Your Wellness Matters Newspaper|Issue 12|September 2020

Your

September 2020 – Issue 12

Matters The community paper to whom your wellness matters. facebook.com/yourwellnessza

@YourWellnessZA

@your_wellness_za PUBLISHING

Nadia Jaftha Takes Five Page 2

Oral Health Awareness Page 12

WAKANDA FOR EV ER

Getting Candid With Vern Page 21 Tsolofelo Mhabe

ancer has long been misunderstood to affect mostly elderly people. But more and more today we see or hear of younger people, even children contracting this more often than not, terminal disease.

September is amongst others childhood cancer awareness month and more about this is discussed on pages 8, 9 and 10 of this issue.

But allow me to touch on the sudden passing of someone who has fast become an iconic figure to millions of people around the world – Chadwick Boseman. The famed actor who played the character of the comic book superhero, The Black Panther. He succumbed to colorectal/colon cancer at the age of just 43 years old.

Colorectal cancer is the 2nd most common cancer suffered my South African men. Thanks to our partner CANSA, we provide some useful information on this particular disease on page 3.

The Golden Bow

a symbol for breastfeeding protection, promotion and support.

Rest In Power, King of Wakanda – WAKANDA FOREVER | Chadwick Boseman

PARTNERS:

What made Chadwick’s sudden passing so shocking, is that no one knew about his battle with cancer for all of the four years he had it. According to multiple media reports, very few people knew about his condition. Not even Black Panther Director Ryan Coogler knew. Whatever his reason was for not disclosing his condition, one must marvel at how mentally strong he must have been to live his best life despite living with a disease that was literally eating him alive each day. Everyone deals with trauma differently. Some prefer to talk about it while others not. What is important however is to be empowered with information about the disease. Information is power and will not only help with early detection, but also with effective management of the physical, mental and emotional effects thereof.

We encourage our men and women to be proactive with self-screening and increased awareness of their bodies. When some something doesn’t feel normal, seek medical advice as soon as possible.

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Issue 12 - September 2020

“Everytime Youth NADIA TAKESaFIVE TOMember TELL YOU Shows ForFITNESS Training,JOURNEY we Win.” ABOUTupHER Refiloe Nomdada

When did fitness become an important part of your lifestyle?

I've always been quite an active kid hey. I always participated in school sports and extracurricular activities, so I guess it's been a part of my lifestyle for some time now.

When you didn’t have a personal trainer, what was your weekly exercise routine like?

I have a love hate relationship with running so that's definitely been my go-to when I don't have a trainer or when I just need to clear my head.

Do you find having a PT now more beneficial? If so, why?

Definitely, I concentrate better when someone is leading me in my workouts. It helps now more than ever because we all know motivation can be low especially in this lockdown. I try train weekly @sweat_1000 or virtually with @anveralexander_pt.

Are there times when you just don’t feel like training? What then motivates you to be consistent about it.

Yes! For me it's been about moderation. If I don't do 1 hour today, I might have to do 2 hours tomorrow and that motivates me to take it one day at a time.

Do you find it better to train alone or with a few close friends?

Definitely with friends, it's nice to have someone motivate you so you don't slack and give up before you're done.

We’ve seen that you are very vocal in creating awareness of mental wellness. Why is this important to you and how do you take care of your mental health?

It's something I experienced a lot when I was younger and still up to this day. I don't think it necessarily goes away, we just have to manage it better. I personally try an protect my peace in every way possible. I surround myself with positive thoughts, people and avoid situations that make me uncomfortable or anxious.

What advice can you give to our readers who think that they need a gym membership, fancy equipment or a PT to exercise regularly?

Your Wellness Matters is a free wellness community newspaper created to empower readers with preventative wellness information in order to make better wellness and lifestyle decisions.

Contributors • • • •

Western Cape Government: Health Heart and Stroke Foundation CANSA Metrorail

•

NCD Alliance

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Nadia Jaftha Write down your goals. There's nothing more important than seeing what you want and then taking action against that. For fitness especially , we've been blessed with the internet so we can learn and practice things for free without leaving our homes. Search some online fitness/dance workout routines, switch it up if it gets boring. Just keep moving!

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Writers: Zagreb Kline, Refiloe Nomdada, Tsolofelo Mhabe ywm@44tenmedia.co.za

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Issue 12 - September 2020

RONDEBOSCH MEDICAL CENTRE - CATHLAB Advertorial

Rondebosch Medical Centre is a full-service acute hospital, conveniently located in the southern suburbs opposite Red Cross Children’s hospital.

The hospital facilities include the Rondebosch Heart Centre, which is a fully equipped Heart Unit, comprising of a Hybrid Cath Lab, a Cardiac Theatre and Cardiac Wards.

The Hybrid Cath lab combines the traditional diagnostic functions of a Cath lab with the surgical functions of an operating room, the Hybrid Cath Lab is equipped with the latest technology and is fitted with a Digital Bi-Plane Cardiac Scanner and Electrophysiology capabilities. This enables our doctors to perform both endovascular procedure and

open surgical procedure in our Cath lab, this is vital as it helps us treat and manage most of our emergency cases in Cath lab.

Our Cardiac Theatre is also attached to the Cath lab which minimises the risk of complications for open cases can be performed almost immediately.

all types of cardiac arrhythmias using a pacemaker or various types of ablation procedures.

We do a range of cases from diagnostic Coronary angiogram to interventional coronary angiogram, where a highly qualified and experienced cardiologist can insert a stent into the coronary artery to keep the vessel open and enable blood flow.

We have had thus far a good success rate on our TAVI program which is the insertion of a heart valve through the groin without the need to have open heart surgery and undergo general anaesthesia for the selected group of patients who have comorbidities.

RONDEBOSCH MEDICAL CENTRE CARDIOLOGIST & CARDIOTHORACIC SURGEONS Dr S Pandie, Dr S.M Ismail, Dr D Marshall, Dr F. Lorgat, Dr A Lawson, Dr W Koen, Dr L Moodley.

We do a range of electrophysiology studies by a very highly qualified and experienced cardiologist; we treat and manage

We also perform procedures like uterine artery embolization for the treatment of fibroids.

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SEPTEMBER IS HEART AWARENESS MONTH Partner Content

In addition, do attend our weekly webinars, detailed below, which is aligned with our thematic approach.

A Thematic Approach to HAM: Week 1: Heart disease, COVID-19 and co-morbidities Patients with pre-existing conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity and respiratory diseases have heightened vulnerability to develop Covid-19 and tend to have more severe diseases with worse clinical outcome. These patients are therefore faced with a double-edged threat. Not only are they more at risk of developing severe forms of the virus, but they may also be afraid to seek ongoing care for their hearts. The HSFSA urges all South Africans to live a heart healthy life and for those with comorbidities to continue with their medication and attend regular medical check-ups.

Webinar Topic: COVID-19 and the Cardiovascular Patient - A Practical Approach Thursday, 3 September, from 18:00 to 19:30 Week 2: Nutrition, heart health and building immunity Good nutrition is essential to protect your heart. In addition, you can help support your immune system by including important nutrients in your overall eating plan on a regular basis. Up to 80% of heart disease and strokes can be prevented by simply living a healthy lifestyle that includes healthy eating.

Eating well and making good nutritional choices helps to fight heart disease and boost your immune system. Unhealthy lifestyle choices and chronic diseases like heart disease can lead to persistent low levels of inflammation. This abnormal response suppresses the functioning of the immune system.

ties and poor health of millions of people.

Overall, harmful use of alcohol is responsible for 5.1% of the global burden of disease.

Alcohol is the leading risk factor for premature mortality and disability among those aged 15 to 49 years, accounting for 10 percent of all deaths in this age group.

Webinar Topic: Tobacco Control and Cardiovascular Disease Thursday, 17 September 2020, from 17:00 to 18:30 Week 4: The Role of Health Care Practitioners and Allied Health Workers The COVID-19 pandemic is testing all of us, but our Healthcare and other essential services workers are the frontlines and the pandemic only highlights and elevates the central role they serve in healthcare.

Healthcare Professionals treat patients of all ages and high risk population groups, such as people living with Cardiovascular (CVD) and strokes, diabetes, hypertension and severe obesity. Having CVD and other medical conditions increases the risk of becoming infected with the coronavirus.

Since the pandemic, many healthcare professionals and essential services workers have contracted the virus and it is a time of great stress and uncertainty. Those leading the fight against COVID-19 must support both patients and the healthcare and essential services workforce, ensuring risk to the workforce is minimized and they receive much needed mental and physical support.

Government and the business sectors’ key objective is to ensure there is a consistent supply of critical personal protective equipment to protect healthcare workers who are working tirelessly to ensure the public remains safe during this pandemic.

Webinar Topic: Nutrition, heart health and building immunity Thursday, 10 September 2020, from 14:00 to 15:30

Webinar Topic: Health Care Professionals, Cardio-vascular Disease and COVID-19 Please check our web-site for details: www.heartfoundation.co.za

Week 3: Tobacco smoking, alcohol consumption and CVD Tobacco kills more than 8 million people globally every year. More than 7 million of these deaths are from direct tobacco use and around 1.2 million are due to non-smokers being exposed to second-hand smoke and also vaping. Tobacco smoking is a major risk factor for CVD and a cause of every four CVD deaths globally. In addition, alcohol consumption contributes to 3 million deaths each year globally as well as to the disabili-

Use Heart To Beat...

During Heart Awareness Month, the HSFSA will focus on behavioural factors which have a major impact on one’s risk for developing heart disease. The HSFSA, together with key partners from African Heart Network, Campaign For Tobacco-Free Kids and SA Heart will be involved in webinars aligned with the World Heart Federation mission and vision to bring to South Africa’s attention that we can work together to reduce the burden of heart disease. We will light up iconic land-

marks on World Heart Day (WHD) as we drive the global goal of reducing premature deaths from CVD by 25% by the year 2025.

For updates on our Heart Awareness Month webinars, please visit our social media platforms and website for regular updates www.heartfoundation.co.za or call 021-422 1586.

