The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex and Asexual (LGBTQIA+) community in South Africa (SA) contributes billions annually to the local economy. This is according to the latest research conducted by the Other Foundation, which said the LGBTQIA+ contributed at least R250 billion in the past financial year. However, the accuracy of the study has been questioned by IOL Opinion writer Azanian Ronin, who questioned how the LGBTQIA+ community was possibly worth more than the coal industry at R190 billion, the export values of the African Growth and Opportunities Act at R220 billion and the spending on SA’s social welfare grants, which benefit 19 million people, at R232 billion annually. The study is based on a quantitative survey managed and distributed online by Ipsos South Africa with the support of
Category Archives: HEALTH-STYLE
Nov
At least Four in every a thousand Kenyan are blind or suffers from optical related ailments and need urgent eye care to reverse the trend, a survey has revealed. According to a Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness (RAAB) report , 2024, although the burden has reduced from 0.7percent in the 1990s to 0.4 percent going by latest figures aggravating the needs for optical health services. According to the Study, one glaring eye condition is cataract which remains the leading cause of the blindness and yet it can be corrected through a cost effective surgical procedure. The report shows that Cataract, uncorrected refractive errors of glaucoma contribute to about 85 percent of visual impairments. Speaking during the launch of the RAAB report Health Cabinet Secretary Dr. Deborah Barasa said the survey
Nov
Former President Donald Trump is set to return to the White House after winning Tuesday night’s election. As of Wednesday morning, Trump surpassed the 270 electoral votes need to secure the presidency, and that could mean major changes to the health care landscape. During his campaign, Trump vowed to make the Affordable Care Act “better” and to protect “women.” He also suggested that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. would shape the public health agenda of his administration. This is what a second Trump term would mean for health care policies including health insurance and reproductive rights. Future of the ACA and Medicare Trump has been inconsistent on what his plans are regarding the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the landmark law signed in 2010 by then-President Barack Obama. During his first term
Nov
NAIROBI, Kenya Nov 6 – President William Ruto’s promise on free university promise will continue to be a mirage over crippling funds with the university funding agencies saying it will cost the government Sh990 Billion annually to fund higher learning students. With the current regime facing liquidity issues, the University Fund (UF) Chief Executive Officer George Monari dismissed assertions on free education for varsity students saying its not economically viable at the moment. “Its going to be very difficult to have free university education in the country as that’s why we moved from the differentiated unit cost model to the new university funding model which is all about equity. We would require Sh 990 Billion to carry out the proposal,” Monari told lawmakers. He was responding to issues raised by
Nov
Legislation to prevent children accessing social media will be introduced by Australia’s parliament later this year and will take effect 12 months after ratification. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced plans to legislate for a ban on social media for children under 16 years of age, an initiative his government says is world-leading. Australia’s Minister of Communications Michelle Rowland said on Thursday that the social media platforms impacted would include Meta’s Instagram and Facebook, as well as Bytedance’s video-sharing TikTok and Elon Musk’s X, previously known as Twitter. Rowland said that Alphabet’s YouTube would also likely fall within the scope of the legislation. “Social media is doing harm to our kids, and I’m calling time on it,” Prime Minister Albanese told a news conference. Legislation will be introduced into
Nov
Kumar Mehta celebrated Diwali last week by lighting up the night skies with vibrant fireworks from his Mumbai flat. As his nine-year-old daughter watched the darkened skies come alive, a thick blanket of smoke soon engulfed the building’s play area. Within moments, the child began struggling to breathe due to the billowing smoke and had to be rushed to a nearby hospital. “It was a Diwali nightmare for us. We never thought it would happen to us,” Mehta said after spending two days at the hospital as his daughter received treatment for respiratory issues. Such incidents have become increasingly common during Diwali, India ’s largest festival, which this year fell on October 31. While over a billion people lit lamps, donned festive attire, hosted gatherings, and visited family, the widespread
Nov
Kisumu Governor Anyang Nyong’o (center) during the launch of Digital Health Roadmap and the Kisumu Health Information Exchange and Data Repository blueprint. [Washington Onyango,Standard] Kisumu County health sector is ready to embrace a transformative shift in its healthcare delivery through the integration of digital technologies, as announced during the Lake Region Digital Health Conference. Hosted in Kisumu, the conference brought together key leaders, including Kisumu Governor Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o, who highlighted the county’s progress in utilizing digital tools to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC). Governor Nyong’o outlined the county’s experience since the launch of its UHC initiative in 2018, noting that Kisumu has been at the forefront of digital health adoption. From the digital registration of over 850,000 residents via the M-TIBA platform to the creation of the Kisumu Social
Nov
