10 % of Kouga is HIV positive

March 13, 2012

The number of people infected by HIV Aids in the Kouga was 6 773 in 2010, showing a rise from just 570 in 1995.

Similarly Aids related deaths rose from 102 people in 1995 to 365 people in 2010 in a region that includes towns like Jeffreys Bay, Humansdorp and St Francis Bay.

The biggest growth in HIV positive people in the Kouga occurred between 2000 and 2005 according to the Actuarial Society of South Africa, and has levelled out since then, which is a positibe sign.

There has been a decrease in HIV related deaths by 17 % between 2009 from 445 people to 365 people in 2010.

HIV infection and Aids related deaths play a significant role in determining the socio-economic outcomes of a region and increased the burden on economic expenditure for treatments while reducing labour productivity.

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4.4 Million HIV/AIDS deaths in South Africa

January 24, 2012

The population of South Africa would be over 4.4 million more than it is today if it were not for the HIV/AIDS epidemic. So says the South African Institute of Race Relations in its latest South Africa Survey, published this week in Johannesburg.

Currently, there are 50.6 million people in the country. In the absence of AIDS, this would have been 55.0 million. By 2040 the population would have been 77.5 million without AIDS — 24.1 million more people than is projected.

The data shows that 31% of all deaths in 2011 were AIDS related. By 2015, this proportion will have risen to 33%. In 2025, there will be 121% more AIDS deaths than there were in 2000.

The total number of people living with HIV/AIDS in 2015 (6 million) will be double the number recorded in 2000 (3 million). The Institute’s analysis is based on data sourced from the Actuarial Society of South Africa and the Institute for Futures Research (IFR).

According to the IFR, the HIV prevalence rate is higher among young African adults, resulting in fewer people in this group reaching old age compared to other races.

Mr Thuthukani Ndebele, a researcher at the Institute, said that HIV/AIDS has resulted in a significantly slower population growth rate, among other things.

“Not only does HIV/AIDS reduce life expectancy and increase mortality, but it is largely responsible for wider social ills such as orphanhood and child-headed households”, Ndebele said.

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AIDS still rife in South Africa

December 5, 2011

President Zuma released the new national strategic plan to fight HIV/AIDS last week. Key to the success of this plan will be how effectively the Zuma administration is able to implement it, and whether President Zuma will provide the leadership required to the plans turned into action.

Government’s previous HIV/AIDS plan was largely ineffective because it lacked robust monitoring by government. No one took responsibility for outcomes. For the new plan to succeed, government – in partnership with the provincial health departments – must put accountability measures at the heart of its efforts.

Only by establishing clearly defined targets and an effective monitoring apparatus, in which the relevant personnel are held accountable for meeting those targets, will the new plan achieve its goals.

According to the latest Antenatal Sentinel HIV and Syphilis Prevalence Survey, the percentage of pregnant women who tested positive for HIV/AIDS has exceeded 30%, matching levels last reached in 2005.

We are clearly not making the requisite progress in addressing this pandemic. The target of halving new infections – as the new plan calls for – is a bold one that needs support.

But it can only be achieved with consistent political leadership, reductions in the incidence of multiple concurrent sexual partnerships and an increase in condom use.

The launch of the plan offers government a fresh start. It offers President Zuma an opportunity to show leadership, and to demonstrate his government’s commitment to winning the fight against HIV/AIDS.

The DA will be carefully monitoring the roll-out of this plan to ensure that it delivers real change to the South African people, particularly those already living with HIV/AIDS

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Live Lean and Love Life

January 13, 2011

The year has begun and there is a lot of hope that 2011 will be a good year. Some things will be out of the control of an individual person, such as the state of the global economy and the effect that it will have on the finances of locals in Jeffreys Bay.

There are other things like our personal health that we can take ownership of and finding a personal trainer to help, is one way of achieving physical goals one may set for the new year. Jeffreys Bay residents can always gain some inspiration from local iron man Leonard Pieters.

Leonard has been involved with the health and fitness industry since 1995. He was a competitive body builder while in the South African Navy in Simonstown and represented the SADF at the Western Province body building Championships.

