23 June 2008 – Health

Today on Sakhisizwe we spoke to Dr Lize Weich from the Tygeberg Hospital who spoke to us about Substance Abuse. The Department of Health is stressing the need for people to live a healthy lifestyle by not abusing alcohol and drugs, combating the trafficking of psychoactive drugs, maintain sobriety among young persons. For more information contact SANCA on (021) 945 4080/1 or visit www.sancawc.co.za Alternatively contact the Stikland Hospital on (021) 940 4500. That Interview was brought to you by the National Department of Health and Funded by the European Union.

We were then joined on the line by Dr E.V. Rapiti who is a family physician and he spoke to us about Deep Vein Thrombosis. Deep Vein Thrombosis is a blood clot that forms in a vein deep in the body. Most of the deep vein blood clots occur in the lower leg or thigh – they can also occur in other parts of ones body. A blood clot in a deep vein can break off and travel through the bloodstream. Dr Rapiti explained more on it and why it is common amongst South Africans. For more information contact his practice at the Gatesville Medical Centre on (021) 397 6029.
PIC: www.os.co.za

We then closed off the show with Dr Dave Whitelaw a Rheumatologist who told us a bit more about Osteoarthritis. Tomorrow is a national Osteoarthritis Day, so the aim of this interview is to raise more awareness about this condition. It is reported that Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis and affects up to 10% of the world's population. According to experts, most people don't feel the symptoms of Osteoarthritis before age 40. Dr Whitelaw explained more about those symptoms and whether it is treatable or not. For more information visit www.arthritis.co.za