Health
Health Reporter. A batch of 331,200 doses of the vaccine – also known as RTS,S – was offloaded at Yaounde's Nsimalen International Airport, making Cameroon the first African country to receive the vaccine after the pilot programmes in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi. Malaria remains one of Africa's deadliest diseases, according…
Health Reporter. A joint publication by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published highlights an alarming rise in measles cases, disruptive outbreaks and deaths in 2022. Measles cases globally in 2022 are reported to have increased by 18% to over…
By Lehlohonolo Lehana. In South Africa, cardiovascular disease (CVD) is responsible for almost one in six deaths, claiming more lives than that of all the various types of cancers combined. Every day, 225 South Africans die from heart disease and strokes. Shaistah Bux, from a family of smokers who lost…
Health Reporter. A "revolutionary" vaginal ring to prevent HIV is soon to be rolled out in South Africa -- which has the largest epidemic of the virus in the world, a global financing partnership said on Friday. The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria said three groups involved…
By Lehlohonolo Lehana. Photo Credit: Leigh Prather. The Department of Health in Gauteng on Wednesday announced the start of the second phase of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccinations in all public primary and special schools in the province. The department's spokesperson Motalatale Modiba says the vaccination will help protect girls…
By Lehlohonolo Lehana. As South Africa celebrates all things women this August, Dr. Sheryl Smithies, a highly regarded dental specialist based in Cape Town, has emerged as a prominent advocate for empowering female dentists. With her own successful dental practice and a passion for helping people achieve confident smiles, Dr.…
By Lehlohonolo Lehana. The Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill of 2022, first published in 2018, contains critical evidence-based measures to reduce tobacco use in South Africa. The Bill is at last in parliament and a public call for submissions by 4 August has been made by the…
Health Reporter. Every year, over 600,000 women worldwide are diagnosed with cervical cancer and over 340,000 die from this preventable disease, caused by infection with human papillomavirus (HPV). Nine out of 10 women who die from cervical cancer live in low- and lower-middle income countries (LMICs).1 WHO prequalification enables LMICs…
Health Reporter. The virus causing record cases of avian influenza in birds across the world is changing rapidly, experts have warned, as calls increase for countries to vaccinate their poultry. While emphasising that the risk to humans remains low, the experts who spoke to AFP said that the surging number…
Health Reporter. @GettyImages. Marked annually on 31 May, the 2023 theme for World No Tobacco Day is "We need food, not Tobacco. The global WHO campaign calls for suitable policies, strategies and enabling market conditions for tobacco-growing farmers to shift to growing sustainable food crops. While tobacco farming represents only…
Health Reporter. The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) has announced the detection of eight new laboratory-confirmed measles cases in South Africa, with five of the cases being reported in Limpopo. The NICD has been actively monitoring the measles outbreak, which was declared in October of last year in all…
Supplied Content. World Haemophilia Day (#WHD2023) is commemorated globally. The initiative is driven by the World Federation of Haemophilia (WFH), the South African Haemophilia Foundation (SAHF) and supported by global healthcare organisations. These include Roche Pharma Southern Africa, a leader in haemophilia care and a global advocate for patient access…
Supplied Content. Roche Diagnostics recently hosted a Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Workshop to discuss Namibia's cervical cancer elimination strategy. The discussion - focused on fostering collaboration with key stakeholders across the healthcare ecosystem to propel the country forward in eliminating cervical cancer by 2030 - included Her Excellency Monica Geingos, First…
By Lehlohonolo Lehana. @StockPhotos. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has released a new report that says one in six people worldwide are affected by infertility. The 98-page report determines that around 17.5 per cent of adults worldwide are affected by infertility at some point, and found little variation between regions…
Health Reporter. March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness of a disease that affects 1 in 77 men, and 1 in 132 women in South Africa every year. Colorectal cancer (also known as bowel cancer) is the second most common cancer in men after…
Health Reporter. (AFP) - A man known as "the Duesseldorf patient" has become the third person declared cured of HIV after receiving a stem cell transplant that also treated his leukaemia, a study said on Monday. Two other cases with both HIV and cancer, patients in Berlin and London, have…
By Lehlohonolo Lehana. South Africa is among the first recipients of a Word Health Organisation (WHO) award that recognises countries which have eliminated the disease. China and El Salvador were also among the countries that walked away with awards at a ceremony in Cape Town. "This is the first time…