Interviews will be conducted with our CEO, Prof Pamela Naidoo, Health Promotion Officers, dietitians and other relevant experts. To co-ordinate and confirm interview dates you are welcome to contact the Public Relations and Communications Department on 021 422 1586 or Sasha Forbes, PR, Communications & Marketing Officer Email: sasha.forbes@heartfoundation.co.za Contact Number: 076 775 6652 Lumka Mangena: PR & Communications Intern Email: lumka.mangena@heartfoundation.co.za About the Heart and Stroke Foundation SA The Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa (HSFSA) plays a leading role in the fight against preventable heart disease and stroke, with the aim of seeing fewer people in South Africa suffer premature deaths and disabilities. The HSFSA, established in 1980 is a non-governmental, non-profit organization which relies on external funding to sustain the work it carries out.

The HSFSA aims to reduce the cardiovascular disease (CVD) burden in South Africa and ultimately on the health care system of South Africa. Our mission is to empower people in South Africa to adopt healthy lifestyles, make healthy choices easier, seek appropriate care and encourage prevention.

For more information visit www.heartfoundation.co.za. You can also find us on www.facebook.com/HeartStrokeSA and www.twitter.com/SAHeartStroke

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GOVERNMENT RECEIVES MASSIVE COVID-19 DONATION TO HELP MILLIONS AT STATE HEALTH CLINICS Supplied Content

Dettol donates 400 handwash stations and a million bars of soap to promote proper hygiene practices Johannesburg, South Africa, 03 September 2020 – Dettol has donated 400 handwash stations and a million bars of soap to be used at public health facilities around the country.

South Africa’s leading and trusted hygiene and handwashing brand recognises that these items are crucial in the fight against the Coronavirus pandemic. Deputy Health Minister, Dr Joe Phaahla, officially received the donation, saying that it’s widely recognised that scaling up hygiene measures is a key intervention to prevent and minimise the spread of the virus amongst populations around the world. He added, “We are aware that water scarcity and lack of proper hygiene in facilities pose a major challenge in some of our health care facilities.

Thus, these mobile stations are one of innovative measures designed to provide potable hand washing equipment where they are needed most. Primary health care facilities in districts identified as hot spots and areas without adequate hygiene facilities will benefit from this donation.

Dettol has already begun delivery of the stations and soap directly to public health clinics countrywide. The initiative forms part of the Dettol Protects the Frontline campaign, which was launched in partnership with the National Department of Health, the Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape Departments of Health, and healthcare impact company, Triple Eight. Acting Gauteng MEC for Health, Jacob Mamabolo, acknowledged the importance of pub-

lic–private partnerships, and hopes that they will strengthen with time, “I’d like to say to Triple Eight and Dettol that I’m going to assure you that none of the donations you are making to us will be missed in anyway or disappear or be unaccounted for. So, we’re promoting clean governance, clean administration, accountability, ethics and moral leadership as demanded by our country’s constitution and the laws that it creates. So, all this will be accounted for, and I guess that’s the reason why our province remains the destination of donations, and that’s because we uphold these very good values.”

Dettol and Triple Eight’s campaign, with the support of government, aims to help health workers in the firing line in the battle against Covid-19 and focuses on hand hygiene behavioural change.

Kunal Sahgal, Dettol Marketing Director, Africa, says, “We know that handwashing with soap and clean water is the first line of defence against Covid-19 and many other communicable diseases. In addition to the government, health and hygiene companies like Reckitt Benckiser have had an important role to play in ensuring access to and availability of soaps, sanitisers, and disinfectants to help communities protect themselves.”

South Africa has been severely impacted by the pandemic, which has claimed over 14 000 lives. There are just over 72 000 active cases from a total of over 625 000 confirmed cases. The Dettol foot-pump handwashing stations includae step-by-step instructions for correct handwashing with soap and clean water and will be placed at clinic

entrances, where handwashing will be mandatory before entry. Together with the million bars of soap, this intervention will help approximately 200 000 individuals in public health facilities in South Africa each day. They will have better access to hygiene education and protection from the virus and other infectious diseases, like diarrhoea. Dr Susan Louw, Dettol Spokesperson and Pathologist at the National Health Laboratory Service, explains, “Communicable diseases, including Covid-19 and diarrhoea, are transmitted by a failure to practise basic hygiene. Research shows that washing hands with soap and water is one of the most effective ways to prevent communicable diseases and can reduce diarrhoea deaths by more than 40%.”

Dettol soaps have been tested and proven to be effective against the Covid-19 virus.

This is not the first intervention by the company. Sarika Modi, Triple Eight MD, says “Over the past eight years, Dettol has partnered with us in a series of school and clinic programmes, with the full support of the Department of Health, in an effort to reduce preventable deaths from hygiene-related illnesses and to give families the gift of better health.” Another ongoing campaign is the Dettol New Mum Programme, which has, to date, reached over 3 million mothers in public clinics in SA, giving them access to lifesaving hygiene and handwashing education. Dettol has also donated over 3 million bars of soap to help kickstart better practices in the home, at a time when good hygiene is critical to taking care of their new-born babies. The programme has also created jobs for previously unemployed mums who are trained as health workers.

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FREE SKIN CANCER SCREENINGS BY CANSA AND DERMATOLOGISTS IN SEPTEMBER Partner Content

CANSA and South African Skin Cancer Foundation (SASCF) are partnering to offer free skin cancer screenings on 1 September 2020. #CANSAscreening #FightingCancerTogether Gerda Strauss, CANSA’s Head: Service explains, “It’s terrific to partner with SASCF to support this initiative for the 5th year by offering free FotoFinder screenings or clinical skin examinations nationally. On 1 September, CANSA Care Centres in Paarl, George, Port Elizabeth, Bloemfontein, Nelspruit, Durban, Pretoria, Modimolle and Johannesburg will offer free FotoFinder (examining moles and spots on the skin). We encourage everyone to take advantage of this opportunity to be screened as early detection is vital and improves treatment outcomes.”

Dr Marc Roscher, participating dermatologist, adds, “The dermatologists of South Africa are giving back to South Africans by offering free skin cancer screening nationwide on 1 September 2020. There will also be screening sites at the TRIOMF Clinics in Pretoria, Vryheid and NewCastle (appointments can be made via WhatsApp on 083 791 1281). Early diagnosis and definitive treatment by a dermatologist, is the shortest route to skin health. Participating dermatologists are taking part to encourage early detection via free diagnosis.”

Skin cancer is one of the most pervasive cancers currently affecting patients worldwide and since it is visible, the skin can be assessed regularly for lesions that were not

there previously, or do not belong there.

“The lack of melanin and exposure to intense ultraviolet radiation increases the risk of developing skin cancer. This means the lack of melanin in people living with Albinism, increases their risk of developing skin cancer a thousand times over as compared with the general African population. Regular screening is very important. So, please take advantage of this initiative,” encourages dermatologist, Dr Nomphelo Gantsho.

Screening at CANSA Care Centres and by SASCF dermatologists is appointment-based. Appointments can be made via saskincancerfoundation@gmail.com or mailing info@cansa.org.za and they will be awarded on a first-come first-served basis.

Be SunSmart Create simple habits and a healthy respect for the sun: Seek shade and avoid direct sunlight between 10am and 4pm when the sun’s rays are most dangerous. Cover up by wearing thickly woven hats with wide brims and loose-fitting clothes, made of tightly woven fabric that is cool, but will block out harmful UV (ultraviolet) rays. Look out for UV protective beach wear and umbrellas bearing the CANSA Seal of Recognition, remember not all clothing protects against UV rays to the same degree, it’s recommended to look out for clothing with a UV factor tag.

Protect the eyes by wearing sunglasses with a UV protection rating of UV400. #SunSmart A sunscreen or total sunblock is a vital accessory when heading outdoors. If possible, apply sunscreen 30 minutes before going out into the sun, since it takes that long to be absorbed into the skin. Use a sunscreen bearing the CANSA Seal of Recognition. The SPF (sun protection factor) in sunscreen indicates the amount of protection. For example, a tested SPF of 23 implies that the user can remain in the sun twenty-three times longer than without protection before burning. Before applying sunscreen, check the expiry date on the bottle and replace it if necessary. Remember to shake the bottle before using it, reapply lotion after sunbathing, towel drying, or after sweating heavily.

Awareness and early detection are paramount.

The Skin Cancer Foundation of South Africa was founded to alert people to the signs and save lives that may otherwise be lost. Many people don’t realise that burning red in the sun – may be a precursor to skin cancer. Just one bad burn, especially during childhood and young adulthood can lead to years of skin issues, particularly in later life.

Roscher concludes, “The Skin Cancer Foundation of South Africa would like to give special thanks to Clinisut, who are generously donating sutures towards the drive. Thank you too, to Galderma and Eucerin for their generous involvement with the Foundation and this annual initiative.”

Images Supplied

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SEPTEMBERSPAR IS INTERNATIONAL Calls for ActionCHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS MONTH Amidst the GBV Pandemic Partner Content

September is International Childhood Cancer Awareness month and the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) highlights support available to children and parents affected by cancer, through its CANSA Tough Living with Cancer’s (TLC) Broviac / Port and Prosthetics programme and CANSA Tele Counselling service. #CANSATLC #ChildhoodCancer #CANSAcares Cara Noble, CANSA’s National Relationship Manager for Service explains, “One of the biggest needs young patients have during treatment, is a less painful and traumatic experience when it comes to cancer treatment. We help by providing ports or broviacs that enable doctors to administer chemotherapy and get blood samples, with less discomfort to the child than a more typical ‘needle stick’ on multiple occasions. Another need is for prosthetic assistance due to the loss of an eye or limb, and CANSA assists with crutches and wheelchairs if needed.” We’re thrilled to be delivering broviacs and prosthetics at major paediatric oncology units across the country (Polokwane Hospital, Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital, Port Elizabeth Provincial Hospital, Frere Provincial Hospital and Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital) during September, to help save young children from pain and trauma”, she added.

A mother recalls how her son benefitted from a broviac and shares how he did not have to fear regular blood tests, needles and being held down by a number of staff, who had to insert needles into him anymore.

Before his implant, he struggled and kicked every time, as he had an overwhelming fear of needles after months of tests and treatment. Dr O Wedi, Paediatric Oncologist, Polokwane Hospital, is grateful for support

received over the years, “I want to express my deep gratitude to CANSA TLC for the continuous support that our unit has enjoyed over the years. Especially, at this critical period of the COVID-19 pandemic, your support has made a difference and helped us to go through this very difficult time. Thank you very much for the donations of various kinds: ports, broviacs, artificial eyes for our patients with retinoblastoma, and food parcels. From the time of the inauguration of this ward, you have been our biggest sponsor and contributed tremendously to make our work less stressful and improve the quality of life of our kids and the caregivers. We hope that your support will never stop, for the sake of well-being of our patients.”

