Treatment

 

Staking by die San Michele-tehuis in Brakpan is vir eers opgeskort nadat een van die psigiatriese pasiënte dood is

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Die staking by die San Michele-tehuis in Brakpan is vir eers opgeskort nadat “een van die pasiënte dood is”, het Ellen Bodoza, woordvoerder van die National Union of Public Service and Allied Workers (Nupsaw), gesê. Dié vakbond verteenwoordig die stakers.

Bodoza het Maandag gesê hul lede het by die tehuis vir psigiatriese en gestremde pasiënte gestaak en ’n 6%-loonverhoging geëis.

Die staking het Vrydag begin.

“Hoewel die loonverhoging deur die departement van gesondheid goedgekeur is, het die bestuur geweier om dit te aanvaar. Ons lede is vroeër ingelig oor die sterfte en die staking is intussen opgeskort,” sê Bodoza.

Sy kon nie bevestig of die werkers vandag sal terugkeer werk toe nie.

Intussen sê Marius Bosman, bestuurder van dié tehuis vir psigiatriese en gestremde pasiënt dat die stakers kan nie geblameer word vir die dood van die pasiënt  nie.

“Sy was verstandelik erg gestremd en op die oomblik wil ons nie te vinnig reag
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Disabled persons left to fend for themselves due to strike at San Michele’s home for psychiatric and disabled patients

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The management of San Michele’s home for psychiatric and disabled patients in Brakpan on the East Rand are in panic after most of the staff members of the home have started a protected strike action. More than 200 patients are left unattended during.

Marius Bosman, administrator of San Michele, explained on Saturday that about 90 staff members, including caregivers, cooks and cleaners, have down tools due to wages and bonuses dispute since Friday morning.

“Where we usually have a staff corps of about 85 people throughout the day and 15 crews of staff, we currently have only one matron and five volunteers to look after our 203 patients,” Bosman said.

“We are currently experiencing a crisis and should, with the help of the few volunteers, ensure that patients are fed, fed, bathed and taken care of.”

https://youtu.be/YSqZTO86GUU

Hannes Noëth, executive director of Solidarity Helping Hand, sent delegates from this welfare organization to the hostel to urgen
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Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital:- Possible link between baby formula, deaths in Joburg hospital

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Two types of bacteria were found in baby formula tested at the Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital, but toxicology tests haven’t been done.

A possible link between baby formula and necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) in premature babies could explain the deaths of nine babies recently at Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital in Johannesburg, an expert has suggested.

But Stasha Jordan, director at SA Breastmilk Reserve, warned that while studies suggest a correlation between the use of formula in new-born babies and NEC – a medical condition – several factors had to be considered when such outbreaks occur.

After several infant deaths in hospitals around the country this year, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases couldn’t find the cause of the outbreak.

According to the institute, the presence of two types of bacteria were found in the baby formula they tested at the hospital. The testing revealed the presence of Bacillus and Streptococcus
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Malaria is still a major problem in Africa, now there are a novel approach that brings African scientists closer to a malaria vaccine

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Originally published by Faith Osier on The Conversation. There are over 200 million clinical cases each year and approximately half a million deaths.

There are different ways in which malaria can be controlled. Preventive measures include use of insecticides in bed nets or indoor spraying programmes. Medicines can also be used to prevent or treat malaria, but resistance often develops and drugs lose their effectiveness.

The World Health Organisation reported that progress in controlling malaria has stalled.

As an immunologist, I dream that one day we will have an effective vaccine that will help eliminate malaria. I think this is possible because for over a century, we have known that humans do become immune to malaria. In places where there is lots of malaria adults don’t succumb to the disease, but their young children do.

In experiments conducted over 50 years ago, researchers showed that blood could be taken from adults who had become immune and used
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Hospital News:- Rahima Moosa Hospital: “The hospital has violated the right of access to health” – says SAHRC

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The South African Human Rights Commission inspected the Rahima Moosa Mother & Child Hospital on 8 November.

The investigation at the Rahima Moosa Hospital followed after a necrotising enterocolitis outbreak at the hospital took the lives of nine infants from March to July 2018.

After the visit to Rahima Moosa Hospital , Buang Jones from the South African Human Rights Commission said in a press briefing:

“From what we’ve gleaned so far, the hospital has violated the right of access to health. [..] They’ve also violated Section 28 of the Constitution which says that’s the best interest of children are of paramount importance.”

