Health e News
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Parents may be breathing a sigh of relief as the last of the country’s schools reopen for the 2022 academic year, but not all children are looking forward to meeting their fellow classmates. For them, going back to school means only one thing – more bullying. Simphiwe Radebe* recalls the hellish start to his first year of high school. What should’ve been an exciting time for this 17-year-old Grade 12 learner, quickly turned into something he’d rather forget. Ridiculed by classmates “On our first day of school we had to stand up in class and introduce ourselves and at the time, I wasn’t fluent in English. I was mocked and labelled “umkhaya” which translates to someone who is from the village. I was the laughing stock of the class for weeks,” says Radebe. The matric said he wouldn’t want any child to go through what he went through. He began
No one ever squeals with delight when they have to go for annual health checkups – but this is no reason to dread or avoid them. They are designed to assess the risk of potential medical conditions and allow a doctor to pick up early warning signs. Once you reach the age of 45, these yearly visits become imperative. Early detection and treatment will not only give one a better quality of life, but also possibly a longer life. Dr Mvuyisi Mzukwa, Vice Chairperson of the South African Medical Association (SAMA), highlighted the importance of these health checkups. He also reminded the younger generation that they aren’t immune. “Having an annual checkup is very important. And the purpose is to detect any abnormalities in your system, before they develop. So, it’s very important that you pick it up in in the early stages of the disease,” said Mzukwa. Health tests
It’s official – Gauteng, the former epicentre of South Africa’s Omicron variant driven surge in cases last November – has exited the fourth wave. But, Health Minister, Joe Phaahla, who announced the news while updating the country on government’s latest efforts to fight COVID-19 earlier today, is worried about the country’s vaccination rates. “In terms of the technical definition of a wave, we can now say officially that Gauteng has technically exited the fourth wave this week,” said Phaahla. Phaahla said the National Department of Health has seen a 13,9% reduction of new cases and 6.3% reduction in hospitalisations. However, the Western Cape, followed by KwaZulu-Natal, aren’t out the woods just yet. Both provinces recorded their highest number of cases this past week. Vaccinations rates below par As of 13 January, South Africa has administered 28.7 million doses of vaccines to a total of 18.4 million adults (45.5%) above the
The Eastern Cape Health Department’s woes are escalating by the minute with more than 90 trainee doctors demanding immediate answers. Their contractual obligations haven’t been met as the provincial department faces yet another catastrophe. Having completed their internships, which includes a year of community service, these doctors are unable to seek employment elsewhere. The contract between them and the government stipulates that they have to work within the province for five years after being awarded bursaries. Nowhere to go Financial constraints have made it impossible for the department to place these community service professionals in positions. This has riled them since they are now stuck in the Eastern Cape. Last week, the CommServes (Community Service), marched to Bhisho, the provincial capital, to hand over a petition. They will submit another petition to the government early next week. Dr Mawande Dlamini, the spokesperson for the professionals, said they were disappointed by
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As schools across the country prepare for the start of the new school year, the Department of Basic Education held a media briefing to discuss the state of schools readiness to open, amidst the ongoing pandemic. COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on the Basic Education sector. In addition to learners losing teaching and learning time, many endured trauma with the loss of parents and guardians and teachers. At least 3000 education personnel lost their lives to COVID-19 complications. Measures to contain Covid Deputy Director-General of the Basic Education department, Simone Geyer announced that all primary schools should open at full capacity and should practice maximum feasible physical distancing between learners. The COVID-19 protocol states that children should be at least one meter apart within classrooms and children should have mask breaks every two hours where they go outdoors and remove their masks for approximately 5-15 minutes. Geyer shared that
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As the new year kicks in, so too do our resolutions. And while it might be easy to make these decisions, sticking to them isn’t a walk in the park. The trick is in setting goals that are realistic and which still allow you to enjoy life. What’s the point of making drastic lifestyle changes only to break away and feel guilty? Take baby steps Studies have shown that two-thirds of people give up by the end of January and by mid-February, 80% of New Year’s resolutions have gone out the window. Lauren Wannenberg, a private personal trainer from Cape Town, said that when planning to get back to your healthy routine after the festive season, you should take baby steps. “Firstly don’t beat yourself up about holiday food. It’s all about small steps. Don’t cut food out of your diet, rather eat what you want BUT in moderation,” said