Dr E J Mathews, Paediatric Oncologist, at Port Elizabeth’s paediatric oncology unit also thanked CANSA for continued support in donating ports, “We’re highly reliant on the donation of these devices used to deliver life-saving chemotherapy, blood products, intravenous antibiotics and other intravenous treatments required by our little patients. It’s well-known that direct venous delivery of chemotherapy can potentially damage vasculature. Therefore, if we didn’t have access to these devices, it’s highly unlikely that our patients would be able to complete chemotherapy protocols.”

Families don’t need to cope with childhood cancer alone. Having a child or teenager with cancer can be a traumatic experience for the whole family. CANSA has recently launched its CANSA Tele Counselling service and offers free, appointment-based counselling for parents / siblings, caregivers and children diagnosed with cancer, in seven languages (English, Afrikaans, isiXhosa,

isiZulu, siSwati, Sesotho and Setswana).

Appointments can be made via the CANSA Help Desk at 0800 22 666 22. Parents / guardians can also join CANSA’s TLC Childhood Cancer Facebook Support group to connect with others walking a similar path.

CANSA currently operates one CANSA TLC Teenage Support room in Cape Town, three CANSA TLC Lodges in Pretoria, Cape Town and Durban and one CANSA TLC Paediatric Oncology Ward in Polokwane where parents of children receiving treatment far from home can stay with their children during treatment.

Noble concludes, “Our CANSA TLC programme continued to support children / teens diagnosed with cancer and their loved ones, throughout the lockdown period by sharing cancer specific information; offering counselling and support groups; port / broviac and prosthetic assistance and medical equipment; food and essential items parcel relief; educational and skills development activities; plus end of life and grief support. We call on the public to help fund our TLC service so that we can help more children and teens, by making an online donation.”

Disclaimer: CANSA is not aware of all children / teens diagnosed with cancer since they go to multiple units across the country.

Although we make regular contact in some identified wards where we have full time volunteer and staff support, we invite all oncology parents and / or legal guardians to contact us in order to register and become part of our Tough Living with Cancer (TLC) support groups. Email tlc@cansa.org.za for support. A referral will then be made to a local CANSA Care Centre for further support.

Images Supplied

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SIMPLIFIED IT SERVICES, A COMPANY BEYOND THE BOTTOM LINE Zahreb Kline Simplified IT Services (SITS) is a turnkey information technology and infrastructure company that was founded in 2008. While IT services is the main offering they are known for, the SITS founders, husband and wife duo Fahmi and Nazreen Jacobs have through their business, been involved in many community projects over the last ten years.

Nazreen, who is the businesses financial manager says they have always been passionate about uplifting communities around them, even from the very beginning when SITS was a start-up. “It is through our love for community work that our NPO SITS GIVES BACK was born. We felt that it was time to separate our business from our work in the community and use the NPO as a vehicle to make a meaningful and sustainable impact in the lives of those who really needed it.” Says Naz, as she is affectionately known.

During June 2019 she paid a visit to Habibia Children’s Home, a shelter for vulnerable girls the same home she visited back in 2010 with her 6-year-old when Simplified IT celebrated its first Mandela Day. “I firmly believe that the Almighty led me back there because when I walked through those doors it felt like home and wanted to do something special for them.”

We decided to do a computer lab for them sponsored by Simplified IT Services and make them our SITS GIVES BACK passion project for 2019. It was our goal to make a sustainable impact on the girls lives and not just invest money but our time too.”

Through this effort SITS hosted a fantasy party for the girls and the SITS team cooked supper for them on Mandela day in their own kitchen. Naz explains that there was so much love felt that they knew these girls would always have a special place in their hearts. Since then they hosted many fundraisers and managed to raise R50000 for the home which enabled some much-needed improvements like new beds for the girls as well as electrical appliances.

They have since also extended their community upliftment efforts to the Heideveld community in collaboration with the Nurul Islam Mosque in in the area. This started with SITS sponsoring and establishing a computer lab in the area’s community center about 8 years ago. SITS GIVES BACK further entrenched itself in the Heideveld community by aligning with the feeding scheme in the area. Due to the high rate of gender-based violence cases last year, they ran a campaign called “Enough “ where the organisation aimed to raise awareness for Gender Based Violence. To achieve this, a concert was held in November 2019 at San Souci High School featuring some of South Africa’s singing sensations, raising funds for the Ihata Shelter for Abused Women and kids . Through this event SITS GIVES BACK raised R25 000.00 and was used to purchase beds for the shelter during the lockdown period which saw a huge rise in Gender Based violence cases.

During December 2019 SITS GIVES BACK hosted

THE SITS TEAM another benefit concert titled “Enough Goes Festive“, hosted at the Ghoema Theatre in Bo Kaap, which raised funds to buy Christmas gifts for kids at Red Cross Children’s Hospital as well as Maitland Cottage Orthopaedic hospital.

Their first fundraiser for 2020 was to raise funds for the CANSA relay for life Athlone event. It was an afternoon tea and was in memory of Anthea Bingle who was due to speak at the event but passed on 2 months prior. “’Enough is Love’, another benefit concert managed to raise R15000 for CANSA Relay for life Athlone and we had the honour of attending the relay and handing over the cheque. What an amazing experience this was, we were deeply moved and made a vow to do this relay annually as a team, remembering the brave people who conquered and succumb to this dreaded illness” says Naz. Their next 2020 initiative up was a sanitary drive for Naz’s Alma Mater, Dryden Street Primary School. Their social media appeal for support received an overwhelming response. With the support of their donors, SITS GIVES BACK managed to donate a number of sanitary towels, hygiene packs as well as infrared thermometers to monitor the children’s temperatures during the pandemic. “We had big plans with the school and then lockdown hit” Naz says with sadness.

During lockdown they were once again in Heideveld, trying to make a positive difference and most importantly ensuring they have a

warm meal every day. On Mandela Day they provided food, party packs and cupcakes for the little ones in Heideveld. “I’m sure by now it is evident how much this community has grown on us” Naz says with a broad smile and love radiating from within.

Naz continues to explain what they had in store for Women’s Month 2020, “This Women’s Month, given the long overdue and necessary focus on GBV, we wanted to do something different. We wanted to recognise the ordinary women in our communities doing extraordinary things.” Once again, their social media platforms were used to launch a competition for people to nominate incredible women doing phenomenal, selfless deeds for their communities. “We were overwhelmed not only by the number of entries, but also the amazing stories coming from communities all over Cape Town” says Naz. The competition was set to run for four weeks with a weekly winner and then an overall winner at the end of the month. Their goal was to draw attention to the admirable efforts of these incredible women whose efforts don’t get featured in mainstream media, and as a result, people don’t know to support them. “Our goal was even if one new contribution was made to any of these amazing women to help them with their efforts, then we would be happy” says Naz. Week 1’s winner came from Bokmakierie, an amazing lady Soraya Hendricks who feedsabout 500 kids daily. “She does odd jobs and uses the

Issue 12 - September 2020 money earned to feed her community without a gas tank or stove of her own. We witnessed how she starts a fire in her backyard and cooks on there. Needless to say, we were humbled by what we saw. This woman needed to be recognised for the amazing work she does on a daily basis. I’m pleased to say that after her win and her story published on our social media pages, she received a gas burner, gas tank and pots from a sponsor.”

Week 2’s winner was frontline worker at Groote Schuur Hospital Waybah Phillips. Her commitment and dedication to her patients was incredibly heartwarming. Because family members are not allowed to visit a Covid patient, their disconnection from sick family members compounded the anxiety experienced by both the patient and their family members. Waybah used her personal cellphone and airtime to afford relatives of Covid patients to stay in touch with one another.

In these trying times Waybah’s compassion for

Your Wellness Matters human life needed to be recognised. She is a true warrior and we have the utmost respect for her empathy and care for others says Naz. In week 3 SITS GIVES BACK visited Jackie Williams, a phenomenal woman from Elsies River who lives on a disability grant, yet uses the little she has to feed up to 200 people a day using donations she receives from family and friends.

The visit to Aunty Jackie left the entire SITS team in tears not just because of the impoverishment of the area, but for the fact that in an area where violence and gangsterism is rife, Aunty Jackie makes sure that the people in her community do not go to bed hungry even if she’s feeding in the dark!

Week 4 saw Fatima Manasse from the Manenberg Safe Home being recognised for her humanitarian efforts. For many years she played an instrumental role in shaping the perspective of vulnerable children and orphans coming from

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different backgrounds. Her home is home to about 15 children who love her unconditionally.

She makes sure that their dignity, protection, care and development is at the forefront of everything she does says Naz. She has really provided a loving home environment for these kids and continues to make a huge impact in her community at large. Aunty Jackie Williams the overall winner as they felt she is making a significant and material difference in her community – despite grave circumstances. Her story pulled at the heart strings many and having seen the condition of the area she lives in, she is just simply amazing.

SITS GIVES BACK has recently adopted Leliebloem house which homes about 60 kids as their focal project for the year, starting by providing them with a meal every Wednesday. Naz says that SITS GIVES BACK has many plans in the pipeline to bring a positive change in the lives of these kids.

WEAR A DOEK THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE Partner Content

Perhaps you’ve never considered wearing a ‘doek’ before, but here’s why you should take a moment to consider trying it out. Even if it’s just for a special meeting at work or a virtual tea with friends and family.

Traditional head wraps have long been worn for cultural, religious or fashion purposes.

Pink Trees for Pauline (PTFP) in association with CANSA have partnered again and invite all clubs, workplaces, schools, institutions and individuals to embrace #doekwithadifference (wearing a head wrap or scarf ) OR wrapping trees in the community in pink fabric.

The #doekwithadifference campaign gives wearers the chance to communicate a non-verbal message of hope and support to those affected by cancer, while raising much necessary funds towards CANSA's care and support programmes. The colourful African wax print doeks can also be used as attractive table runners.

This year your #doekwithadifference is more colourful than ever and will be sold to raise funds at R100 each. Individuals and companies can still show their support by buying the pink fabric at R30 per metre and wrap-

ping trees in their local towns and communities. Doeks and fabric are available at CANSA Care Centres and people are encouraged to show their support by using the hashtag #doekwithadifference on Instagram and Facebook when posting.