The hospital, which assists in the delivery of the approximately 13,000 babies yearly, acknowledged the death of the infants in August, but the cause of the outbreak is still unknown. The outbreak was contained in August.

According to a tweet posted by Jacaranda News, the SAHRC’s investigation also revealed that the Rahim
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MEDICAL AIDS News:- Spectramed and Resolution Health merge

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Spectramed Medical Scheme and Resolution Health Medical Scheme (Resolution Health) have merged to form Health Squared Medical Scheme, as from 1 January 2019.

Independent auditors confirmed that 93% of members voted for the merger, and the schemes have extensively engaged with the Council for Medical Schemes (CMS) and, with their involvement, the merger process is now subject to final approval by the CMS and Competition Commission.

Health Squared will be administered by Agility Health, which is currently the managed care provider and administrator for both Spectramed and Resolution Health.

The launch of Health Squared forms part of an overall strategy to protect the interests of members while strengthening the service offering in the context of future developments in the South African healthcare landscape.

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The question on everybody’s mind is:- How will the State Liability Amendment Bill affect victims?

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According to Kirstie Haslam, partner at DSC Attorneys, the proposed State Liability Amendment Bill which the government is seeking to pass, will have consequences for medical malpractice claimants, as it aims to both limit and structure the payment of damages where a patient has been a victim at a State hospital…

Haslam believes that the move from the lump sum system to the proposed periodic system is unworkable.

“The principle difficulty with the introduction of this Bill is that it is nothing more than a stop-gap interim solution pending possible greater legislative reform,” she explains. “As matters stand, the South African Law Reform Commission is undertaking an extensive investigation into what it terms “medico-legal claims” and in that context this Bill – which has a potentially massive impact on victims of medical malpractice perpetrated in State-run institutions, which would be mostly the poor – is premature.”

Administrative
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Man’s tumour misdiagnosed as a headache at Groote Schuur Hospital – told to take a tablet and go home

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A growing tumour eating into the nasal passage of a Mitchells Plain man was diagnosed as a headache by staff at Groote Schuur Hospital after he went to the trauma unit to get help for the pain. Faried Jassiem, who felt too ill to go to work, went to the trauma unit after he felt he would pass out, but he never saw a doctor.

Jassiem’s wife, Zaafirah Jassiem, said: “A male nurse said to him why do you just come here with a headache? They became abrupt with him and told him to take a tablet and go home. They gave him a referral letter for Mitchells Plain Day Hospital.

“Sick as he was, and in pain, he had to get on a bus and travel to Mitchells Plain. On the bus his nose started bleeding. When he got to the day hospital, the nurse told him they might not see him that day.”

Zaafirah said her husband went back to the day hospital the next day in unbearable pain. By then his eye had shifted and he was experiencing double vision.

A doctor at the day hospita
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This is what the ANC-government did to SA’s health care! – Cancer patients in KZN must wait up to six months for mammogram screening

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Health MEC Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo is on record calling for people to get screened for early detection of cancers.

And late last month, the national and provincial health departments launched a cancer campaign to educate people that many cancers were preventable or could be “successfully” treated through early detection and timeous treatment.

However, more concerns about the KwaZulu-Natal oncology crisis have been raised by advocacy groups after revelations that the waiting period for a mammogram screening is currently more than six months.

At least four women have told the Daily News that they will undergo screening between May 9 and 16 next year. Three said they had gone to uMlazi’s Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital “some months ago” concerned about lumps in their breasts, and to their shock were told to return in May next year for mammograms.

The fourth woman had since been told at Port Shepstone Regional Hospital that she had cancer.

Mammogra
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SA’s medical health in shambles – 21 Patients still missing after the devastating Life Esidimeni tragedy that occurred in 2015

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Twenty-one mental health patients who were part of the individuals transferred from Life Esidimeni healthcare facility to illegal NGOs are still missing.

In 2015, former Gauteng MEC of Health Qedani Mahlangu terminated a contract with the private hospital, saying it has become expensive to keep them there.

This resulted in 144 patients losing their lives.

The Democratic Alliance’s Jack Bloom says it is worrying that they have not been found after they have been missing for so long.

“The MEC for health has said that the Special Investigating Unit has been brought in to investigate. I think this is very good because some of these patients could’ve died at these NGOs and be secretly buried.”

Meanwhile, the spokesperson of the Gauteng MEC, Lesemang Matuka, says the department is concerned and it is pleading with the public to assist them in finding the patients.