Health Reporter. Approximately 13% of South Africa's children under five years are overweight – more than double the global average. Being overweight and developing obesity in early childhood increases the risk for adult obesity, as well as associated conditions like high cholesterol, diabetes and high blood pressure. All of these…
By Lehlohonolo Lehana. Let’s be honest – we're all tired... The truth is that fatigue is a very common feeling for most of us at this time of year, as we deal with a year's worth of pressure in addition to the demands of always being available and having to…
By Mia Malan and Mohale Moloi. About a five-minute drive off the Borcherds Quarry Road off-ramp to Crossroads near Cape Town on the N2 highway, behind an amagwinya (vetkoek) shop and a tin shack, a cream, two-storey building with a bright rainbow sign towers up. It has heavy security —…
By Lehlohonolo Lehana. Photo Credit: Shutterstock. Finding and effectively treating any form of cancer at an early stage is of paramount importance for increasing one's chances of survival. Regular screening, especially for men and women over 40 years old, is one of the mechanisms recommended by specialists to detect the…
By Lehlohonolo Lehana. The Department of Health has urged South Africans to rally behind the awareness of diabetes and advised that early screening allows early detection and treatment, which can lead to healthy lives. The message comes as South Africa joins the global community to commemorate the World Diabetes Day…
By Lehlohonolo Lehana. The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) has declared a measles outbreak after three cases from two healthcare facilities were reported in the Greater Sekhukhune District, Limpopo, within 30 days. "A measles outbreak is classified as three laboratory-confirmed measles cases reported within 30 days in a district,…
By Lehlohonolo Lehana. Historical under-investment in mental health services in South Africa has been compounded by an increase in insurance incapacity claims for mental health issues, compounded by long Covid health conditions. Alexforbes Health Management Solutions (HMS), a health risk manager within the employee wellbeing space, has seen up to…
By Ufrieda Ho. The short-sightedness of relying on a single morphine powder supplier for South Africa's healthcare facilities has been pinpointed as the cause of a devastating disruption in the supply of liquid morphine that has left some terminally ill patients suffering for more than three months. The CEO of…
By Lehlohonolo Lehana. South Africa has recorded an upsurge in the number of pertussis cases, commonly known as "whooping cough", acccording to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD). NICD says the country saw very few pertussis cases reported through the notifiable medical conditions (NMC) surveillance system in the past…
By Lehlohonolo Lehana. A second fatal case of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) has been confirmed following vaccination with Johnson & Johnson’s (J&J’s) Janssen Covid-19 vaccine. In a statement on Monday, Sahpra chief executive Dr Boitumelo Semete-Makokotlela said a second fatal case of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) had been confirmed. "Causality assessment of…
By Lehlohonolo Lehana. The Department of Health says South Africa currently has about 2 780 people who are on the waiting list for organ donations and transplants, which include kidney, liver, heart and lungs. The Department says the waiting lists are getting longer while more people, including young children, are…
By Lehlohonolo Lehana. The health department announced it was bringing to an end the Covid-19 daily reporting by the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) that has been in place since 2020. This comes after the department and the NICD has been reporting COVID-19 surveillance data on a daily basis…
Health Reporter. The measles outbreak in the Tshwane district has been declared over since more than 42 days, or two incubation periods, have passed without detecting a case, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) said. According to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), as of 11 July 2022,…
By Lehlohonolo Lehana. The South African Health and Products Regulatory Authority (Sahpra) on Friday approved and registered a new combination antiretroviral treatment for infants and young children who are HIV positive. The regulatory body said the treatment came in granules that could be sprinkled on soft food or dissolved in…
By Lehlohonolo Lehana. The South African Medical Association (SAMA) has recommended vigilance among its members and the public after the discovery of the first monkeypox case in South Africa on Thursday. While the case has been confirmed in Gauteng, SAMA cautioned other provinces to be on the lookout for the…
Dr Sharon Nyatsanza – Deputy Director, National Council Against Smoking. On Tuesday, 31 May, countries around the world will mark World No Tobacco Day, which this year highlights the devastating effects of tobacco on our environment. The World Health Organisation's theme for this year is "Tobacco: Threat to our environment."…
Health Reporter. The South African Government is seeking to pass the 2018 Control of Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Bill, which aims to prohibit smoking (including electronic nicotine and non-nicotine delivery systems) in all enclosed public places, private dwellings used for certain commercial activities, workplaces as well as outdoor…
