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 previous year. This is expected to rise to 299 million people by 2030. After more than a decade of living on the streets and using drugs, Koketso Mokubane has officially been clean for the past three years. Koketso now works as a peer educator for the Campus Office of Substance Abuse Prevention (Cosap) — has also been cleared of hepatitis C, thanks to the harm reduction programme offered by the NGO.

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 previous year. This is expected to rise to 299 million people by 2030. After more than a decade of living on the streets and using drugs, Koketso Mokubane has officially been clean for the past three years. Koketso now works as a peer educator for the Campus Office of Substance Abuse Prevention (Cosap) &mdash; has also been cleared of hepatitis C, thanks to the harm reduction programme offered by the NGO.

The Bridge - Health interviews

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

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 Wheelchair South Africa is passionate about raising funds to help other disabled
individuals in need. She has created a platform to showcase projects she is currently busy with and it will give individuals updates during my reign.


Tamelyn Geneview Bock also created the website to raise funds in order for her to represent South Africa at Miss Wheelchair World in Mexico, California this year October.

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 Wheelchair South Africa is passionate about raising funds to help other disabled individuals in need. She has created a platform to showcase projects she is currently busy with and it will give individuals updates during my reign.
 Tamelyn Geneview Bock also created the website to raise funds in order for her to represent South Africa at Miss Wheelchair World in Mexico, California this year October.

SPEAKING TO TAMELYN BOCK, WINNER OF MISS WHEELCHAIR SA 2021

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 Omicron arrived, the country did not see a corresponding rise in hospitalisations and deaths.

This is according to a study which was led by researchers at the Wits Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics Research Unit (Wits-VIDA), and involved collaboration from scientists at the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) and the South African Medical Research Council.

The Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics (&ldquo;VIDA&rdquo;) Research Unit of the University of the Witwatersrand (&ldquo;Wits&rdquo;) 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 Omicron arrived, the country did not see a corresponding rise in hospitalisations and deaths.
This is according to a study which was led by researchers at the Wits Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics Research Unit (Wits-VIDA), and involved collaboration from scientists at the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) and the South African Medical Research Council.

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

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 peak between 15 to 19 years!

Teen Suicide Prevention Week
● Teen Suicide Prevention Week (February 14 – 21) highlights awareness around teen depression and suicide, especially with the increased stressors of the pandemic.
● Suicide is the third leading cause of death in 15- to 19-year-olds (WHO, 2020).
● As the pandemic has worsened across the globe, so has the mental health of children and teens.

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 peak between 15 to 19 years!
Teen Suicide Prevention Week ● Teen Suicide Prevention Week (February 14 &ndash; 21) highlights awareness around teen depression and suicide, especially with the increased stressors of the pandemic. ● Suicide is the third leading cause of death in 15- to 19-year-olds (WHO, 2020). ● As the pandemic has worsened across the globe, so has the mental health of children and teens.

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

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