Impoverished healthcare at squalid Liverpool prison, report says

Whistleblowers tell BBC News prisoners have died and others injured due to poor care.

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NHS workforce ‘at crunch point’

There may not be enough doctors to treat increasing number of patients, the official regulator warns.

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Health24.com | 10 most popular stories on Health24 in 2017

‘The plane is going to crash’: Anxiety aboard flight SAA 323

It was an emotionally turbulent two hours in the air for a panic-stricken passenger on a flight from Johannesburg to Cape Town – fortunately a stranger came to the rescue. Health24 investigated.

SA on alert: What you should know about the deadly Listeriosis outbreak

In December, Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi announced that more than 30 people have died since the start of an outbreak of Listeriosis.

Approximately 557 cases have been reported, with the majority occurring in Gauteng province. Motsoaledi said they had traced 70 patients, of whom 36 have died.

SA on alert: what you should know about the ‘black death’ plague

News24 reported on 25 October that South Africa was one of nine countries warned by the World Health Organization (WHO) to take precautionary measures against the “black death” plague, mainly known as bubonic plague, which can be treated successfully with antibiotics.

‘I gave up coffee for 14 days – and this is what happened’

coffee drinker, addict

What happens when a self-confessed coffee-holic gives up coffee for 14 days? News24 intern James de Villiers found out.

‘I gave up sugar for 14 days and this is what happened’

Just how difficult is it to completely give up sugar – especially if you are a self-confessed sugar-holic?

We introduce Stefni Herbert, a Health24 content producer who consumes more sugar per day than just about the entire team combined!

This man has been injecting snake venom for 30 years – and this is what happened

For nearly 30 years, London-based reptile enthusiast and musician Steve Ludwin has been injecting himself with snake venom – a practice that has almost killed him.

SEE: Meet the man with the most teeth in the world

man with many teeth

The average person has 32 teeth, which we use to bite into a delicious apple, chew a piece of meat or form the sounds in certain words.

But what happens when we have too many teeth? “No problem,” you mutter under your breath, “one or two more can’t hurt, right?” Maybe not, but how about five extra teeth?

Meet Vijay Kumar from India who has 37 teeth – with five more than the average person he holds the world record for the person with the largest number of teeth.

SEE: Why people are freaking out about pictures of holes

phobia is an irrational and persistent fear of certain objects or situations. Some people have an intense fear of snakes and others can’t stand the thought of public speaking.

But a small number of people have a fear of something quite unique: holes. It’s known as trypophobia, and very little research exists on the condition. In fact, some researchers are referring to it as “the most common phobia you have never heard of”.

‘Use dagga every day,’ doctors tell HIV patients

Research presented at the 9th International AIDS Society (IAS) Conference on HIV Science in Paris suggests daily cannabis use could have a protective benefit on the liver of patients co-infected with hepatitis C and HIV.

‘I never had sex, so how could I be HIV positive?’

Saidy Brown was 14 when she discovered that she was HIV positive. Now 22, she spoke openly about the day that changed her life at the 8th National Aids Conference. 

Image source: iStock

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Grandparents ‘run up debts’ to care for grandchildren

One woman faces bankruptcy after amassing a £20,000 debt raising her grandchildren.

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Designer nanoparticles destroy a broad array of viruses

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Ancient fossil microorganisms indicate that life in the universe is common

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Particle size matters for porous building blocks

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Health24.com | Tax on sugary drinks signed into law

South Africans will start paying tax on sugary drinks from 1 April 2018, according to an Act gazetted yesterday.

According to the Rates and Monetary Amounts and Amendment of Revenue Laws Act, a “health promotion levy” will be introduced on this date. With this levy, the first 4 grams of sugar per 100ml are to be exempt. Thereafter, a tax of 2.1 cents per gram of sugar will be levied.

A victory for public health

This works out to be a tax of approximately 10% of a can of Coca Cola.

If a manufacturer does not provide information on the sugar content of its drink, the drink will be taxed based on a default rate of 20g of sugar per 100ml, according to the Act.

The Healthy Living Alliance (HEALA) welcomed the promulgation of the Health Promotion Levy, which introduces a tax on sugary drinks.

“We applaud the leadership of this country for prioritising the health of millions of South Africans over the narrow interests of the beverage and sugar industries,” said HEALA Co-ordinator Tracey Malawana. “While the Levy is a victory for public health, we still believe that it should be increased to 20% in order for it to have a significant impact.”

Sugary drinks play a major role in obesity, and a range of related diseases including diabetes, hypertension, strokes and cancer.

Curb that sweet tooth

“HEALA will continue to advocate for a stronger tax in the coming year and we will also be monitoring government spending to ensure that the proceeds from the tax will be spent on health promotion,” added Malawana, saying that her organisation wanted a 20% tax on sugary drinks.

“This is the first step in the right direction for South Africa to tackle its burden of non-communicable diseases and obesity.”

The Beverage Association of SA (BevSA) has campaigned relentlessly against the tax, which is says is “punitive” and will hurt the economy and not address obesity.

However, Malawana said it is a tax that no one needs to pay if they can curb their sweet tooth. – Health-e News.

Image credit: iStock

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UK suicide rate shows largest drop for 20 years

Rates fell for both men and women, although men still account for three-quarters of cases.

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Health24.com | Husband abandons wife after she is diagnosed with cancer

A young nurse who lost her hair because of chemotherapy revealed how her husband abandoned her just three months after their wedding.

Zhang Xi, from Langfang in China, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia – a type of cancer in which the bone marrow makes too many white blood cells – back in July. As a result of her diagnosis she sadly had to terminate her pregnancy.  

Having just tied the knot with her husband in April, the 27-year-old expected full support from the love of her life.

But her husband, from Fujian Province in China, refused to visit her in hospital apart from one occasion and her in-laws have since demanded they get a divorce.

Instead of supporting her fully, Zhang’s husband, whose name is unknown, opted to pay her a so-called ‘care package’ which amounted to 45, 000 RMB (R91 000).

“I’ve experienced both human coldness and warmth during my illness,” says Zhang.

Her spouse has since returned back home and his mother has repeatedly called Zhang insisting on a divorce so that her son can move on and marry someone else.

Zhang, whose mom is caring for her, says she is relying on her dad’s monthly salary to survive and pay for her expensive treatment but hopes to pay him back once she’s recovered.

“If I manage to live through this, I promise to spend the rest of my life repaying my father and mother,” she added.

Her only hope now is to receive a bone marrow transplant, but doctors have yet to find a match.

Source: Magazine Features, cancer.org 
Pictures: CATERS/WWW.MAGAZINEFEATURES.CO.ZA

 

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