Showing support in your community is also a great team building opportunity and companies (big or small) could further engage with #doekwithadifference by launching ‘spin-off initiatives’ such as ‘Wrapped on Wednesday’ or ‘Best Wrapped’ and share photos on social media platforms to generate interest. Some companies even run competitions for the most head wraps / scarves sold.

Buy a Doek & Get a Screening Voucher Those who purchase a doek will receive a 25% discount voucher on the following screening options at CANSA Care Centres: Clinical Breast Examination; Clinical Breast Exam with the breastlight; Pap smear (early detection of cervical cancer); FotoFinder screening (skin and mole analysis) or Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) blood test which

Image Supplied by CANSA

is screening for prostate cancer.

Funds raised from the sale of doeks and pink material will go a long way towards contributing to continued care and support for cancer patients. Funds raised from the 2019 campaign helped CANSA to allocate funding towards a Care Room for elderly patients in Ermelo, medical equipment, patient transport, oxygen supply, stoma bags and accommodation at CANSA Care Homes for patients receiving treatment far from home.

12

Your Wellness Matters

Issue 12 - September 2020

MAKE YOUR CHILD’S DENTAL HEALTH PART OF GENERAL HEALTH Dr Soraya Yasin Harnekar It is Oral Health Month and we are going to focus on the oral health of children. Parents want the best for their children, and this includes good oral health that will provide children with healthy teeth and a beautiful smile.

The following provides the foundation for good oral health for your child (IAPD, 2020- Internal Association of Paediatric Dentistry): 1 - A healthy, well balanced diet, high in natural ingredients and less of the foods and drinks with added sugars such as fizzy drinks. Cavities grow when sweet foods and starches or their left-overs stay in the mouth for long periods of time. Limiting snacking to fruits and vegetables and eating naturally sweet foods and drinks with meals are recommended to avoid cavities and staying healthy.

2 - Helping your child brush their teeth twice a day with an age appropriate amount of fluoride toothpaste from the showing of the first tooth.

3 - Establish a dental home when the child grows the first tooth or by their first birthday. A dental home is a continuous relationship with a dental practitioner (i.e. dentist, oral therapist or oral hygienist) where the child can receive all the care they could need as their teeth grow and jaws develop.

Parents and caregivers often have questions about gaining and maintaining the oral health of their children. We will address some of these with the focus from birth to age 6 years.

Q: Is the primary (milk) teeth important?

Yes, primary teeth are important for chewing, speaking, and appearance. They also keep the space in the jaws for the developing permanent teeth. If primary teeth are removed before their natural time to fall out, space for the second (permanent) teeth may be lost. Children who have had caries (cavities) in their primary teeth have many more chances to have cavities in their permanent teeth. Establishing good habits that prevent tooth decay in primary teeth paves the way to a lifetime with a healthy mouth. Once the importance of primary teeth is recognized, the health of permanent teeth also improves.

Q: At what age do the primary (milk) teeth erupt?

There is a lot of variation among children when the teeth erupt (cut through the gums). Primary teeth begin to appear around 6 months of age.

By age two, 16 primary teeth are usually present and the last to erupt is the second primary molars. By age three years all the primary

teeth are usually present in the mouth (20 teeth – 10 each in the upper and lower jaw).

The primary dentition (full set of milk teeth) is complete (3-5years) and there is usually no erupting tooth until age 6 years when the first permanent molar tooth appears at the back of the mouth, behind the second primary molar.

Q: Which are the common oral diseases that are preventable?

These are dental caries, that is, a hole or cavity in the tooth and gingivitis or gum disease - inflammation of the gums around the tooth.

Both of these diseases can happen when: 1 - Plaque is not removed from the teeth daily and, is allowed to accumulate or pack on the teeth in areas along the gum line and in between the teeth. The plaque (germs) must be removed at least twice a day (in the morning and evening before bedtime) using a toothbrush and age appropriate amount of fluoride toothpaste.

2 - No diet control or limit of the foods and drinks with added sugars including fizzy drinks and fruit juice. Sweet foods and starches or their left-overs that stay in the mouth for long periods of time, without proper cleaning, can start the cavity process. Snacking should be limited to fruits, vegetables and non-sweetened snacks (e.g. popcorn, yoghurt). It is recommended to eat non-sweetened foods and drinks with meals to avoid cavities.

3 - No regular visits to the oral health practitioner to assist the parent or caregiver with assessing the child’s risk of developing these diseases so that an appropriate oral hygiene programme can be implemented for the child.

This dental home can provide the continuous relationship with the oral health team where the child receives all the care needed as the teeth and jaws develop.

Q: Why do young children develop tooth decay?

Children may experience tooth decay (cavities) before they are two years old and can be quite high in certain communities. The most common cause is when a baby is placed in bed at night with a bottle of milk or sweetened drink. The drink in the bottle cling to the teeth all night, and tooth decay begins! The same effect can occur with a sweetened pacifier (dummy). Babies who are breast fed throughout the night over a long time may also be at risk. The decay experienced by these children has a typical pattern and is usually evident near the gum line of the upper front teeth.

Because of the age of these children, treatment becomes a major problem sometimes even requiring general anesthesia.

Q: How are teeth kept clean daily?

Parents and caregivers need to be alert and keep the teeth healthy by brushing at least twice a day (morning and evening before bedtime) with a tiny smear of fluoride toothpaste. This should start as soon as the first tooth shows. (When there are no teeth then cleaning is done with a damp piece of soft fabric to clean the mouth of milk and food).

Brushing is important to remove the left-over food from around the teeth and gums. The frequency of tooth cleaning can be done more often, especially after meals and sweet snacks

Dr Soraya Yasin Harnekar, Former Head of Paediatric Dentistry, UWC Faculty of Dentistry. and is best when supervised by parent or caregiver.

A toothbrush with a short and bulky handle and soft bristles is easier for the young child to manage. Dental flossing is an important addition to the cleaning routine. It cleans between the teeth in areas that the toothbrush cannot reach. If the primary teeth have spaces between them, they do not require flossing as the toothbrush can reach between teeth. If they are not spaced the child’s teeth should be flossed (using flossers with a handle). The dental practitioner can advise as to the need to floss.

The amount of fluoride toothpaste (age appropriate) is adjusted as the child grows.

Children 6 month to 3years use a smear of toothpaste and 3 to 6 year old should use an amount equal to the size of a pea. This amount is safe even if swallowed. However, teach the young child to spit out the excess toothpaste.

The best protection against cavities results from brushing and spitting only. Rinsing is NOT necessary. Toothpaste with 1000 ppm of fluoride makes the tooth more resistant to decay by making the outer tooth layer (enamel) stronger. This benefit is lost when not using fluoride toothpaste. (Fluoride tablets

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Your Wellness Matters

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MAKE YOUR CHILD’S DENTAL HEALTH PART OF GENERAL HEALTH should only be taken on recommendation or prescription from a health care provider).

Occasionally when illness or some other disturbance affects growing teeth, the quality of the enamel is poor. These teeth can decay early and more easily. A dental examination around one year of age helps identify these problems (risk assessment), and allows your oral health practitioner to implement additional preventive measures, like the professional application of fluoride varnish.

Q: Where does tooth decay (cavity) start?

The common areas for tooth decay to start in the primary teeth are: 1 - Along the gum line of the upper teeth (therefore make sure the lip is lifted during the brushing routine) 2 - The grooves of the eating surfaces (occlusal surface) of the back molar teeth.

The dental practitioner can advise about the placement of sealants on theses surfaces to protect them against decay.

3 - In the contact areas between the teeth that have no spaces between them (therefore it is important to floss these areas).

These are the areas where the plaque (germs) accumulates and if not, removed daily, grows and stagnates.

Q: How does the tooth cavity form?

The mature plaque (germs) fed by a sweet diet produce acid to ‘dissolve’ the tooth enamel in the stagnant areas over time. [Plaque/Bacteria + Sweet Food/Diet = Acid x Time] The crown of the tooth has a hard outer

enamel covering. The enamel is made up of crystal rods and held together by a ‘cement’ of loose crystals. This can be seen under a microscopic and not with the naked eye. The acid dissolves the ‘cement’ and draws out the loose crystals holding the rods together (demineralization process). This is a slow process that is happening on a microscopic level. With time the crystal rods become unstable and like a brick wall with no cement holding the bricks together, the crystal rods fall out and a cavity/hole is formed. The plaque can penetrate the enamel and cause further tooth destruction (cavity/hole). Once a cavity/hole is formed the process is irreversible and moves at a faster pace. Parents/caregivers are often amazed that there is a hole in the tooth!

The effective and efficient daily plaque removal is very important. This prevents plaque stagnation and acid formation. Brushing with fluoride toothpaste also makes the outer enamel surface more acid resistant and assists in replacing initial crystal cement loss from the enamel surface.

Q: How can I prevent my child getting cavities as they grow their permanent teeth?

As children start school, they also start increasing their independence with daily habits and food choices in and out of the home. To insure your child continues to have healthy teeth and body: 1 - Continue to supervise brushing with fluoride toothpaste twice a day. As children’s bodies grow, so does their ability to spit and the amount of fluoride toothpaste is not as

crucial. Disclosing tablets or rinses are very helpful to show them the areas where plaque is hard to reach.

2 - Talk to your child about good food and drink choices when they are at school.

Discourage the habit of drinking sweet drinks routinely (soda, chocolate milk, fruit juices or energy drinks), as they increase their chances of getting cavities and becoming overweight.

3 - As your child grows older, encourage to them to minimize snacking between meals and teach them to choose fresh fruits and vegetables instead of snacks made from refined carbohydrates (like chips) or sweets.

Q: What other oral and dental problems can I expect in my child’s mouth?

It is not possible to cover all the problems that you may encounter but parents/caregivers are encouraged to develop a relationship with a dental home where you can address and attend to your child’s oral and dental needs and be provided with the appropriate care. (e.g. Digit-sucking; Tooth grinding; Stains on teeth; Injuries to teeth; Preventive treatments –Sealants and Fluoride applications) Finally, make your child’s dental health part of general health. Looking after your child’s teeth is hard work but can be rewarding in the long term. Make tooth brushing fun and the child will accept it as part of their top to toe grooming. A healthy, well balanced, diet that limits the food and drinks with added sugars, benefit both their oral health and weight control (obesity).

