11 February – Health

Today we spoke to Dr Prithy Ramlachan - from the Southern African Sexual Health Association. We were talking about Sexual Health as this week is the Sexual Health Awareness Week. The Southern African Sexual Health Association’s mission is to provide credible information and education on sexual health issues from a multidisciplinary perspective for the general public, the media and healthcare professionals. Dr Ramlachan told us the aims of having Sexual Health Awareness Week. To get help if you experience a sexual problem you can phone their helpline from Mon to Fri from 09h00 to 17h00 on 0860 10 02 62 or visit www.sexualhealth.co.za

We were also joined by to Jan Webster – Director of Comacare. They take care of people who are comatised. At Comacare they believe that people in coma are working to be more aware of potentially meaningful experiences and can often be reached through special communication methods. Jan explained to us how they work. For more information or maybe if you have a loved who is in coma and would like them to help you contact Comacare at (021) 797 9995 or check their website at www.comacare.com
PIC: www.comacare.com

Dr Neil Cameron from the Provincial Health Department was also Sakhisizwe’s telephonic guest today. We were talking about Polio. It was reported in the media last week that health workers in the Western Cape fear that polio might make a comeback due to lack of crucial follow-up immunisations of toddlers in clinics. In 2006, a free polio immunization campaign swept across the province – where parents, guardians, caregivers and the general public were urged to take all children under five years to their nearest clinic or Community Health Centre for polio immunization, irrespective of their immunization status. Dr Cameron explained that there is no truth in the recent reports of a possible polio comeback but urged parents to take their kids for immunisation. For more information you can contact the Health Department offices at (021) 483 3235 or 483 2627 alternatively visit your nearest clinic for more information on Immunisation
PIC: www.bret.org.uk

We closed off the show with an interview with Tineke Boshoff - from the Down Syndrome Association of the Western Cape. We were talking about Down syndrome. Down syndrome is a genetic condition that causes delays in physical and intellectual development. It is not related to race, nationality, religion or socioeconomic status. The most important fact to know about individuals with Down syndrome is that they are more like others than they are different. Tineke explained more about this condition. For more information you can contact the Down Syndrome Association of the Western Cape on (021) 919 8533 or visit www.downsyndrome.org.za
PIC: www.downsyndrome.org.za