insert_link Health / Medical Ministry of Health warns against misinformation on global health regulations Ministry of Health, and Social Services Executive Director, Ben Nangombe says the ministry appreciates public interest in the Global Pandemic Convention and changes to the 2005 International Health Regulations. He however warned against misinformation. todayDecember 18, 2023 27
insert_link Health / Medical Hope brings happiness, builds grit and gives life meaning. Here’s how to cultivate it By Tharina Guse, University of Pretoria What is hope? In its simplest form, hope is about the future. There are three necessary elements to hope: having a desire or a wish for something that is valuable, and the belief that it is possible to attain this wish, even when it seems uncertain. Then we have to trust that we have the resources, both internally and externally, to attain this […] todayDecember 15, 2023 9
insert_link Health / Medical Namibia ranks 6th globally in alcohol consumption, surpasses South Africa The latest World Health Organization global status report on alcohol and health shows that Namibia, Afghanistan, the Maldives, and Eswatini have a higher average daily intake than South Africa, with the list topped by Tunisia. Meanwhile, the global prevalence of alcohol dependence is at 2.4 percent, with a legal drinking age average of 18 years worldwide. According to the WHO, overall, 5.1% of the global burden of disease and injury […] todayDecember 13, 2023 169
insert_link Health / Medical Climate change risks triggering a spike in infectious disease outbreaks: three reasons why By Wolfgang Preiser, Stellenbosch University; Cheryl Baxter, Stellenbosch University; Houriiyah Tegally, Stellenbosch University; Monika Moir, Stellenbosch University, and Tulio de Oliveira, University of KwaZulu-Natal Climate change is our planet’s most immediate existential threat, and will likely only worsen for the foreseeable future. Among its numerous adverse effects on human health, there is strong evidence linking climate change to infectious disease outbreaks. A recent analysis revealed that of 375 infectious diseases […] todayDecember 13, 2023 13
insert_link Health / Medical South Africa leads the continent in offering more paternal leave to fathers. How to make sure both parents benefit By Wessel Van Den Berg, Stellenbosch University A South African high court has ushered in a new era of parental leave with a landmark ruling that new parents can share four months of parental leave, previously available only to mothers. The case against the Minister of Labour was initiated by Werner and Ika van Wyk as first respondents, and advocacy group Sonke Gender Justice as third respondent. My organisation Equimundo: […] todayDecember 12, 2023 5
insert_link Entertainment Gene drive technology unlocks innovative potential solutions at the intersection of climate change and public health The inaugural 'Day of Health' at the UN Climate Conference (COP-28) highlighted the dramatic impact of climate change on health, diseases and in particular on malaria. Heads of State and climate experts converged in Dubai to emphasise the indisputable link between climate and health, echoing WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus's statement that climate change is a pressing public health issue. As we grapple with the harsh reality of half […] todayDecember 12, 2023 10
insert_link Environment Is prenatal ultrasound causing fetal damage? researcher documents the link In her compelling book, The Dark Side of Prenatal Ultrasound, researcher and birth advocate Jeanice Barcelo offers “a ground-breaking analysis of the documented facts concerning the dangers of prenatal ultrasound.” She states, “Despite the medical establishment repeating the mantra that ultrasound is ‘just sound waves’ and therefore ‘perfectly safe’ during pregnancy, in truth, ultrasound is based on non-ionizing radiation, and many thousands of studies have confirmed that this type of radiation […] todayDecember 12, 2023 7
insert_link Health / Medical NAMBTS urges Namibians to donate blood this festive season In a crucial call to action, the Blood Transfusion Service of Namibia (NAMBTS) is urging all eligible blood donors in the country to make a commitment to donating blood regularly, aiming to ensure the well-being of thousands of patients as the festive season approaches. Despite persistent efforts to replenish blood supplies over the past weeks, NAMBTS reports that the blood reserves remain critically low, particularly for O-positive and O-negative […] todayDecember 8, 2023 5
insert_link Health / Medical HIV, AIDS, and COVID-19 leading causes of death in working-age population A new report from the Namibia Statistics Agency shows that HIV and AIDS, COVID-19, and other communicable diseases remain the leading causes of death among the economically active population in the country. In 2020 alone, HIV and AIDS accounted for 13.5% of deaths among adults aged 15-59, while COVID-19 became the leading cause of death in 2021, accounting for 15.1% of fatalities in this age group. todayDecember 6, 2023 4