Happy Oral Hygiene Routine!

INNOVATIVE NEW MERIDOL ORAL-CARE RANGE TARGETS GUM PROBLEMS Supplied Content

Did you know 90% of South Africans suffer from gum problems at some stage of their lives? The new meridol© oral care range has launched in South Africa to directly address this issue.

Specifically designed to provide better gum health for patients, the meridol© range consists of toothpaste, a mouth rinse, and a toothbrush. Its clinically proven formulation works by inactivating residual plaque which inhibits new plaque formation and helps promote the regeneration of irritated gums.

Since its development in Switzerland in the 1980’s, meridol© has been tested in more than 100 clinical trials, which have shown the antiplaque and anti-inflammatory properties of the formulation’s unique combination

of amine fluoride and stannous fluoride.

The launch of the new meridol©oral care brand comes as research shows1 that two out of three South Africans are concerned about gum problems and that the threat of gum problems is the biggest oral health concern amongst South Africans today.

"Gum problems can seriously affect people’s quality of life", said Carrick Massey, Marketing Director of Colgate-Palmolive South Africa. “They may lead to people being unable to eat their favourite foods or becoming reluctant to socialise with friends. In its early stages, the condition can be uncomfortable or even painful. If not treated at an early stage, it can lead to

gum recession and bone loss. We’re happy to be able to launch meridol© to address this very real health concern.” Massey said that improving the oral health of all South Africans was a priority for Colgate-Palmolive, and that the company constantly partnered with dental professionals to understand people’s needs, to provide education and to share research and innovation resources to address the biggest issues.

By recommending new meridol© range to patients, dental professionals will now be able to offer an advanced single solution for healthy gums and improved oral health.

For more information on the clinically proven benefits and efficacy of new meridol©, visit https://www.meridol.co.za/

14

Your Wellness Matters

Issue 12 - September 2020

COVID-19 AND NCDS A NEWLY ACKNOWLEDGED VULNERABILITY Partner Content

The South Africa Non-Communicable Diseases Alliance (SA NCDs Alliance) is raising concern over the systemic neglect of non-communicable conditions (NCDs) like obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer, asthma and mental health problems due to neglected NCDs prevention and treatment. Dr Vicki Pinkney-Atkinson, Director of SA NCD Alliance says, “People living with NCDs believe it’s a health right to have proper access to care and medicines, especially now during a time of pandemic. Before COVID-19, the NCDs group of conditions killed most South Africans and remained neglected within government policy and budgets.

lutely critical to sustain life in diabetes, is only available at a hospital-level even if there is a clinic next door,” elaborated Pinkney-Atkinson. Zodwa Sithole, Head of Advocacy for CANSA added, “Patients are feeling frustrated and despondent as they struggle to access vital support services. A cancer patient’s low immunity and high infection risk for COVID-19, results in anxiety and physical distancing and hygiene measures add to a feeling of isolation even as lockdown levels are eased. Part of the response was the launch of our CANSA Tele Counselling service offering free, confidential cancer-related telephonic counselling available in seven languages.”

For so long the many millions of people living with NCDs have lamented, ‘it would be better if I had HIV, then I would get access to quality care and medicines.” NCDs, called underlying conditions during COVID-19, cause most deaths in South Africa. Diabetes kills more women than any other single illness for many years. (1) Government media acknowledge that 90% of those who die following COVID-19 infection had one or more NCD. (2) Act on NCDs Now – Accountability. The early figures coming out of Wuhan showed that NCDs increased the risk of complications and dying. It was clear that survival depended on well-managed conditions such as diabetes. It immediately exposed the fault lines in NCDs care. The aim is to get government to implement ongoing care for those living with NCDs by health workers during and beyond COVID-19. This includes ensuring adequate supply of medications that don’t involve travel and visits to facilities and making use of online and tools for consultations to minimise physical interaction and exposure.

Nosipho (3) puts the human face on the access issue. In late pregnancy, she always needs insulin and asthma medication. Being a savvy diabetic, she knows she is at risk and tries to avoid the minimum five-hour round trip to get her insulin in central Cape Town during the COVID-19 surge. She knows that the risk of infection is high by using public transport and the long waiting lines at the hospital. When asked, the government sectors were unable to offer a solution. For other NCDs like cancer, there are implications of delaying any screening that can result in cancers being detected at a later

The Alliance further proposes performance indicators to assess government’s response to COVID-19 and ongoing NCDs care such as maintenance of food and medicine supply chains, protection and support for vulnerable and neglected people and maintenance of usual health services. “As South Africans went into lockdown in March, the SA NCDs Alliance initiated online support, counselling and information services to keep people healthy such as the diabetes care line. Those of us living with diabetes soon learned that optimal blood sugar control is the best way to survive a COVID-19 infection. However, getting care and a regular supply of medicines in the public sector involved a stark choice; get your medications or get the virus.

Unlike for HIV and TB, a remote non-clinic supply point is a rare option. Insulin, abso-

stage and affecting treatment outcomes.

Pinkney-Atkinson concludes, “What works to keep diabetics and other people living with NCDs safe, is not a mystery. There is plenty of evidence, we need action to provide ongoing NCDs care during COVID-19. (4) During the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond, we must go beyond stopping the virus and our right to get our ongoing essential services safely. We need these drugs and supplies (needles and syringes) to stay alive.”

For more information, please contact Dr Vicki Pinkney-Atkinson, Director of SA NCD Alliance at email vicki@sancda.org.za Call 083 38 38-159. Alternate contact is Lucy Balona, Head: Marketing and Communication at CANSA at email lbalona@cansa.org.za. Call 011 616 7662 or mobile 082 459 5230. References: (1) Statistics South Africa. Mortality and causes of death in South Africa, 2016: Findings from death notification [Internet]. Pretoria; 2018 [cited 2018 Mar 28]. Available from: http://www.statss a . g o v . z a / p u b l i c a tions/P03093/P030932016.pdf (2) SA Government News Agency. SA COVID-19 cases rise to 3 034. SANews.gov.za.

2020;2 (3) Not her real name (4) Young T, Schoonees A, Lachman A, Kalula S, Mabweazara S, Musa E, et al. Taking stock of the

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evidence. Cape Town: Better Health Programme South Africa; 2020. 50 p About NCDs: NCDs are a large group of health conditions that are generally not spread from person to person and used to be called chronic illness until 2000 when the Millennium Develop Goals force a new definition. Often the 5 main NCDs groups of conditions are noted: diabetes, circulatory disorders, mental health, cancer, and chronic respiratory illnesses. However, there are many more conditions that do not get a mention. Globally NCDs conditions are responsible for 41 million deaths annually and they are leading cause of death in South Africa since 2013.

Diabetes is the leading cause of death of South African women.

However, the NCDs agenda is not just about illness it goes to a whole of society and whole of government response and for this we need an expanded understanding, meaning, NCDs+. The expanded NCDs+ advocacy agenda includes prevention, vulnerable populations, stigma control and disability. NCDs+ has many determinants (social, economic, and commercial) that disproportionately impact poor people. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) address NCDs+ and its inclusion as an equal part of universal health coverage. (National Health Insurance in South Africa).

About the SA NCDs Alliance: The SA NCDs Alliance, established in 7 years ago, is a civil society partnership between

three trusted NCDs advocacy organisations: CANSA, Diabetes SA and the Heart & Stroke Foundation SA. Its mission is for the people of South Africa have equitable access to quality NCDs+ prevention and management within universal health coverage/ NHI. For

this important COVID-19 and NCDs+ advocacy project nearly 90 civil society organisations are collaborating: 1 - Cancer Alliance South Africa. 2 - Dementia South Africa. 3 Epilepsy South Africa. 4 - Global Mental Health Peer Network.

5 - Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) SA. 6 - National Kidney Foundation SA. 7 - Palliative Treatment for Children SA (PatchSA). 8 South African Disability Alliance. 9 - South African Federation for Mental Health.

The SA NCDs Alliance's goal in this programme it to ensure that the policy window of opportunity opened by the COVID-19 pandemic is used to make NCDs a priority in government policy through collaboration with NCDs civil society to put it on a par with HIV & TB. www.sancda.org.za

Diabetes helpline +27-81-578-6636

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Your Wellness Matters

Issue 12 - September 2020

CBD’S STAR SET TO RISE IN THE FACE OF A PANDEMIC Refiloe Nomdada

The novel Coronavirus may have wiped out whole industries in the long tail of its economic cyclone, yet it has shaken up others, leaving them ripe for the kind of innovation that only a crisis of this magnitude can catalyse.

One industry that is primed for exponential growth in the wake of the pandemic is that of cannabis, specifically cannabidiol (CBD).

line with international guidelines, such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the United States’ regulatory authority. In addition, CBD manufacturers and distributors are required to adhere to strict guidelines when developing marketing content related to CBD products, while Google’s advertising policy still prohibits brands from promoting CBD products to online users.

According to the World Health Organization, CBD is generally well-tolerated with a good safety profile. It is non-psychoactive and exhibits no effects indicative of any abuse or dependence potential [1], and is renowned for its pain-relieving [2], anxiety-alleviating [3], and sleep-promoting properties [4].

Maasdorp admits that while certainly no cure for Corona, there’s substantial evidence in support of CBD’s anti-bacterial [6], anti-anxiety [7,3] and anti-inflammatory [2,4] properties, making it highly attractive in the midst of a global pandemic.

Says Herschel Maasdorp, CEO of CANNAFRICA, the soon-to-launch lifestyle cannabis brand of Labat Healthcare, “CBD’s role in a time of COVID is becoming ever more prominent, if the international scene is anything to go by.”

“Along with virtually every other business, the CBD industry took a knock during South Africa’s initial hard lockdown in March, as consumer spending ground to a halt in the face of the proverbial rainy day, which had suddenly materialised. However, CBD retailers have since experienced a rapid recovery - particularly those with e-commerce platforms, as many consumers continue to give brick-and-mortar outlets a wide birth,” he says.

Alphagreen.io, a UK-based CBD marketplace, recently revealed that spend on CBD products in Britain surpassed £150m in the first four months of 2020, putting the market on track to achieving a staggering 50% growth when compared to the previous year.

