SPEAKING TO TAMELYN BOCK, WINNER OF MISS WHEELCHAIR SA 2021

Tamelyn Bock is the winner of Miss Wheelchair SA 2021, who will represent South Africa at Miss Wheelchair World in Mexico in October 2022. The aim is to create awareness around 'Beauty without Barriers' and change the perception, narrative, and image of disabled women in South Africa Miss Wheelch…

SPEAKING TO DR. PORTIA MUTEVEDZI, A SENIOR EPIDEMIOLOGIST AT WITS VIDA

The Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics (“VIDA”) Research Unit of the University of the Witwatersrand (“Wits”) South Africans had extensive immunity against severe Covid-19 disease and death prior to Omicron, due to high infections in the first 3 waves and vaccination. This is why when Omicr…

SPEAKING TO SENZEKILE SHONGWE, SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SOUTH AFRICAN DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY GROUP

Teen suicide is becoming more common every year in South Africa. In fact only car accidents and homicide kill more youth between the ages of 15 and 24. In South Africa 9% of all teen deaths are caused by suicide. The fastest growing age is young people under 35, specifically female suicides which p…

SPEAKING TO LORRAINE GOVENDER, NATIONAL MANAGER: HEALTH PROMOTION AT THE CANCER ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH AFRICA

The World Health Organization says cancer is the leading cause of death around the world.This year's theme for World Cancer Day (4 February) was 'Close the Care Gap'. It aims to highlight the huge inequalities in the prevention, detection and treatment of cancer. The Cancer Association of South A…

SPEAKING TO PROFESSOR RUDZANI MULOIWA, THE HEAD OF DEPARTMENT FOR PAEDIATRIC AND CHILD HEALTH AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN

He is a trained paediatrician, and currently runs the Paediatric and Adolescent HIV Clinical Services at Groote Schuur Hospital. Since 2017 Rudzani has served as a member of the South African National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (NITAG).

SPEAKING TO KOKETSO MOKUBANE, GAUTENG REGION REPRESENTATIVE OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN NETWORK OF PEOPLE WHO USE DRUGS

Substance use is an important health and social issue globally as well as in South Africa. According to the 2021 World Drug Report by the UNODC (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime), it was estimated that in 2018 approximately 269 million people globally had used a drug at least once in the pr…

SPEAKING TO IRENE MATHENJWA, MOTHER OF AUTISTIC ADVOCATE, ZEKWANDE MATHENJWA

South Africa celebrates National Disability Rights Awareness Month annually between November 3 and December 3. This Friday, December 3 is the International Day of Persons with Disabilities and is also celebrated as National Disability Rights Awareness Day. • The Zekwande Foundation was started by a…

SPEAKING TO KEVIN HALAMA, PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER AT HOSPERSA (THE HEALTH AND OTHER SERVICES PERSONNEL TRADE UNION OF SOUTH AFRICA)

The Health and Other Services Personnel Trade Union of South Africa (Hospersa) has condemned the recent attacks on Emergency Medical Service (EMS) personnel in the country. According to reports, the union, which has more than 60 000 members in the public and private health sectors, said attacks on…

SPEAKING TO ERIC MPHAPHULI, SENIOR MANAGER: INSPECTORATE OFFICE AT THE HEALTH PROFESSIONS COUNCIL OF SA

Throughout the many years, the Health Professions Council of SA has been urging the public to be on the look-out for bogus doctors. The council says many South Africans fall victim to fraudulent medical practitioners. The recent call comes after the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPC…

SPEAKING TO DR LUSANDA SHIMANGE-MATSOSE, SPECIALIST OBSTETRICIAN AND GYNAECOLOGIST

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), infertility in women was ranked as the 5th highest and most serious global disability. The Infertility Awareness Association of South Africa (IFAASA) confirmed that as many as one in six couples are impacted by infertility. • Infertility occurs in m…