02 April – Health

Today we spoke to Juanita Arendse – from the Western Cape Health Department. We were talking about Polio. Polio is a viral infection which has a wide range of signs and symptoms. These can range from minor, flu-like illnesses, to weakness and paralysis of various muscle groups. For more information about Polio you can contact your nearest clinic or the provincial health department at (021) 918 1545.

And we spoke to Collet Aubert – From the Cancer Association of South Africa. We were talking about Oesophageal Cancer as we know that April is the Oesophageal Health Awareness Month. Oesophageal cancer is one of the most common causes of cancer-related deaths in South African black males. The limited efficacy of chemotherapeutic agents to treat this disease has prompted a search for potential new chemical entities with anticancer properties. For more information you can contact the Cancer Association of South Africa at 0800 226622 alternatively you can visit their website at www.cansa.org.za

Our last interview was with Karen Barochowitz – Executive Director of Dementia South Africa. Dementia is a collective name for conditions in which progressive degeneration of the brain affects memory, thinking, behaviour and emotion. Symptoms may include: loss of memory, difficulty in finding the right words or understanding what people are saying, difficulty in performing previously routine tasks, personality and mood changes. For more on Dementia you can contact (021) 421-0077 / 78 or (021) 418 5888 alternatively email info@dementiasa.org