Some are touting this boom to be a side-effect of the wholly unsubstantiated belief in certain users that CBD could possibly alter the trajectory of the COVID-19 disease.

While one Canadian study titled ‘In Search of Preventative Strategies: Novel Anti-Inflammatory High-CBD Cannabis Sativa Extracts Modulate ACE2 Expression in COVID-19 Gateway Tissues’ tentatively showed that certain strains of CBD may potentially lower the risk of contracting COVID-19, the lab conducting the study was quick to caveat that far more research was needed [5].

Maasdorp, however, cautions the industry against suggestions of this nature, and advises that merchants “be wary of filling the vacuum of fear wrought by the pandemic with unfounded claims, which undermines our hard-won credibility; something that the industry is still battling to establish among certain stakeholder groups.”

The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) bars CBD companies from making claims that a product can ‘diagnose’, ‘cure’, ‘treat’, ‘mitigate’ or ‘prevent’ any medical conditions. These guidelines are in

He offers two reasons for this rising popularity. “Firstly, in a disease pandemic, wellness becomes a high-value currency.

'Self-care’ has taken on a whole new meaning: having finally outgrown the sheet mask, it now encompasses the full spectrum of mental, emotional and physical health, cementing its place in society.”

breeding ground for increased chronic stress, anxiety, depression, alcohol dependence, and self-harm.”

Stress management is an area where CBD shines. One study [1] that investigated cannabidiol as a potential treatment for anxiety disorders showed that systemically administered CBD lowered acute increases in heart rate and blood pressure. The compound also conclusively demonstrated its efficacy in mitigating anxiety-related behaviours relevant to multiple disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) and seasonal affective disorder (SAD), among others, with a notable lack of anxiogenic effects [1].

With consumers under mounting pressure, Maasdorp believes that CBD has a valuable role to play in a post-COVID world.

"This places an even greater responsibility on us, as an industry. It is vital that we avoid making unverified or grandiose claims. We must commit to ongoing education that will empower our customers, while adhering to the parameters laid out in the regulatory framework. Remaining transparent and ethically accountable will ensure our industry’s long-term viability, in a world forever changed by this pandemic.”

CBD has shown that it may contribute towards promoting homeostasis by boosting endocannabinoid activity, leading to a growth in demand as consumers seek to enhance their immunity.

Maasdorp says that the second reason for this growth is the sharp spike in conditions such as depression and anxiety across the country “While wide-scale unemployment has risen around the globe, the deep fissures that already exist in our country’s socio-economic fabric have been exacerbated by the pandemic.”

The South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) recently reported that the number of calls to mental health and suicide hotlines had more than doubled since the beginning of lockdown, and were climbing every day.

“The post-COVID landscape is a fertile

Herschel Maasdorp, CEO of CANNAFRICA

Issue 12 - September 2020

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SHOULD YOU WORRY ABOUT THYROID NODULES? Zahreb Kline

Dr Justus Apffelstaedt, specialist surgeon with an interest in breast, thyroid and parathyroid health as well as soft tissue surgical oncology.

Thyroid nodules are solid or fluid-filled (cystic) lumps that can develop in the thyroid gland. They are relatively common and rarely cancerous. About 70% of women above 60 years of age have nodules in their thyroid that are detected on ultrasound; in men nodules are less common but also not rare. You can have a single nodule or a cluster of nodules in this small, butterfly-shaped gland near your voice box (larynx) and in front of your windpipe (trachea).

Although the thyroid is small, it plays a big part in how your body works. It produces and secretes two hormones that affect your heart rate, body temperature and metabolism. Thyroid nodules are classified as cold, warm or hot. Cold nodules do not produce thyroid hormones, while warm nodules function normally and hot nodules overproduce thyroid hormones.

It is scary to be told that you have thyroid nodules, but fortunately more than 90% are non-cancerous (benign) and cause few symptoms. These include a lump in the neck, an uncomfortable pressure sensation on the trachea, a feeling of needing to swallow or difficulty swallowing and discomfort in the neck. Thyroid nodules are often discovered during ultrasounds, CT or MRI scans to investigate something else.[1] These nodules could also, but very rarely, produce too much of the thyroid hormone, thyroxine, which is why patients with thyroid nodules should have a blood test for thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). Thyroid nodules that produce extra thyroid hormones can be the cause of hyperthyroidism with symptoms that include: • Unexplained weight loss • Heat intolerance • Tremor • Nervousness • Rapid or irregular heart rate.[2] Thyroid nodules could be the result of an iodine deficiency in the local diet, overgrowth of normal thyroid tissue, thyroid cysts, thyroiditis, multi-nodular disease of the thyroid (multi-nodular goitre or just goitre) or thyroid cancer.

Overgrowth of normal thyroid tissue, also called follicular adenoma, is not well understood and is not cancerous. They only need to be removed if they are symptomatic due to their size or if they overproduce thyroxine and cause hyperthyroidism.

Thyroid cysts are cavities filled with fluid and are caused by degenerating thyroid adeno-

mas, congenital cysts or overproduction of the storage medium for thyroid hormones (called colloid). The majority of nodules in the thyroid that come to medical attention are colloid cysts. Rarely, inflammatory conditions of the thyroid gland can be the cause of nodules.

Multi-nodular disease of the thyroid or goitre is a thyroid gland containing multiple thyroid nodules. The cause is unknown, but in some cases patients have a strong family history. It often occurs in iodine-deficient populations. Goitres can be quite enormous and spread throughout your neck and even your chest cavity. Although 10% of thyroid nodules are malignant, 90% are so-called “differentiated” thyroid cancers, with an excellent outcome. About 95% of patients are alive and well 35 years after being diagnosed with one of these cancers.[3] It is impossible to tell if a thyroid nodule is malignant due to symptoms or a lack of symptoms. Any thyroid nodule that is visible or palpable should be assessed by ultrasound. In case the nodule has suspicious features on ultrasound, a fine-needle aspiration should be performed under ultrasonographic guidance to determine whether the nodule is benign or cancerous.

Cancerous thyroid nodules tend to grow very slowly with the exception of an exceedingly rare thyroid cancer called anaplastic thyroid carcinoma which has a very poor survival rate.

You have an increased risk of a cancerous thyroid nodule if you: • Are under the age of 30 or older than 50 • Are male • Have a family history of thyroid cancer or other endocrine cancers • Have a history of radiation exposure • Have larger thyroid nodules • Have vocal cord paralysis (hoarseness).[4] If the nodule is cancerous, you should consult an experienced thyroid cancer surgeon as surgery is the most important part of the treatment for thyroid cancer.[5] If you have nodules which are not cancerous and are not causing problems, your thyroid doctor could decide not to treat it at all and monitor it with examinations and ultrasound once a year or every 2 years. Benign nodules rarely turn cancerous.

Hot nodules (nodules that produce excessive thyroid hormone independent of regulatory mechanisms) are treated with radioactive iodine or surgery to remove the nodule to resolve the symptoms of hyperthyroidism, but your thyroid doctor may also try thyroid-blocking medications. If too

Dr Justus Apffelstaedt much of your thyroid is destroyed or removed, you may have to take synthetic thyroid hormones. Thyroid hormones could be necessary if you have an underactive thyroid caused by burnt out inflammatory disease. Your doctor could also use fine needle aspiration to drain fluid-filled nodules.[6] You are most at risk to develop nodules if you: • had X-rays of your thyroid in childhood • have a pre-existing thyroid condition, such as thyroiditis or Hashimoto’s disease • have a family history of thyroid nodules • are 60 years of age or older.

Thyroid nodules are more common in women, but when men get them, they are more likely to be cancerous.[7] People with other conditions and diseases are wary of seeing a specialist and going for treatment during the Covid-19 pandemic.

According to the American thyroid Association there is no indication so far that people who have autoimmune thyroid disease are at greater risk of getting COVID-19 or complications of the virus. Your doctor will be able to give you advice on delaying any treatment due to the pandemic.[8]

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Your Wellness Matters

Mental Wellness

Issue 12 - September 2020

PHARMA DYNAMICS LAUNCHES NEW ‘BOOST RANGE’ TO STRENGTHEN BODY AND MIND

Supplied Content

The COVID-19 pandemic has made boosting immunity a priority for billions of people around the world. To respond to the call for trusted vitamin and supplement products, leading health and wellness firm, Pharma Dynamics has debuted a new line of effervescent multivitamin and mineral boosters that will be available to consumers from September.

The BOOST range – a line extension of the well-established efferflu-C IMMUNE BOOSTER – consists of three new products, calledMAGBOOST, ENERBOOST and DAILYBOOST – all aimed at assisting the body’s natural ability to stay strong and healthy.

MAGBOOST is a multivitamin and mineral supplement targeted at the maintenance of normal muscle function, relieving muscle cramps and reducing tiredness and fatigue.

If you’re prone to suffer from muscle cramps, it might be a sign that your body has a shortage of the mineral magnesium. Cramps typically occur when muscles contract and can’t relax again. Magnesium blocks calcium, the mineral which causes muscles to contract.

Magnesium is also needed for energy production in cells for optimal brain and heart function.

Additionally, magnesium supplementation is known to improve oxygen and energy utilisation, as well as lactate clearance, during, and after, physical activity. Each MAGBOOST effervescent contains vitamin C, trimagnesium citrate, zinc citrate and vitamin K2. MAGBOOST is available in berry-flavour. For more info on MAGBOOST,

watch this video: https://boostlifesa.co.za/magboost/. ENERBOOST comprises of a specially formulated combination of essential vitamins and plant derivatives to help improve mental performance and physical energy. It also contains the natural stimulant, Guarana, which has long been used by ancient Amazonian tribes in Brazil for its range of positive properties. Guarana is loaded with natural antioxidants and fatigue-fighting compounds including caffeine, theobromine and tannins.

If you lead a busy lifestyle, feel tired in the mornings and struggle to concentrate by lunchtime, ENERBOOST (available in tropical flavour) will give you that extra lift.

For more info on ENERBOOST, watch this video: https://boostlifesa.co.za/enerboost/ DAILYBOOST is a complete multivitamin supplement that contains calcium, iron, folic acid and vitamins A, B, C, D and E needed for good bone, skin, muscle and heart health.