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has stressed the importance of African leaders in developing a proactive, resilient, and visionary African health strategy. He emphasised that such a strategy must be capable of addressing both the current needs arising from past pandemic experiences and fortifying the continent against future global health security threats. Governor Sanwo-Olu made this statement while speaking at the opening of the 10th African Conference on One Health and Biosecurity, themed “From Ebola to COVID-19 and Beyond: Strengthening Africa’s Capacity to Address Emerging Global Health Security Threats.” The event was held on Wednesday at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos. Represented by his deputy, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, Sanwo-Olu added that as the continent looks beyond the recent pandemic, African leaders must prioritize strengthening national health systems
Nov
Novel Ford’s showroom at Oshakati is a new car dealer doubling up as a service centre. Though Namibia is seen as ‘bakkie country’, especially the northern parts of the country, they also sell smaller family cars, sales manager Anton Kandjimbi says. Novel Ford stocks all Ford 4×4 and 4×2 vehicles, like the Ford flagship brands Ranger, Everest and Tremor. Kandjimbi says the Raptor is the all-time favourite, as the dealer cannot keep up with demand. “As you can see on the floor, there is no Ranger Raptor here – as soon as one arrives, it is gone,” he says. The Raptor is a popular vehicle with its powerful engine and aggressive appearance. Its factory specifications are pretty impressive among those who either drive or want to drive this vehicle. The
Nov
It has been projected that by the end of 2025, not fewer than a total of 1,700,000 pregnant women dwelling in rural areas across 15 selected states across the country would have been reach by the Federal Government through its National Emergency Medical and Ambulance System (NEMSAS) implemented rural emergency and maternal transportation services. The disclosure was made by Dr Saidu Ahmed Dumbulwa, the National Programme Manager, NEMSAS, in Damaturu at stakeholders’ engagement ahead of the implementation of the project in Yobe State. Represented by Ahmed Lawan-Tijjani, a NEMSAS Resource Person, the National Programme Manager of NEMSAS explained that the exercise which is to be rolled out across 15 states of the Federation is geared towards demand-driven generation, behavioural change and strengthening governance. He stressed the importance of the state
Nov
A Form Four candidate from Laliat Secondary School, Kericho county, successfully welcomed a bouncing baby girl The 18-year-old was rushed to Kericho County Referral Hospital in distress, which forced her to undergo a caesarean section After welcoming her fruit of the womb, the teenage mother sat for her first two papers hours later On Monday, November 4, a young girl from Kericho county began her motherhood journey after successfully giving birth. Students sitting for an exam (l). Feet of a newborn baby (r). Credit: Getty Images/Simon Maina, LordHenriVoton.Source: Getty Images Kericho candidate gives birth at Kericho hospital The teenage mother delivered her bundle of joy hours before starting the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination. The Laliat Secondary School student welcomed a healthy baby girl at the Kericho County
Nov
Looking to drive a healthier weight, get stronger or simply feel healthier? Protein will be your new best friend. Protein builds muscle, keeps your hunger in check, and strengthens your hair, skin and nails. But packing more of the good stuff into your routine is sometimes easier said than done – especially if you struggle to find time to cook meals from scratch or have recently gone vegan. Here’s how to sneak more protein into your everyday diet: MEAL PREPPING Prepping your favourite protein options ahead of time can make it simple to add them to future meals. Store pre-prepped proteins in the refrigerator and then reheat them to add to salads, casseroles, tacos, and other items throughout the week. Just be sure to follow food safety rules to avoid
Nov
The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) and the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) have harmonised their regulatory and certification activities to expedite approval processes for businesses as well as small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This initiative, approved by the Boards of both authorities, aims to reduce the cost of regulatory approvals and product certifications while also providing significant time savings. Local manufacturers will no longer have to navigate two separate processes to obtain regulatory approval from the FDA and certification from the GSA. The harmonisation involves sharing data and clarifying testing and inspection procedures, leading to lower fees and faster turnaround times. Dr Delese Mimi Darko, Chief Executive Officer of the FDA, and Prof. Alexander Dodoo, Director-General of the GSA, together emphasized that the initiative would substantially cut down costs and
Nov
Featured Graphic.com.gh Nov – 04 – 2024 , 14:46 A clinical oncologist, Dr Edwina Ayaaba Ayavilah has called on the government to provide strategic support and investment to expand radiotherapy facilities nationwide in the battle against breast cancer. She emphasized that cultural beliefs often hinder timely medical care, advocating for ongoing, year-round awareness campaigns and localized research to better understand cancer trends in Ghana and across Africa. Dr. Ayavilah was speaking at the “Blossoms of Hope” breast cancer awareness event organized by Goldkey Properties and the UK Ghana Chamber of Commerce (UKGCC) in Accra on Thursday, October 24. The event aimed to raise awareness about breast cancer, focusing on prevention, early detection, and treatment options. Held at Cantonments City Green Park and supported by Blue Skies Ghana LTD, “Blossoms of
Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook, has acknowledged that the company made errors in censoring COVID-19-related content during the pandemic and expressed regret for not resisting pressure from the Biden administration. In a letter to the US House Judiciary Committee, Zuckerberg detailed how senior White House officials exerted pressure on the social media giant to remove […]