By Lehlohonolo Lehana. After showing the safety and effectiveness of the single-dose Johnson & Johnson Ad26.COV2.S Covid-19 vaccine in two studies, the Sisonke team published one of the first real-world studies on vaccine effectiveness against the Omicron variant in the New England Journal of Medicine on 4 May 2022. The…
Health Reporter. People who are vaccinated and then get infected with omicron may be primed to overcome a broad range of coronavirus variants, early research suggests. A pair of studies showed that infection produced even better immune responses than a booster shot in vaccinated patients. Teams from Covid-19 vaccine maker…
By Lehlohonolo Lehana. Health Minister, Dr Joe Phaahla, has committed to monitor the Global Fund Grant to ensure that it is implemented in a quality manner and that the country utilises the funding received efficiently. Phaahla said this on Thursday in Pretoria while officiating the signing of the new Global…
By Lehlohonolo Lehana. More than a decade ago, it took over 18-months to correctly diagnose 17 year old Capetonian, Jenna Lowe with rare and severe Pulmonary Hypertension (PH). Little was known about this devastating and deadly disease before Jenna set her mind to raising awareness of how the sudden, unexplained…
By Antony Sguazzin. New omicron sublineages show an ability to evade antibodies from earlier infection and vaccination, a South African laboratory study has found. The findings could signal a fresh wave of infections by the BA.4 and BA.5 sublineages of the omicron variant that were discovered this month in South…
Health Reporter. As the global community commemorates World Health Day today, the Department of Health has affirmed it supports a healthy recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. "As a result, the department calls for safe disposal of any COVID-19 related personal protective equipment like facemasks and continued practice of hand hygiene…
By Lehlohonolo Lehana. The United Nations (UN) global health agency Unitaid has announced the rollout of an injection to offer long-lasting protection against HIV in South Africa and Brazil, as an alternative to daily medication. Hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO), Unitaid announced the ground-breaking development on Friday, which…
By Lehlohonolo Lehana. With South Africa currently facing a heightened rate of mental health cases, experts have urged people to open up about mental health, while educating those who do not understand it. The experts were speaking during a webinar on ‘Destigmatising Men's Mental Health', hosted by the Government Communication…
By National Institute for Communicable Diseases. Enteric fever is a potentially life-threatening infection. It includes typhoid fever (caused by the bacterium Salmonella Typhi) and paratyphoid fever (caused by the bacterium Salmonella Paratyphi A, B and C). These bacteria only infect humans, and humans are the only reservoirs. Transmission of the…
Staff Reporter. The Western Cape Department of Agriculture's State Veterinary Services has issued a quarantine notice to pig farmers in Thembalethu, Southern Cape, following laboratory results confirming African Swine Fever (ASF) in the area. African Swine Fever was also detected in KwaNonqaba outside Mossel Bay earlier this month. Western Cape…
Staff Reporter. The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) is calling on everyone presenting with a fever or a "flu-like" illness residing in Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga or people who have travelled to Mozambique in the past six weeks to be tested for malaria. According to the NICD, in a…
By Lehlohonolo Lehana. Booster shots with mRNA vaccines such as those made by Pfizer and BioNTech failed to block infection with the omicron coronavirus variant in the first study of its kind, South African researchers said. Seven German visitors to Cape Town experienced so-called breakthrough Covid-19 infections between late November…
Health Reporter. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Monday approved an injectable form of GlaxoSmithKline Plc's cabotegravir drug that is given every two months to prevent an HIV infection. The injection - Apretude - to prevent the virus that causes AIDS is aimed as an alternative to daily…
By Lehlohonolo Lehana. @IPA. Discovery Health, South Africa’s largest private health insurance administrator, has published its first data on the Omicron variant and its early impact on the country. In a presentation on Tuesday (14 December), the group noted that its data was taken from the first three weeks of…
Health Reporter. Children in South Africa were most affected by the ongoing COVID‑19 pandemic, the 2020 General Household Survey (GHS) has found. Released by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) on Thursday, the survey found that COVID-19 had had a distinct impact on the nature of childcare arrangements for children aged…
Health Reporter. The South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) has encouraged South Africans to engage in safe sexual practices by using SABS certified condoms. This plea comes as the world observes World Aids Day, on 1 December, which serves as a reminder to everyone that HIV/AIDS is still prevalent and…