Incorporating nutritionally balanced meals into an already busy schedule can sometimes be a challenge. Vitamin and mineral deficiencies can leave the body open to infection, fatigue and weakness. DAILYBOOST (available in a citrus flavour) will ensure you get the complete spectrum of essential vitamins and minerals required to stay fit, healthy and at your best.

If you’re guilty of not eating enough fruits and vegetables, prone to catching colds and the flu or have unhealthy looking hair, skin or nails, DAILYBOOST should form an essential

part of your health regime.

For more info on DAILYBOOST, watch this video: https://boostlifesa.co.za/dailyboost/ Nicole Jennings, spokesperson for Pharma Dynamics, says the new products in the BOOST range follows the success of efferflu-C IMMUNE BOOSTER. “The scientifically proven combination of vitamin C, echinacea and zinc has made efferflu-C a staple product in SA’s immune supplement space. Thousands of South African consumers already rely on the product to keep colds and flu at bay.

“Each product is intended for different lifestyles and has been individually formulated to strengthen the mind and body, so you can get the most from life,” says Jennings.

MAGBOOST, ENERBOOST and DAILYBOOST are available at all leading pharmacies nationwide.

For more info on how to #LiveYourBOOSTLife, visit http://www.boostlifesa.co.za/ or follow @yourboostlife on Instagram and Facebook.

Issued by Meropa Communications on behalf of Pharma Dynamics. For further information, contact Brigitte Taim from Meropa on 021 683 6464, 082 410 8960 or brigittet@meropa.co.za.

Pharma Dynamics’ new BOOST range is available at all leading pharmacies countrywide.

SPAR WOMEN’S VIRTUAL CHALLENGE - ENTRIES ARE OFFICIALLY SOLD OUT! The first-ever SPAR Women’s Virtual Challenge commences on 26 September 2020 and this year, not only are we celebrating the extraordinary women of South Africa, but also aiming to spread the light with our official challenge theme #BeSunshine!

Thank you to all participants who entered the race - entries are officially sold out! Since every entry was sold, SPAR can now donate food parcels to 30 000 survivors of gender-based violence and their families. R170 000 has also been donated to the Jacaranda Good Morning Angels initiative.

“I would like to thank every single participant for stepping up and being involved in this incredible initiative. We are stronger together, as one com-

munity, in the fight against gender-based violence. Spreading the sunshine is what we aim to do best at SPAR and we cannot wait to see all the racers spreading their own sunshine on the day,” says Charleen Goschen, SPAR North Rand Marketing Executive. Do not forget to collect your race pack from your selected SPAR store from 14 September 2020 and remember to tag us on social media using the hashtag #BeSunshine!

For more information on the SPAR Virtual Women’s Challenge, please visit www.sparvirtualchallenge.co.za EVENT DIARY DETAILS: Date: 26 September 2020 Time: 06h00 – 18h00 (subject to current

lockdown restrictions) Location: Virtual Event (participants can select own route and distance)

Issue 12 - September 2020

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COVID-19 PANDEMIC CAUSES SURGE IN CASES OF BROKEN HEART SYNDROME Refiloe Nomdada

A condition described as ‘broken heart syndrome’, otherwise known as stress cardiomyopathy, has increased fourfold since the start of the Coronavirus pandemic. This is according to a study conducted by researchers at Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, USA. Nicole Jennings, spokesperson for Pharma Dynamics says the extended lockdown orders, having to isolate and cancel special events, and not seeing friends and family for an extended period has had a profound impact on our hearts.

“In most cases, broken heart syndrome is triggered by severe stress and extreme emotions, such as having to deal with the sudden loss of a loved one, divorce or a major financial loss. The unexpected rush of adrenaline weakens the heart muscle, causing irregular heart rhythms. It also interferes with the pumping function of the heart, causing a ballooning effect. Sufferers may experience sudden chest pain and shortness of breath – similar to a heart attack – but fortunately in most cases its effect is only temporary. The condition usually reverses itself within a few days or weeks.

“At first, patients seem like they may have experienced a heart attack, but further examination reveals no signs of blocked coronary arteries or history of cardiovascular disease.

“The pandemic has caused severe psychological, social and economic stress in people’s lives all over the world. This research gives us a glimpse into the broader impact that COVID-19 has had – not only on those

with pre-existing health conditions, but also the broader population.” While most recover from broken heart syndrome without any long-term effects, 10% become critically ill and in 1-2% of cases it can be fatal.

Jennings cautions that when sudden chest pain and shortness of breath are present, it should always be taken seriously as it could be a sign of a heart attack, which requires immediate action.

Medical emergency numbers to save to your phone are as follows: • 10177 for an ambulance (nationwide) • 112 can also be dialed from a cellphone • Netcare911 will respond to emergencies whether you are a member or not. Dial: 082 911 or contact, • ER24: 084 124 “Once stabilised, your doctor may run a few tests, such as a coronary angiopathy or take X-rays to take a closer look at your coronary arteries. Other diagnostic tests include blood tests, ECG and an MRI. Your doctor may also put you on medication.”

Risk factors for broken heart syndrome include age, a history of a neurological condition such as epilepsy, previous or existing psychiatric disorder, such as depression and anxiety. Other symptoms include, arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat), cardiogenic shock, fainting and low blood pressure.

She highlights that as the pandemic progresses, self-care is of utmost importance to our heart-health.

“Those who feel anxious and overwhelmed by the pandemic – both physically and men-

tally – need to reach out to their GPs for help.” She suggests the following ways to alleviate stress and anxiety: • Stay in the present. When you find yourself fretting about what could happen, reel yourself back to the present and focus on what’s happening right now. Retraining your brain to deal with anxious thoughts and feelings in a rational way will help get you into a healthy pattern of thinking.

• Practice relaxation techniques to lower stress, headaches and ease tense muscles through deep breathing, yoga, meditation, massage or listening to soothing music.

• Eat healthily. When you’re under a lot of stress, you tend to eat unhealthily, smoke and drink alcohol more often. Revise your diet and eat foods that are high in antioxidants to boost feel-good hormones.

• Exercise. Just 30 minutes a day of moderate exercise, such as brisk walking, swimming or cycling can boost your mood and will help you to think more clearly.

• Get some sunshine. Vitamin D plays an important role in regulating mood and keeping depression at bay, so make a point of spending at least 20 minutes outside every day.

• Phone a friend or family member and speak to them about your concerns. Sometimes voicing your fears helps you to see things more clearly.

• Watch a funny movie. Laughter is good medicine for an anxious mind and has lots of benefits for your mental health and well-being.

“Being proactive about managing stress in your life is good for your heart and may help to prevent broken heart syndrome,” she says.

SAY #GOODBYEOILYSKIN AND HELLO TO REWARDS! Advertorial

Win weekly beauty rewards and monthly cash prizes to the value of R200 000 with POND’S After months of being in lockdown, and people being stuck at home, our beauty routines have been disrupted! Not forgetting that wearing a mask can cause oily skin and unwelcome breakouts, or “maskne”.

As one of South Africa’s most iconic and best-loved beauty brands, POND’S want you to get your beautiful matte skin back with the Lasting Oil Control range, which neutralises excess oil and helps preserve your

skin’s natural balance – mask on, or mask off.

Wash away germs, oil, and dirt with the Lasting Oil Control cleanser, help repair your skin’s barrier with nourishing Vitamins B3 and E and control your oil with the Lasting Oil Control moisturiser, and deep cleanse and tighten pores, reducing oil build up, with the Lasting Oil Control toning lotion.

To reward you for taking care of your skin at home, we are giving away 10 cash prizes worth R10 000 each, plus R100 000 worth of beauty vouchers!

To enter this exciting competition, simply: 1 | buy any POND’S Lasting Oil Control

product 2 | visit ponds.co.za 3 | insert all relevant details (Name, Date of Birth, City, Cell phone number) 4 | enter the last 4 digits of your product barcode To learn more about POND’S Lasting Oil Control, and to view the full competition T’s and C’s, please visit www.ponds.com/za. To follow the conversation on social media, find POND’s on Facebook (@PondsSouthAfrica), Instagram (@ponds_sa) and Twitter (@PONDS_SA), and join the conversation using #GoodbyeOilySkin.

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Your Wellness Matters

Issue 12 - September 2020

Partner Content

Covid-19 And Its Toll On Mental Health

Issue 12 - September 2020

Your Wellness Matters

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WHEN WILL RACISM IN CRICKET BE GIVEN OUT? Zahreb Kline

It’s not always that talent and opportunity meet. And the times that they don’t, the individual with the talent is faced with the dilemma of what to do with it then?

Do they simply forget about it and go on with life as if it never existed? Or do they keep looking for an opportunity for their talent to be recognized, nurtured and celebrated?

This is a scenario for many youths on the Cape Flats. Where desperate socio-economic circumstances coupled with a lack of opportunity may discourage talented youths from pursuing their dreams at the highest level.

But former Proteas paceman and World Number 1 Test Cricket Bowler Vernon Philander chose adversity to be his ultimate motivator. When speaking to Vernon about what the moment was for him, where he realized that he was good enough to be the best, he says “As a kid at school, I just loved to play with a ball. Whether it was soccer, rugby or cricket, it was just about being outdoors and having fun. In fact, I probably still have the record at my primary school for the most ducks” he says jokingly.

Philander continues saying that the decisive point for him was a match between his former high school Ravensmead High and Rondebosch Boys – an esteemed private school known for excelling at sports. “We arrived there with one massive MTN kit bag, and the whole team shared whatever was in there - including just one ball-box. While our opponents (mostly white) arrived in SUV’s and each player had their own kit bag, laughing at us having to share one”.

Vernon goes on saying that his team felt embarrassed and inferior before they even set a foot on the playing field. “When I picked up this atmosphere of inferiority, as captain it was my responsibility to motivate the boys but wasn’t sure how.” In steps his wicket keeper, Llewayne Picardi who said to him “let’s take them on man! And that was all I needed, just one oke who also believed we can win them.” And they did!

That day was when Vernon cemented the ideology within his mentality that no matter where you come from, which car you drive or what equipment you have, your talent supported by determination and self-belief is critical to overcome adverse circumstances.