Leonard Pieters training at his personal studio,

At the same time Leonard was studying a Fitness and Nutrition diploma course through UCT. The highlights of his body building career was winning the Orange Free State middleweight division and coming 8th in SA Championships.

After resigning from the Navy, Leonard went to Bloemfontein and worked at the Training Edge Gym and did more personal training courses and practical workshops there. “Then it was off to the UK for 4 years where I worked as a personal trainer at the LA Fitness Health Club. Lady Diana used to train at the gym and every Wednesday morning the gym was closed for her to train with her body guards and personal trainers. Hulk Hogan, the actor also used to train there”, said Leonard.

“I then returned to SA and moved to Jeffreys Bay because the crime rate was getting out of control in other parts of SA and I had family here. I was a trainer at a local gym and then decided to open my own studio to cater for my growing clientele”. Leonard’s personal training philosophy is helping people to understand the human body and how it is affected by training, nutrition and lifestyle.

Phone 079 886 7899 and start to live lean and Love Life in 2011

New clients start with an assessment of their physical needs and what their personal goals are. “One of the biggest success stories is Nick Melck who came to me a couple of years ago as he needed to lose a lot of weight for health reasons. We worked out a structured training and eating programme that saw Nick lose 40 kg over an 8 month period”.

“Live lean and love life” is Leonard’s motto and this applies to all aspects of life. “Why clutter your life with unnecessary goods and possessions when you don’t need them?” It’s the same with our health. We very often eat and drink to excess and then can’t understand why we pick up health problems”, says Leonard.

Simone Beets at Leonards Training Studio. Photo: RRAD Photography

Leonard offers affordable personal training at his home studio with a maximum of 4 people per group and believes in all over body workouts 5 days a week with a minimum 20 sessions a month being mandatory.

“Exercise is an integral part of a healthy lifestyle and all my clients are monitored on a daily basis to ensure success” added Leonard.
“Training 5 times a week together with a structured eating plan ensures success and will see a change in body shape and improved health”.

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Improve your health with OZONE

June 10, 2010

 

Our bodies need oxygen to survive and can become deprived of adequate levels of oxygen through improper breathing, polluted air, inadequate nutrition, junk foods, and stress.

The Poli Clinic  in Jeffreys Bay now offers Ozone treatment to those suffering from a number of ailments. The Steam sauna cleanses the body from toxins from the combination of activated oxygen and steam therapy.

The Ozone sauna

The benefits one can obtain from an Ozone treatment are numerous according to physiotherapist Yolanda Oosthuizen and include:

  • Enhancement of circulation
  • Stimulation of oxygen metabolism
  • Inactivation of bacteria, viruses, fungi, yeasts and protozoa
  • Formation of Peroxides
  • Activation of the immune system

Yolanda added that people suffering from recent heart attack, recent internal bleeding, hyperthyroidism and alcoholic intoxication or if pregnant are not allowed ozone treatment.

For more information visit www.policlinic.co.za

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MSM – the healthy alternative

May 18, 2010

Have you ever experienced aches and pains and have started to live on anti inflammatory pills like Voltaren?

The good news is that there is a product called MSM which does the work of an anti inflammatory but is a totally natural product whose side effects are beneficial to our bodies, instead of being harmful.

What Is MSM?

MSM (methyl-sulfonyl-methane) is organic sulfur, a naturally occurring compound in the human body. In its purified form, it’s an odourless white powder with a slightly bitter taste.

It helps to ensure the proper functioning of various body processes, including healthy skin, nails and hair.

MSM can also function as a pharmaceutically active agent for treating allergies and asthma, arthritis, muscle soreness and cramps.

According to Yolanda Oosthuizen, a local physiotherapist, she advises her patients to use MSM on a regular basis. One example is local open water swimmer Brenton Williams who came to see Yolanda, whose practice is situated at the Poli Clinic near the Fountains Mall.

“Brenton was in a heavy training schedule prior to swimming the SA Champs and his shoulders and upper back were giving him problems”, said Ooostuizen. “We tried MSM and together with manipulation of the affected areas it worked in reducing inflammation and stiffness”.

MSM can be taken on a continual basis as a daily supplement. For more information Yolanda can be contacted on yolanda@saol.com

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