By Lehlohonolo Lehana. South Africa confirmed on Thursday, 25th November that it has detected the new Coronavirus variant B.1.1.529 in the country. The variant was discovered through collaborative efforts with private laboratories and the Network for Genomic Surveillance in South Africa (NGS-SA) members. NGS-SA is a network of laboratories, scientists…
Health Reporter. The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) has urged local residents and holiday travellers to be alert about the prevalence of rabies in Limpopo, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape. In a statement, the Department on Wednesday said the viral disease had also been detected on…
Health Reporter. South Africa has recorded a steady increase in the number of influenza cases from 23 August, with a sharp growth in the week starting 1 November 2021. The data shows that the total number of influenza cases detected by the syndromic sentinel surveillance programmes conducted by the National…
Health Reporter. File:The Pfizer logo is displayed at the company's headquarters in New York, on Feb. 5, 2021. In a statement on Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2021, drugmaker Pfizer Inc. said it has signed a deal with a U.N.-backed group to allow other manufacturers to make its experimental coronavirus pill, in…
Health Reporter. A survey conducted by the World Health Organisation (WHO) has revealed that African people who have diabetes and contract COVID-19 have a significant higher chance of dying. This is according to WHO Africa Region’s Dr Benido Impouma, who was briefing the media ahead of World Diabetes Day which…
By Lehlohonolo Lehana. The South African Medical Association, which represents doctors, said there must be a choice of Covid-19 booster vaccine after Johnson & Johnson won the right to run research on the half a million health workers who took the company’s shot in an initial study. The Sisonke trial,…
By Lehlohonolo Lehana. The Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) is considering a number of options to increase Covid-19 vaccination uptake in South Africa – including mandatory vaccinations for government workers. In a circular sent to department heads and director generals this week, cited the Occupational Health and Safety…
Staff Reporter. The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) and Johnson & Johnson (J&J) on Friday approved vaccine booster doses for all healthcare workers who received the first shot as part of the Sisonke Study. This comes after the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommended a second…
By Lehlohonolo Lehana. Health Minister, Dr Joe Phaahla, says South Africa still has a long way to go to recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic to rebuild the country’s health system and improve mental health services. Speaking during the National Dialogue on Mental Health on Monday, Phaahla cited…
Health Reporter. South Africans working from home since the implementation of lockdown restrictions in early 2020 are putting in longer office hours than before; are affected by household disturbances during work hours; and experience increased and unnecessary conflict in the home as well as social isolation. This is according to…
By Lehlohonolo Lehana. The South African Medical Association (SAMA) says it is necessary that vaccine booster shots for healthcare workers – including doctors – are made available immediately. The not-for-profit group, representing the interests of more than 12,000 medical doctors in South Africa, said that it was concerned about the…
Staff Reporter. A total of 6 843 children, aged between 12 and 17 years, had received their one shot of the Pfizer vaccine by 4pm on Wednesday after the country kick-started its vaccination campaign for youngsters. The Department of Health’s records show that out of the 39 109 adolescents who…
Staff Reporter. The Department of Employment and Labour's Inspection and Enforcement Services has appealed to employers, supported by employees and organised labour to comply with the COVID-19 occupational health and safety direction or face fines. Published on 11 June 2021, the minimum requirements of the 4th Direction, “Occupational health and…
Staff Reporter. Over the next decade, the sheer burden of cancer in South Africa is estimated to double to to at least 160 000 cases per year. It’s a sobering number from the civil society organisation. The Cancer Alliance, whose leadership believes the country is only going to be able…
Staff Reporter. The World Health Organisation (WHO) and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) have called for governments to increase investment in and access to mental healthcare services for children living in Africa. This as South Africa commemorates Mental Health Awareness Month in the wake of WHO reporting that at least…
By Kerry Vermeulen, Healthcare adviser at Alexander Forbes Health. South Africa is entering medical aid 'open season', where members can change their specific option. It is opportune to consider your requirements and benefits, rather than simply remain on the same plan for lack of an in-depth understanding. Many medical aid…
Health Reporter. @ManjurulHaque. The first vaccine for malaria, the mosquito-borne disease that kills about 400,000 people each year, is set to be deployed more widely after more than three decades of work. The vaccine developed by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and its partners won a recommendation from the World Health Organization (WHO)…
