19 February – Health
Today we spoke to Teboho Monyamane - Project Manager from the South African Depression and Anxiety Group. We were talking about Teen Suicide Prevention Campaign. The organisation answers the National Toll Free Suicide Crisis Line which takes a huge number of calls from teens who are calling for themselves or on behalf of a friend. This line has already saved thousand of lives, and with funding from various donors during 2004, over 110,000 children in the North Western Province and the Northern Cape were given workshops specifically addressing how to help a friend who was showing some of the signs of suicide. This program not only encourages teens to come forward but also tells them where to go for help in their own community and how to contact the Suicide Line. For more information you can contact SADAG at (011) 783 1474/6 or visit their website at www.sadag.co.za. The National Toll Free Suicide Crisis Line is 0800 567 567 or send an SMS to 31393.
And we also spoke to Kholeka Bukani- Programme Director of children’s programme at the Heart and Stroke Foundation. We were talking about Rheumatic Heart Disease. Rheumatic fever is the most common cause of heart disease and the most common cause of heart failure in patients under 30 years of age. The condition is of great concern in poor and overcrowded communities, repeated infections cause damage to the heart and by their late teens or early 20's the victims then need expensive valve replacement surgery. If detected early, rheumatic fever can be treated. For more information about the Heart and Stroke Foundation you can contact their offices at (021) 447 4222 or visit their website at www.heartfoundation.co.za
And our last interview was with Dr Mitsch Besser – Medical Director of Mothers 2 Mothers project. The project was developed in recognition of the special emotional, psychological, social, and economic needs of pregnant women and new mothers living with the HIVirus, as well as importance of peer education in preventing mother-to-child transmission of the disease. The project won an Impumelelo Award on Saturday in recognition of the great work they doing in the community. For more information about the Mothers 2 Mothers project you can contact them at 021 466 9160 or you can visit their website at www.m2m.org
And we also spoke to Kholeka Bukani- Programme Director of children’s programme at the Heart and Stroke Foundation. We were talking about Rheumatic Heart Disease. Rheumatic fever is the most common cause of heart disease and the most common cause of heart failure in patients under 30 years of age. The condition is of great concern in poor and overcrowded communities, repeated infections cause damage to the heart and by their late teens or early 20's the victims then need expensive valve replacement surgery. If detected early, rheumatic fever can be treated. For more information about the Heart and Stroke Foundation you can contact their offices at (021) 447 4222 or visit their website at www.heartfoundation.co.za
And our last interview was with Dr Mitsch Besser – Medical Director of Mothers 2 Mothers project. The project was developed in recognition of the special emotional, psychological, social, and economic needs of pregnant women and new mothers living with the HIVirus, as well as importance of peer education in preventing mother-to-child transmission of the disease. The project won an Impumelelo Award on Saturday in recognition of the great work they doing in the community. For more information about the Mothers 2 Mothers project you can contact them at 021 466 9160 or you can visit their website at www.m2m.org
Comments