“We once again call on the members of our communities or anyone who might have infor
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Good news for Cape Town:- The old Conradie Hospital earmarked for R3 billion development

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The Conradie Hospital was opened in 1938 and was, at one stage, one of the top treatment centres for Spinal Neurodegenerative Disease.

The City of Cape Town has prioritised the development of the old Conradie Hospital precinct which has lain dormant for more than 16 years.

The ‘Conradie Better Living Model’ is a redevelopment initiative undertaken by the Western Cape Government to provide affordable housing to locals. The dilapidated and disused area, which is 22 hectares in size, is due to be converted into an integrated, sustainable, and affordable residentially-led, mixed-use neighbourhood.

Conradie Hospital grounds get a new lease on life
The abandoned Conradie Hospital, which is nestled between Thornton and Pinelands, will be revitalised by the construction of 3602 houses‚ two schools and a commercial centre.

For the past 16 years, the derelict Conradie Hospital has been a thorn in the side of local government and nearby residen
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The ageing health infrastructure to receive urgent attention

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The South African government has committed to upgrading and maintaining the ageing and dilapidated infrastructure at public healthcare facilities.

Speaking at the two-day Presidential Health Summit held in Boksburg, Deputy President David Mabuza said it was agreed that in the context of fiscal constraints, provinces will be expected to prioritise their financial resource allocations in a manner that ensures that the delivery of healthcare is not compromised.

“More importantly, this summit pointed out that we need to develop a sustainable financing model for our health system. We will commence with this task immediately.

“National Treasury will be seized with this task to ensure that this model is finalised within a short space of time.”

“We will seek to draw on this compact as we fast-track the licensing of all health facilities in readiness for implementation of the NHI. It has drawn together a remarkable cross section of South Africans – and many
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New study at Stellenbosch University will look at synthetic blood products for the resuscitation of trauma victims

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A large, multi-institutional clinical trial conducted by emergency medicine experts from Stellenbosch University (SU), in partnership with United States Department of Defence, will evaluate the use of synthetic blood products for the resuscitation of trauma victims before arrival at hospital.

The Division of Emergency Medicine at SU’s Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences will be the coordinating centre for the study, which includes 21 hospitals and 27 ambulance bases across South Africa. These include public and private academic institutions and healthcare facilities. For this study, SU is also partnering with the Universities of Cape Town (UCT), KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), Witwatersrand (Wits) and Pretoria (UP), collectively representing the body of academic emergency medicine in South Africa.

The study will evaluate the use of the haemoglobin-based oxygen carrier Hemopure (HbO2 Therapeutics LLC) together with Bioplasma FDP (National Biologics Institute), a freez
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What is the road ahead for the pharma industry in South Africa

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In recent years, South Africa’s pharmaceutical industry has increasingly shifted its focus to become more patient-centric in everything that it does.

However, in the current challenging economy, building on this positive change and delivering greater results for consumers is becoming ever more challenging. Companies operating in this sector will therefore need to adapt and embrace new strategies.

The road ahead for the pharma industry
No one knows this better than industry veteran, Jacques van Staden, COO of Cipla South Africa (Pty) Limited (“Cipla Medpro”), wholly-owned subsidiary of Cipla Limited, India (“Cipla”). With a career spanning more than 25 years, Van Staden firmly believes that pharmaceutical businesses will need to make significant changes to the way that they view opportunities and focus their efforts if they are to survive in the years to come. We sat down with Van Staden to hear more about the changes, challenges and opp
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Cause of Alzheimer’s disease:- Mounting evidence that herpes virus is a cause

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Successful prevention of Alzheimer’s disease by use of specific anti-herpes agents has now been demonstrated in a large-scale population study in Taiwan.

More than 30 million people worldwide suffer from Alzheimer’s disease – the most common form of dementia. Unfortunately, there is no cure, only drugs to ease the symptoms. However, my latest review, suggests a way to treat the disease. I found the strongest evidence yet that the herpes virus is a cause of Alzheimer’s, suggesting that effective and safe antiviral drugs might be able to treat the disease. We might even be able to vaccinate our children against it.

The link between Alzheimer’s disease and herpes
The virus implicated in Alzheimer’s disease, herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV1), is better known for causing cold sores. It infects most people in infancy and then remains dormant in the peripheral nervous system (the part of the nervous system that isn’t the brain and the sp
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