A study has revealed that COVID-19 infection is more likely to cause cardiac arrest or heart problems – as opposed to vaccinations. The study, triggered by reports of numerous suspected cases of myocarditis and pericarditis following vaccination, was conducted in England recently. Participants, aged 16 and older, were monitored for a 28-day period and received their vaccines between 1 December 2020 and 24 August 2021. Researchers discovered that there was an increased risk of myocarditis which was associated with the first dose of AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccines. It was also linked with the first and second doses of the Moderna vaccine and after a COVID-19 positive test. COVID-19 infection carries higher risks The study showed that there is a greater risk of pericarditis, cardiac arrhythmia and myocarditis after being infected with COVID than after vaccination. Among every 100 000 patients who get the vaccine, only 1 to 5 will likely
With the restrictions on the sale of alcohol eased and the curfew lifted, this past festive season has been the most normal we have had since the pandemic hit us. It was also a recipe for a season of boozy celebrations which might have you and your kidneys considering joining the Dry January movement for a period of abstinence. Dry January began as an annual challenge in the United Kingdom (UK) to encourage a healthier, alcohol-free lifestyle. Since its inception in 2013, it has grown into a global movement. Alcohol Change UK, the brains behind the campaign, said Dry January isn’t about giving anything up, it’s about getting something back. Several benefits when going dry Marcel Ndaba is one of the millions of people around the world who joined the movement and hasn’t looked back. “Dry January gives me an opportunity to detox from an excessive intake of alcohol during
The devastating impact of COVID-19 has underscored that medical aid membership is not an optional “nice to have”. The slow pace towards the finalisation and implementation of the proposed government’s National Health Insurance (NHI) means that for the foreseeable future, individual South Africans will continue having to make important decisions and choices about medical aid cover to access quality healthcare. Understanding all the options While there is a vast array of options, medical scheme plans can be confusing. Different schemes offer a wide range of packages, which makes it important for each individual to understand the implications of their choices, depending on personal circumstances. Medical emergencies can arise at any time, and it is not always possible to be prepared emotionally and most importantly, financially. State institutions are often not resourced adequately, hence the need for medical aid cover to meet the costs of medicine, treatments, and hospitalisation. The importance
It’s 3am and I am sitting up on the edge of my bed, woken up by a sharp pain in my abdomen. It’s a familiar pain but I never get used to it. The pain is as regular but far more excruciating than the ping of debit orders leaving my account at the end of each month. This is my monthly and never-ending battle with menstrual pain I have had my worst share of period pains from the age of 15. It seems each year the pains would go from bad to worse, no matter the number of pills I take. I’m now 32 and I still battle with period pain. Not so lucky Perhaps you are wondering why is this a challenge or why it should matter? After all, every woman gets their period every month, at least until menopause. Some women sail through their “monthlies” as though they
The cramps that come with a woman’s monthly menstrual cycle are uncomfortable and can be a serious joy killer especially when painful and persistent. Around 80% of women experience period pain at some stage in their lifetime which can last from when you are a teen right through to menopause. Everyone has heard or read of home remedies to ease menstrual pain when staying in bed isn’t an option. Here are some period pain tips to help you survive ‘that time of the month’ and feel your best. #1 Homemade heating pad A heating pad is one of the easiest and most relaxing remedies that you can put to use. If you’re a DIY lover, here is a quick way to make a heating pad: You will need rice, a sock, and a microwave. You put half a cup of rice in a sock and tie up the sock. Heat
Every patient deserves to feel comfortable and able to speak to health service providers in a language they most understand. However, this isn’t always possible for visually or speech impaired individuals who need Braille and sign language to communicate. Health-e News chatted to some people who are living with these forms of disabilities. Surrender Lehlabile Makwana, from Turfloop near Polokwane in Limpopo, has been blind since childhood. She has dreams of a career in drama or media and is currently working hard to improve her grade 12 marks. She spends time encouraging people to help people living with disabilities to pursue their goals. But, every time she visits a hospital or clinic, she is reminded about her visual impairment. ‘We need instructions in braille’ “I have an issue with the lack of accountability at health facilities. Most health workers don’t treat people who are visually impaired with empathy. Even the