Officials highlight dangers of smoking Increase in flu infections

Johannesburg - the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) has said the Southern Hemisphere 2022 influenza (flu) season started in the week from 25 April, and numbers appear to have been increasing.

A similar trend has been viewed from Australia, where cases tripled from 25 April, compared with the previous two weeks. It has been reported in both Australia and SA that the 2022 flu season may be longer and more severe.

Flu is a respiratory tract infection caused by an influenza virus infection that can spread quickly; causing seasonal epidemics that may get people severely ill or dying. Each year flu causes up to 650 000 deaths worldwide, with the highest numbers in sub-Saharan Africa. Annually, there are over 11 000 flurelated deaths in SA, and almost half of the close to 50 000 people experiencing severe flu may need to be hospitalised. Flu viruses circulate at different times of the year, in SA the most impact is between May and September.

Sanofi SA medical head Dr Lourens Terblanche said there appears to be a general increase in cases of flu both locally and abroad.

“While non-pharmaceutical interventions like lockdowns, social distancing and mask wearing related to the Covid-19 pandemic afforded less opportunity for the influenza virus to circulate, the easing of the restrictions may facilitate a surge in flu cases,” Terblanche said.

The World Health Organization and the NICD have stated that flu vaccination is the most effective way to prevent the disease.

“In SA annual flu vaccination is recommended for individuals at high risk of complications or severe outcomes of influenza. The vaccine is however available for any individual from the age of six months to help prevent influenza infection,” Dr Terblanche said.

Groups targeted as high risk in the Department of Health’s 2022 flu vaccination campaign are healthcare workers, persons aged 65 or older, those with cardiovascular disease, including chronic heart disease, hypertension, stroke, and diabetes, chronic lung disease including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and people living with HIV, as well as pregnant women.

“Even in the absence of specific comorbidities, it is important to recognise persons aged over 65 years, or younger than two years, as being at risk, as well as pregnant women,” Terblanche said.

The health department has indicated that the flu vaccine may be given at the same time as the Covid-19 one, each in a different arm.

“Tobacco causes diseases that include cancer, emphysema, pneumonia, tongue cancer, stroke, heart disease, eye and ear disease, chronic bronchitis, asthma and a host of other conditions.”

Lesego Lala

As part of the recent World Tobacco-Free Day, Region F Environmental Health practitioners held an awareness campaign at the Wanderers taxi rank in the Joburg CBD. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) the day aims to inform the public about the dangers of tobacco use, tobacco companies’ business practices and efforts to fight tobacco addiction.

The WHO established the World No Tobacco Day in 1987 to raise awareness about the global tobacco epidemic, and avoidable deaths and illnesses it causes.

The City of Joburg’s health department raised awareness about the deadly and harmful effects of tobacco use in the community.

This year’s World No Tobacco Day was held under the theme Tobacco threat to our environment, and focused on the environmental and health harm caused by tobacco use.

City of Johannesburg health practitioner Sibusiso Mti said: “The campaign focuses on encouraging those who smoke to quit, and to have an environment without smoking.”

Mti said those smoking hookah (a water pipe used to smoke flavoured tobacco), may believe it to be harmless; but it has a similarly negative impact on their health.

“Tobacco causes diseases that include cancer, emphysema, pneumonia, tongue cancer, stroke, heart disease, eye and ear disease, chronic bronchitis, asthma and a host of other conditions. Tobacco not only costs human lives but also causes damage to the environment,” Mti said.

Resident Roney Ratshipaladze said tobacco smokers risk the lives and health of themselves and their loved ones. “People who smoke should put their loved ones first in their priorities, as smoking affects all aspects of our lives.”

Health experts advise that it is never too late or too early to quit. The earlier you quit, the sooner your health improves.

Quitting smoking has advantages that include improved lung function, a healthier body, improved senses of smell and taste, increased energy, reduced risk of lung and heart disease, and reduced risk of cancer death compared to someone who has smoked their entire life.

Warning on the use of heating devices

Johannesburg - The Emergency Management Services (EMS) has warned people to be extra cautious with their heating devices.

Johannesburg EMS spokesperson Robert Mulaudzi says residents must not leave heating devices unattended.

“We urge all our residents to exercise caution while using any heating devices. They must not leave them unattended while in use so

Boxer celeBrates 45 years as the community champion

Boxer is celebrating 45 years of service to South African and eSwatini customers this year and does not show any signs of slowing down in its pursuit of becoming a household name throughout these Southern African nations.

Established in 1977 within the coastal KwaZulu – Natal town of Empangeni, Boxer has evolved over the decades, growing from humble beginnings to over 380 stores across two countries and employing well over 25 000 people. “The key to Boxer’s growth and longevity is the constant endevour to be more for our customer, every day. We live the brand across the company and remain focused on providing a service to shoppers that is memorable,” said Boxer’s Managing Executive Marek Masojada.

The Company, which trades across three formats, Superstore, Liquors and Build, has entrenched itself in the hundreds of communities that it serves by constantly building on its ‘people first’ mantra.

“We employ locally, we empower our teams through education and further learning within our Boxer Training Department and most importantly we always seek to help the communities in the areas we trade through our Ubuntu Projects Division. That is a non-negotiable,” added Masojada.

The Boxer Discount model is a relatively unique form of retail in South Africa that relies on a targeted range of relevant items on shelves and a fo- cus on confined labels to bring home vibrant and often unbeatable promotions. Coupled with constantly evolving service departments including Fruit and Veg, Deli, Bakery and the very popular Butchery, Boxer also offers a range of Value Added Services to its customers and offers a warm and welcome destination to millions of SASSA Grantees who receive this important monthly grant.

And it’s a business style that parent company Pick n Pay’s CEO Pieter Boone wholeheartedly supports and believes, so much so that he revealed for the first time that Boxer would seek to open a further 200 stores in the next few years.

“We are excited about this challenge.

As a Discounter we offer a unique experience to our shopper, one filled with market leading combos, discounts and offers; incredible in store service and an all under one roof experience underpinned by our tagline, ‘Never pay more than the Boxer price.’ that we can be able to prevent fire incidents. That includes things like heaters, paraffin stoves, braziers or imbawula, and also candles, they must not be left unattended while in use,” Mulaudzi says.

I can confidently say that we are ready to bring our Discounter model to every corner of South Africa and, thanks to our 200 additional store target create employment opportunities for many while doing so,” added Masojada.

With four Distribution Centres, a massive and successful Meat Factory and consistently evolving innovation pouring out of its Head Office team in Westville, Boxer, with its Discount Model design is set to change the way we think about shopping.

This year, Boxer celebrates 45 years of joyful service to shoppers in hundreds of cities, towns and communities across South Africa and eSwatini. With massive plans to expand in large numbers, the ‘Community Champion’ shows no signs of slowing down.