that Ekurhuleni Mayor, Tania Campbell, come and address them over high municipal rates as well as electricity disruptions. While some chose to stay away and miss their appointments at the hospital, others decided to take a chance. No taxis Diepsloot resident William Motaung (50) arrived at the hospital around 6.30 am. This alone was a struggle because similar protests were taking place in his area. “It was not full inside, and I could see the doctor and collect my medicine at the pharmacy sooner than expected. I am happy with the service I received, but I do not know how I will get home because there are no taxis. This
The opening panel discussion at the International AIDS 2022 Conference explored why and how the world must re-engage and follow the science towards our shared goal of overcoming the HIV epidemic. Held every two years, Montreal in Canada is hosting the 24th edition, which officially started last Friday and will wrap up this Tuesday. Several global health authorities like the World Health Organisation (WHO), UNICEF and the Clinton Health Aids Initiative (CHAI) have taken to the stage. Here, they’ve revealed future research agendas and charted a new consensus to those present and a vast virtual audience. Science has played a critical role in HIV and has provided multiple tools to end the HIV epidemic. ‘We have the tools Executive Director of UNAIDS and Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations, Winnie Byanyima, said the tools to end the HIV epidemic in a matter of years now exist. “650 00 people died of
Access to health care services is a basic human right as stipulated in South Africa’s Constitution. Yet, the community members of Mmakaunyana Village in Moretele are being stripped of these rights, which places their well-being under severe threat. The Mmakaunyana Clinic in the North West is at the root of the problem. The multi-million Rand facility is standing at a standstill, forcing residents to make alternative arrangements. Fed up residents Lesego Ramotshidi* is distraught at waking up to yet another week and being told the facility has no electricity. “We are in the third week now, and our families are struggling. We wake up each morning with the hope that maybe we can get help. But we are told there is no power and no backup generator,” said Ramotshidi. The clinic has been operating for over two years now, and it’s not the first time they have experienced problems. It
The lack of basic healthcare services that are youth-friendly frustrates young people from Hammarsdale in eThekwini. They claim they often face discrimination that threatens their fundamental rights. “Our clinics aren’t youth-friendly. We are trying to take responsibility for our health, but when we visit clinics, they ambush us,” said one of the young people. South Africa marked the 46th anniversary of the 1974 Soweto students’ uprising a few weeks ago. These youngsters stood up for their education rights. It’s now important to highlight the barriers preventing young people from using community healthcare services. Section 27 of the South African Constitution says everyone has a right to health care services, including reproductive healthcare services. Section 27 also says medical treatment should be available to everyone. In 2010/11, the National Department of Health initiated the Youth Friendly Services (YFS). The department declared that treating all young people with dignity and respect was
Across the globe, research helps find the root cause of the health challenges or diseases in our society, identify ways to improve behaviours of the affected community, and find solutions to our health issues. Clinical research has critical in bringing new vaccines to our health system. Clinical research – aimed at evaluating a medical, surgical, or behavioural intervention – conducted by scientists in our communities helps resolve complex challenges in our societies. It is the primary way for researchers to establish whether or not a new treatment is safe and effective. Research has a much more significant impact when researchers and communities partner to ensure that research benefits society in terms of which interventions are most needed to improve the lives of South Africans. We need research that treats community participants respectfully, where confidentiality is maintained, informed consent is thoroughly conducted, and their participation is acknowledged during the clinical trial.
Young people in South Africa have been struggling with the burden of mental health problems associated with poverty, disrupted learning, unemployment and even the Covid-19 pandemic. Mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression concern young adults. These issues require the attention of education institutions, bursary providers, student and youth organisations and the government. Cyril Ramaphosa Education Trust (CRET) has always prioritised the mental well-being of its students as part of a holistic approach to tertiary education support. Holistic student support is vital to ensure the successful completion of studies and the social and economic return on investment by bursary providers. To better understand the mental health challenges of the students it supports, CRET surveyed students aged between 18 and 26. Learning to manage stress Of 51 respondents, 90.2% of students felt they’d benefit from discussions about anxiety and stress management. The mental load of tertiary education is made heavier
- ///News, Our Health
Some members of rural communities in KwaZulu-Natal are convinced that a traditional beer known as Ijuba, can cure ulcers by drinking at least two glasses daily to ease the pain. They have taken to social media as well as word of mouth to spread these revelations to their friends and families. Even though this is no scientific evidence to medically prove that Ijuba works, these people are adamant that drinking the beer soothes ulcer pain. However, some believe it’s a myth. Word on the street Health-e News spoke to a few people in the province and all of them agree that Ijuba beer can cure ulcers. Nompumelolo Xaba from Ulazi said although she’s not sure that Ijuba can cure ulcers, it certainly does provide relief in the absence of pills. “I have used it and it has worked for me. Once I have drunk it, I can feel the pain