The Bridge - Health interviews
The Bridge - Health interviews
20
APR
Dineo chats to Dr Boitumelo Semete
SPEAKING TO DR BOITUMELO SEMETE-MAKOKOTLELA, CEO AT SAHPRA (SOUTH AFRICAN HEALTH PRODUCTS REGULATORY AUTHORITY)
The SA Health Products Regulatory Authority (Sahpra) has recommended that the temporary pause on the rollout of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine be lifted “provided that specific conditions are met”, the organisation said in a statement on Saturday evening.
“These conditions include, but are not limited to, strengthened screening and monitoring of participants who are at high risk of a blood clotting disorder.
• SA placed a temporary suspension on the J&J vaccination rollout last week while scientists probe the possible link between the vaccine and a rare type of blood clot in the brain.
• This is after the US’ Food and Drug Administration reportedly took a decision to pause the use of the vaccination pending a review, after reports that six women in the US developed rare cerebral venous thrombosis, which are blood clots in combination with low blood levels of blood platelets.
The SA Health Products Regulatory Authority (Sahpra) has recommended that the temporary pause on the rollout of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine be lifted “provided that specific conditions are met”, the organisation said in a statement on Saturday evening.
“These conditions include, but are not limited to, strengthened screening and monitoring of participants who are at high risk of a blood clotting disorder.
• SA placed a temporary suspension on the J&J vaccination rollout last week while scientists probe the possible link between the vaccine and a rare type of blood clot in the brain.
• This is after the US’ Food and Drug Administration reportedly took a decision to pause the use of the vaccination pending a review, after reports that six women in the US developed rare cerebral venous thrombosis, which are blood clots in combination with low blood levels of blood platelets.
14
APR
INTERVIEW - IS THERE STILL NEGATIVE STIGMA AGAINST MENTAL ILLNESS?
SPEAKING TO NKULULEKO BENEDICT MHLONGO, PSYCHOLOGIST, LECTURER,COMMUNITY ACTIVIST AND PHD CANDIDATE,ACADEMICALLY AND CLINICALLY
TRAINED AT THE UNIVERSITY OF THE WITWATERSRAND.
TRAINED AT THE UNIVERSITY OF THE WITWATERSRAND.
06
APR
SPEAKING TO DR MATHOBELA MATJEKANE, CEO AND FOUNDER OF CLINIMED, A MEDICAL PRACTICE WITH THREE LOCATIONS IN CAPE TOWN
Dr Mathobela Matjekane said she hoped her story would encourage others to take the risk of contracting and spreading Covid-19 seriously, as she described it as “fighting a monster squashing your lungs”. A local doctor and mother of two describes her experience of getting Covid-19 twice as only through God’s grace she survived severe symptoms that left her gasping for air after walking a few steps.
Doctor who contracted Covid-19 twice ’survived through God’s grace’
• It is terrible. I would not wish it on anyone. The first time I (didn’t) believe I had Covid-19...
What stood out for me though was the shortness of breath I had never experienced with flu
before. Then a friend contracted the virus and shared their symptoms and I realised it must
have been Covid-19,” she said.
• Matjekane said she recovered within two weeks, enabling her to go back to work.
• “With the second wave around November/December a number of people were testing and
many were testing positive. For every 10 people we tested, at least seven would come back
positive,” she said.
Doctor who contracted Covid-19 twice ’survived through God’s grace’
• It is terrible. I would not wish it on anyone. The first time I (didn’t) believe I had Covid-19...
What stood out for me though was the shortness of breath I had never experienced with flu
before. Then a friend contracted the virus and shared their symptoms and I realised it must
have been Covid-19,” she said.
• Matjekane said she recovered within two weeks, enabling her to go back to work.
• “With the second wave around November/December a number of people were testing and
many were testing positive. For every 10 people we tested, at least seven would come back
positive,” she said.
30
MAR
SPEAKING TO DR. NJERI MWAGIRU (PHD), SENIOR FUTURIST OF THE INSTITUTE FOR FUTURES RESEARCH AT THE UNIVERSITY OF STELLENB
• Dr. Njeri Mwagiru holds a PhD in Business Administration from the University of Cape
Town Graduate School of Business.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), an infodemic is " too much information
including false or misleading information in digital and physical environments during a
disease outbreak."
• Dr. Mwagiru, a senior futurist of the Institute for Futures Research at the University
Stellenbosch Business School, says vaccine conspiracy theories are often accepted
as truth because of social anxiety and a lack of public trust.
• The futurist says individuals need to take responsibility for fact-check information while
media houses and educational institutions need to provide more critical analysis
Town Graduate School of Business.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), an infodemic is " too much information
including false or misleading information in digital and physical environments during a
disease outbreak."
• Dr. Mwagiru, a senior futurist of the Institute for Futures Research at the University
Stellenbosch Business School, says vaccine conspiracy theories are often accepted
as truth because of social anxiety and a lack of public trust.
• The futurist says individuals need to take responsibility for fact-check information while
media houses and educational institutions need to provide more critical analysis
09
MAR
SPEAKING TO DR. MMAMONTSHENG DULCY RAKUMAKOE, CEO OF THE QUADCARE MEDICAL CENTERS IN SOUTH AFRICA
Health minister Dr Zweli Mkhize recently thanked health care workers for their contribution in the fight against Covid-19 as SA marked exactly one year since the first case was recorded. The South African government’s COVID-19 vaccination rollout programme has made some strides, with more than 100 000 healthcare workers having been administered the Johnson and Johnson vaccine. We are now joined by one of the fortunate health care workers who have been vaccinated to hear their experience.
02
MAR
SPEAKING TO DR KOBUS ROUX, PSYCHIATRIST AND MEMBER OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN SOCIETY OF PSYCHIATRISTS
Burnout – the state of absolute exhaustion resulting from chronic stress – is considered a
work-related condition but with lockdowns and remote working blurring the lines between
home and office and classroom. “Lockdown burnout” is a reality in the “new normal” of
Covid-19.
As people juggle working from home with running a household, childcare and assisting
children with online learning, along with fear and anxiety about Covid-19 risks, uncertainty
about jobs and finances, and lack of access to their usual de-stressing activities, the
pressures of daily life are greater and so too the risks of burnout.
work-related condition but with lockdowns and remote working blurring the lines between
home and office and classroom. “Lockdown burnout” is a reality in the “new normal” of
Covid-19.
As people juggle working from home with running a household, childcare and assisting
children with online learning, along with fear and anxiety about Covid-19 risks, uncertainty
about jobs and finances, and lack of access to their usual de-stressing activities, the
pressures of daily life are greater and so too the risks of burnout.
24
FEB
23
FEB
16
FEB
SPEAKING TO SIBONGISENI DELIHLAZO, COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER AT DEMOCRATIC NURSING ORGANISATION OF SOUTH AFRICA (DENOSA)
It is a matter of fact now that many healthcare workers are exposed to the virus and DENOSA’s main concern is the safety of both healthcare workers and community members. According to Denosa, Healthcare workers are anxiously waiting for the vaccine roll-out as they are the first in line to get the vaccine.
03
SEP
2019
27
AUG
2019
30
JUL
2019