The next game they played against Herzlia,

Former World Number 1 Test Cricket Bowler Vernon Philander an affluent private Jewish school in the CBD – and won them too. Considering that Ravensmead High was a poor coloured school from the Cape Flats, no one expected them to win. Vernon admits that even some of his teammates didn’t believe they could beat either school. Fortunately, the belief of their captain, Picardi the wicket-keeper and a few others was enough to inspire a winning team mentality. These wins instilled an immense amount of confidence and pride in the team as well as the entire school.

career. Despite having displayed immense talent from an early age, as a coloured, he always had to prove himself to be almost exceptionally better than an average white player in order to get selected.

Vernon says that there certainly is more opportunity for kids today than a few decades ago. And if they want to capitalize from it, they need to dream beyond their immediate environments and give it their best at all times – despite adverse circumstances. But in saying this, he says he isn’t disconnected or insensitive to the realities of youth on the Cape Flats still face today. He knows from experience that some players at clubs come to match day without having eaten for the day yet. A far too common reality for many children of colour whether in an education of sporting environment.

“I remember smashing a door out of frustration that day and questioned why they were having trials if the guy with the best stats isn’t making the team? I eventually stopped trying to prove myself and started being myself, and I think this mental shift is what made me a bit different from the rest.

Some of the things we can do to keep the dreams of youth alive and burning is to be active citizens in any way we can. Like discouraging and reporting vandalism of sports and education facilities. By taking this kind of ownership of our community assets, we invest in the future of our children.

Speaking about his transition from schoolboy and club cricket to professional cricket, Vernon says it was a long road and probably one of the more frustrating parts of his

Vernon emotionally recalls a devastating example of this struggle when he went for trials for the U/15 World Cup in Pretoria. He was without doubt the best all-rounder that week, but when the team was announced – his name wasn’t on the team sheet.

Even when Vernon eventually made the ODI team at around 21 years old, he had no idea where he fitted in. As if he was selected only because of his relentlessness as opposed to his undeniable talent. “No one really spoke to me about roles… No one said this is the role we see you play. Then you get selected then you don’t.”

“I eventually got selected to the Cobras (formerly WP/Boland) and had three or four proper seasons, and in the fourth season I thinking, jeez, what more must I do?! Eventually Gary (Kirsten) called me saying that he spoke to a few batters in the country who said they think if anyone needs a break, it’s me. And that’s how I made the (Proteas) Test team at 26 years old and the second time trying.”

Continued on page 22

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Your Wellness Matters

Evidently, it was an easier journey for some and not for others. For some, a bit of cricketing ability was enough to make the team because the spots were reserved for them.

While others had to display exceptional talent and get multiple third-party recommendations in order to get the nod. This decades-long systemic racism and obstruction of black players has recently erupted into the capitulation of Cricket South Africa, triggered by Lungi Ngidi’s support for the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement and his call for racism in cricket to be abolished.

Lungi received strong criticism for his support of BLM from former Protea players Pat Symcox, Boeta Dippenaar and Rudi Steyn. Boeta is quoted with saying “I am afraid to say 'Black Lives Matter' has become nothing more than a leftist political movement.” Since Ngidi’s brave and necessary support of the BLM movement, and the ensuing allegiance of 30 plus fellow players – of which Vernon is one, it appears that the cricket administrator is finally taking the issue seriously. Having gained insight into Vernon’s candid account of his unnecessary

Issue 12 - September 2020 onerous struggle to get to the top, I fully understand why he stresses that determination is a critical component for the success of black players. Because more than twenty years later, the situation is no different.Vernon qualifies that view by saying this youth must be determined in all their dreams and aspirations – especially in completing their education and seek to upskill themselves beyond school.

Whether it’s a short course, diploma or technical skills training, be determined to succeed at it.

UBUNTUCARE MASK INITIATIVE Partner Content

WoW! (WesternCape on Wellness) is a healthy lifestyle partnership programme of the Western Cape Government Department of Health. By partnering with multiple organisations and community groups, and importantly with volunteer Wellness Champions, WoW! co-creates environments that supports healthy lifestyle knowledge and choices throughout our life course. Our levels of health knowledge (LEARN!), the choices we make today about how we live (LIVE!), the types of food we eat and drink (EAT!), and how often we do physical activities (PLAY!), affect our future health and wellness. WoW! promotes a balance in all 7 Dimensions of Wellness which include physical, emotional, social, environmental, intellectual, spiritual and financial.

The COVID-19 pandemic reinforces the importance of physical wellness towards strengthening our immune system to fight infections and illnesses. New research shows that people with an unhealthy weight and/or a lack of regular physical activity have a much higher risk of developing severe symptoms as a result of COVID-19 infection

(refs). Therefore, WoW! encourages all of us to eat healthy, manage a healthy weight and to do regular physical activity and sit less.

These healthy lifestyle actions will not only help to protect us from developing severe forms of COVID-19 but, importantly, will also help to prevent or reduce our risk of developing chronic diseases - also called diseases of lifestyle. These include obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, stroke, heart attacks and cancer.

In response to the damaging social and economic impact of COVID-19, WoW! is promoting financial wellness through the new UbuntuCare Mask partnership initiative. If ever there was a time for us to work together and help the most disadvantaged in our country, it is now. It is an extraordinary time, and extraordinary measures of solidarity and generosity are called for.

What is the UbuntuCare Mask Initiative?

This is a public-private partnership born out of the need to provide quality cloth facemasks (non-medical) and at the same time create employment within the most impov-

erished and vulnerable of our communities.

Most of our community seamstresses are currently without employment. Many of them are breadwinners for families and even communities. Creating employment for them not only makes free UbuntuCare Masks available to the most vulnerable, but literally puts food on the tables of our many starving citizens.

Within a short period, the UbuntuCare Mask initiative already has created employed for over 120 community seamstresses. Not only do they receive an income but are also making a real difference to preventing the spread of COVID-19. One of our seamstresses, Euphemia Pieterse, explains that “In challenging times we produce masks for people who do not have any. We enjoy making a difference”. Ivy Gertze, says “I enjoy making masks which will be used by people during the COVID-19 pandemic while also getting an income”. And Nicolene Snay explains that “It is nice and exciting to be part of the UbuntuCare Mask initiative and to help save lives. It makes me feel good to help a fellow Continued on page 23 person”.

Belhar Midas

Address: 93 Belhar Drive, Belhar, 7490 Tel: 021 952 1600

Seamstress: Ivy Gertze

Issue 12 - September 2020 What is the UbuntuCare Mask?

The UbuntuCare Mask for kids and adults was developed in partnership with the Western Cape Government Department of Health, Coconut Jazz and ICAN (Infection Control Africa Network) to create an affordable quality mask to the highest specifications for a cloth mask. UbuntuCare is a 3-layer mask, with an inner layer of a polypropylene non-woven filter, providing the highest level of protection for a non-medical mask. It has also been designed for maximum comfort. The construction allows full coverage from the nose over the mouth to underneath the chin without creating gaping on the sides of the face or the chin. But the design allows room within the mask over the nose and mouth for breathing and talking. The mask is designed to tie behind the head but can be easily modified by the wearer to tie behind the ears should they prefer. A full set of instructions is in each pack containing 2 masks. The UbuntuCare Mask is fully washable.

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Your Wellness Matters buy, sell or sponsor funds masks which are handed free to vulnerable communities. All funds received are administered by The Health Foundation, an NPC, at no charge; enabling you to be part of the change by contributing to free masks for people who would otherwise have no access to quality masks.

Buy: https://ubuntuclothmasks.shopstar.co.za

• Wash, dry and iron (if possible) your mask after each wear.

Follow the Golden Rules of Good Hygiene to Stop the Spread of COVID-19

UBUNTUCARE MASK INITIATIVE

How you can help to make a difference!

The UbuntuCare mask will provide you and your family with the highest level of protection given by a cloth mask. Every mask you

Costing can be negotiated for orders above 5000 units. Contact harry@thehealthfoundation.org.za | 072 613 3719.

Sell or Sponsor: harry@thehealthfoundation.org.za | 072 613 3719.

Using your cloth mask correctly • Wash or sanitise hands correctly before putting mask on.

• Make sure the mask always covers your nose and mouth.

• Make sure the mask fits well. Move it around to get the best fit. Once you have put on the mask, DO NOT TOUCH YOUR FACE again until you take it off!

• When removing the mask, touch only the ties and not the fabric.

• Wash your hands after removing your mask.

1. Leave home only when necessary!

2. Wear a cloth mask when leaving home!

Never share a mask!

3. Keep at least 1,5 meters apart from others!

4. Wash your hands often for at least 20 seconds with soap and water. Do not touch your face with unwashed hands!

5. Cough or sneeze into a tissue or your elbow! Safely throw away the tissue!

6. Stay home if unwell! Contact a hotline or your health workers.

The message is simple: I Protect You! You Protect Me! Be UBUNTU! Please Contact & Follow WoW! wow@westerncape.gov.za www.westerncape.gov.za FB: WoW! WesternCape on Wellness WhatsApp: Add 066 390 6646, send Join WoW! + Name & Surname Tel: 021 483 8842

Seamstress: Euphemia Pietersen

Seamstress: Nicoleen Snay

Issue 12 - September 2020

Your Wellness Matters

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CELEBRATE WITH THE CABLEWAY’S ‘COMEBACK SPECIAL’ Supplied Content

The Cableway is reopening its operations with The Comeback Special, which includes an all-day ticket for R360 with two extra tickets thrown in for free!

From 01 September 2020, the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company (TMACC) is looking forward to seeing all of you. The cableway will operate between 08h00 and 15h00 seven days a week - from Monday to Sunday.

“We are excited to have everybody come back and experience our New7Wonders of Nature. We are open and we look forward to resuscitating the tourism industry. This special offer will be available for the whole

month of September,” explains Wahida Parker, Managing Director at TMACC. TMACC is encouraging cashless transactions and the ticket offer is available online. Alternatively, visitors can also purchase tickets at any Pick n Pay store or at the TMACC ticket office from 01 to 30 September 2020.

For those who celebrated their birthdays during the national lockdown, Parker encourage them to claim their free tickets.

Claims can be made until 30 September 2020.

Visit https://www.tablemountain.net/ for

information on TMACC’s strict Covid-19 health and safety protocols to protect the health safety of its staff and visitors.

Ends/ About the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company • Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company (TMACC) has been providing visitors with a world-class experience since October 4, 1929. The company operates in a National Park and World Heritage Site. For more information, visit www.tablemountain.net • TMACC’s ‘The Comeback Special’ is available from 1 to 30 September 2020.

Images Supplied