Molefi Sompane

A Free State men's advocacy group has called on young boys to consider medical circumcision.

Medical circumcision: FS group urges boys to reconsider

A Free State men’s health advocacy group is encouraging men and boys to consider undergoing medical circumcision instead of the traditional practice. And, in doing so, they won’t be placing themselves at risk after 13 initiates died in the Eastern Cape last year. Culturally, circumcision is regarded as a sacred rite of passage. Every year thousands of youths enter initiation schools where circumcision is one aspect of the practice. However, as the traditional circumcisions are not carried out in clinical conditions, initiates are often injured or die. A journey that must be taken Free State’s house of traditional leaders spokesman, Chief Mota, said initiation is a journey from teenage boy to adult man. “Once a boy decides to go through initiation or cultural circumcision he has seen that he is a man and he needs to be initiated fully to be one,” said Mota. He said the custom is important

Ntombela celebrates as Free State reaches major COVID-19 vaccination milestone.

Ntombela praises COVID-19 vaxxers as FS marks milestone

The Free State has ticked off another box on their to-do list after it was revealed that the province has administered one million COVID-19 vaccine doses. With an overall population of two million, the vaccination campaign has been deemed a major success, but Premier Sisi Ntombela has urged the rest of the population to get out and get jabbed. She expressed gratitude to everyone who heeded the call to receive their vaccination during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. “This is indeed an achievement because it gives us an advantage in the battle against COVID-19. We are truly thankful to those who have chosen survivial over fear,” said Ntombela. Calling on the youth “The majority of the people who have been vaccinated are between 36 and 70 years old, so we want to urge the young ones to make use of the opportunity,” Ntombela told Health-e News. She said the province hoped

Mobile clinic boost for Botshabelo residents

Mobile clinic boost for Botshabelo residents

The Pule Sefatsa Clinic, in Botshabelo in the Free State, has extended the provision of primary healthcare services to a newly-established informal settlement via a mobile clinic that visits the area once a week. By Molefi Sompane.
Dad of three regrets ignoring early signs of thyroid cancer.

Thyroid cancer: #CheckYourNeck warns dad-of-three

A father of three, battling thyroid cancer, has highlighted the importance of taking action early and visiting a doctor regularly to check for any abnormalities.
heat stroke

Moqhaka Municipality: Mabuza vows to fix water problem, but will he deliver?

Deputy President David Mabuza has promised residents of Moqhaka Local Municipality, in the Free State, that their problems with contaminated water would be resolved by mid-December.
Vooma Vaccination Weekend deemed a success in Free State this past weekend.

FS Vooma Vaccination drive a success but province ‘can do better’

This past weekend’s Vooma Vaccination campaign went well in the Free State, but Minister of Health, Dr Joe Phaahla, has urged the province to extend its vaccination drive if South Africa wants to reach its target of population immunity by December. By Molefi Sompane.
Woman holding pregnancy test

Shocking new wave of HIV, pregnancies among FS teens

In what has been labelled a ‘disaster’, a director of an NGO in the Free State is fuming following the release of HIV and pregnancy statistics which reveals a shocking new trend in the number of HIV infections and pregnancies among adolescent girls.
World Suicide Prevention Day

World Suicide Prevention Day: Help is around the corner

As South Africans mark World Suicide Prevention Day, experts warn that many people who suffer from mental health issues either don’t know where to get help, or refuse to do so due to stigma.
Free State Health MEC Montsheng Tsiu is planning to take the vaccine drive to places were the majority of people are.

Free State: Tsiu aims to reignite COVID-19 vaccine spark

The Free State Department of Health, headed by MEC Montsheng Tsiu, will extend its vaccination drive to taxi ranks and shopping malls with the hope of reigniting the initial COVID-19 vaccination buzz which has died down in recent weeks.
Cheetahs rugby star encourages fans to get vaccinated.

Cheetahs rugby star: ‘Hurry up and vaccinate!’

Leading by example, the Toyota Free State Cheetahs rugby team recently got vaccinated against COVID-19 and is now encouraging their supporters to do the same so that they can attend games at stadiums again.
COVID-19 outbreak at Ladybrand Primary School a major concern for Free State Education Department.

Free State: Ladybrand COVID-19 outbreak ‘alarming’

The Ladybrand Primary School in the Free State is causing the province’s department of education major concern after 87 learners tested positive for COVID-19 this week. This latest outbreak comes days after Grey College Secondary reopened their doors after experiencing a spike early August.
Free State Health MEC, Tate Makgoe, concerned about cluster outbreaks at schools in province.

Free State schools: Makgoe losing sleep over COVID-19 cases

Free State Health MEC, Tate Makgoe, has expressed his concern at the rising number of COVID-19 cases in several schools and has urged learners to exercise extreme caution as the virus continues to batter the province.

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