Health Reporter. In the second pandemic year with new variants rising and straining the country, the health of South Africans remains a top-of-mind concern. COVID-19 is not our only battle. The country has high levels of diet and lifestyle-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as hypertension and Type 2 diabetes, as…
By Lehlohonolo Lehana. October is Mental Health Awareness Month, and as more South Africans struggle in a fragile economy, many are experiencing the mental health issues associated with being over-indebted. As early as April last year, a survey by personal finance website JustMoney.co.za revealed that the coronavirus pandemic had "significantly…
By Lehlohonolo Lehana. Healthcare in South Africa, although not a commodity, is a multi-billion-rand industry. The industry’s sheer size and nature place it at major risk of Fraud, Waste, and Abuse (FWA). To share the intricacies with a view to curbing FWA, GEMS will hold a virtual Symposium where industry…
By Carin Smith. Pharmaceutical group Aspen could see as many as 225 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccine produced at its Gqeberha factory between July this year and June next year, deputy group chief executive Gus Attridge said on Thursday. The first of the vaccine sales -…
By Lehlohonolo Lehana. A study analysing whether an experimental HIV vaccine regimen is safe and able to prevent HIV infection in a high-incidence population of young women in sub-Saharan Africa has been halted. "This follows data that the experimental vaccine did not effectively prevent HIV acquisition. However, no significant safety…
Staff Reporter. Covid-19 patients face a much higher risk of developing blood clots than those vaccinated with AstraZeneca Plc or Pfizer Inc’s shots, according to a large UK study. For every 10 million people who receive the first dose of AstraZeneca, about 66 more will suffer from a blood-clotting syndrome…
Staff Reporter Moderna will be starting a clinical trial for its experimental HIV vaccine, and the first phase could kick off as early as this week. This is based on submissions that have been made to the US National Institutes of Health Clinical Trial registry. This new vaccine is said…
By Lehlohonolo Lehana. The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) and the National Immunisation Safety Expert Committee have reassured the public that both the Pfizer and Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccines are safe to use. Both vaccines were subjected to rigorous requirements, where clinical trials were performed to demonstrate…
By Lehlohonolo Lehana. The University of Pretoria (UP) has launched South Africa’s first exclusive Diabetes Research Centre at a public academic institution. Approved by the university senate in November last year, the centre is a collaborative initiative that brings together all the research happening in silos in different departments. The…
Staff Reporter. Two cases of rabies have been confirmed in jackals from the Cradle of Humankind area in the Mogale City Municipality, Gauteng, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) said. These two cases were detected in June, while three jackals in the same area were suspected of rabies, but…
By Susan Weedman, senior consulting manager at Alexander Forbes Health. New members applying to medical aid schemes need to understand that there is a waiting period before they may claim. They pay full contributions to the medical scheme during this waiting period, but cannot yet claim for full benefits from…
By Lehlohonolo Lehana. Cape Town-based specialist biotech company, Biovac, has reached a deal to manufacture the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for distribution within the African Union (AU). According to a statement released on Wednesday, this makes Biovac the first company in Africa to produce a mRNA-based vaccine. Biovac is set to…
By Lehlohonolo Lehana. From fake cures for coronavirus to phishing scams, fraudsters have been taking advantage of people’s fears around the pandemic. Now, South African medical manufacturers and suppliers are also in their sights. Fraudsters are targeting established companies that normally respond to legitimate South African National Department of Health…
Staff Reporter. Dis-Chem Pharmacies on Thursday (1 July) announced the launch of its same-day on-demand delivery service, offering delivery within 60 minutes, and giving customers access to a range of 7,000 items across health, nutrition, beauty, cosmetic and electrical products. The launch of Dis-Chem’s DeliverD service will be trialled in…
Staff Reporter. A not-for-profit organisation aimed at giving young people suffering from depression and other mental health issues free access to therapy has launched with the goal of completing thousands of professional therapy sessions in their first year. Launched today both locally and in the United Kingdom,Hope of Guardians aims…
Staff Reporter. Registration is now open for the 16th edition of the iThemba Walkathon, which will once again be a virtual walk. Due to ongoing Covid-19 restrictions, this year's walk will again feature decentralised walks, encouraging participants to walk in small groups in their local neighbourhood across the country. "The…
By Lehlohonolo Lehana. COVID-19 has impacted infected people in different ways. Some have been asymptomatic; many have had mild cases; some have had to be hospitalised but didn’t need ventilation and others have endured long stays in ICU. There are those who have recovered quickly, but a number of people…
Staff Reporter. Organon (NYSE: OGN), celebrated its launch on 4 June, as the only global company of its size focused on women’s health. Worldwide women’s life expectancy is on average 75.6 years while in South Africa life expectancy for women is on average 68.42 years. Organon South Africa aims to…
Staff Reporter. A study funded by the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) has revealed that a novel six-month treatment regimen is effective for multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). This is according to the NExT Study, a randomised TB trial meant to determine whether treatment for multi-drug-resistant TB rifampicin-resistant TB (MDR/RR-TB) could…
Staff Reporter. The Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities (DWYPD) has encouraged citizens to break negative social norms surrounding menstrual hygiene. The department made the call on Thursday, ahead of Menstrual Hygiene Day, observed globally on 28 May. The department, on the day, rallies behind global efforts to…
Staff Reporter. As many of us know all too well, a cancer diagnosis for you or a loved one is a sea change. While day-to-day life goes on, cancer symptoms and the ongoing effects of treatments usher in a myriad of adjustments. Typically, our food preferences and eating habits are…
Staff Reporter. A new study published in Lancet Global Health has revealed asymptomatic individuals were also able to spread flu, transmitting it to about 6% of household contacts. "For this reason, authors of the study believe asymptomatic infections to be an important driver of flu transmission," the statement read on…
By Lehlohonolo Lehana. Every year we observe May 12 as International Nurses Day along with the birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing. International Nurses Day is observed to honour nurses every year on May 12. Nurses are essential caretakers for a prosperous society. During this pandemic,…
By Kerry Vermeulen, senior consulting manager at Alexander Forbes Health. Medical expenses are increasingly squeezing our purses, with private medical cover being an unavoidable expense for most. However, you can claim certain of these medical costs from the tax collector, offering some relief. Here’s how to maximise your tax refund.…
By Coenie Smith,Nedbank National Manager for Medical Professionals. A developing and progressive healthcare sector is the lifeblood of any nation. In SA, achieving such a well-functioning healthcare sector requires the commitment and support of both the government and private sector. However, while we have a robust regulatory framework, proactive health…
By Myrna Sachs, head of Alexander Forbes Health Management Solutions. Of the more than 1,4-million South Africans who have recovered from Covid-19, some patients have lingering after-effects, a global phenomenon called ‘long Covid’, which needs to be recognised and managed by employers as it impacts overall work performance. Evidence of…
Staff Reporter. People who have fought off the Covid-19 virus will be deliberately reinfected in a first-of-its-kind trial at the University of Oxford that may shed light on how to develop more effective vaccines against the pathogen. Researchers are looking for 64 healthy, previously Covid-infected volunteers from 18 to 30…
Staff Reporter. Winter is approaching in this second year of the pandemic, and the ongoing threat of COVID infection combined with the advent of colds and flu season has us doubling down on the best ways to support immune function. While no foods or dietary supplements can prevent COVID-19 infection,…
Staff Reporter. Rare cases of clotting that have been seen with two Covid-19 vaccines have put the spotlight on an uncommon reaction that occurs when the body unleashes its immune firepower against blood platelets. Health officials are exploring whether and how the immune reaction may occur in people who have…
Staff Reporter. A major issue in South Africa is the long queues at public hospital pharmacies. Many patients who rely on public healthcare have to regularly take a day off work to collect their chronic medicines. Through Right ePharmacy, in conjunction with the Department of Health and BBD, an innovative…
Staff Reporter. British American Tobacco South Africa (BATSA) has stepped up the rollout of its Better Tomorrow strategy and its goal of reducing the health impact of its business with the opening of the first VUSE Inspiration Store in South Africa in the Canal Walk shopping centre today. VUSE is…
By Lehlohonolo Lehana. World Tuberculosis (TB) Day is commemorated annually on 24 March, to educate the public about the impact of this infectious disease. The date is that on which Dr Robert Koch discovered the TB bacterium in 1882. Numerous efforts across the globe aim to eradicate TB, says Myrna…
Staff Reporter. The South African Medical Research Council will soon implement the country’s first Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS). GATS is a global standard household survey aimed to enhance countries’ capacity to develop, implement, and monitor tobacco control interventions through systematic monitoring of adult tobacco use and tracking of key…