13 – 17 July 2020
“The next UNAIDS strategy must address head-on the areas where we are still lagging, like combination prevention and human rights of key populations, and address the multiple vulnerabilities of adolescent girls and young women in sub-Saharan Africa.”
UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima, at the opening a session at the 2020 International AIDS Conference on 09 July.
The Council for Medical Schemes published guidelines for Medical Schemes regarding the treatment and management of COVID 19. Visit our website to download the factsheet: https://section27.org.za/2020/07/prescribed-minimum-benefits-for-covid-19/
Executive Director, Umunyana Rugege will be a respondent at the launch of the National Income Dynamics Study (NIDS) Coronavirus Rapid Mobile Survey (CRAM).
Time: 12:00
Click here to register: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_WrWsReHGQquwU0vuE8SN4Q
What is the NIDS-CRAM Survey?
It is a telephonic follow-up panel survey of the participants in an earlier survey (NIDS). Over the course of the last two months, and using 50 call center agents interviewing in 10 languages, we conducted a 20-minute telephonic survey asking 7000 respondents about their employment, household hunger, migration, receipt of grants, as well as COVID-19 risk perceptions and behaviour. This webinar will be the first public release of the Wave 1 results. There will be four further waves of NIDS-cRAM during the course of 2020. All are welcome to attend the launch which will also be recorded and posted on Youtube.
15 July
Community Mobiliser, Patrick Mdletshe will participate in the Umkhanyakude District Command Council meeting, which will take place in Mkhuze. Umkhanyakude District has 146 confirmed cases and 4 deaths with 64 recoveries.
16 July – REMINDER
National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide – Call to Action Collective
SECTION27 members continue to support the work of the Call To Action civil society collective working to combat gender-based violence and femicide. Details of upcoming engagements are included below:
In Spotlight
COVID-19: First antibody test gets green light in SA, but use will be limited
The first COVID-19 antibody rapid blood test kit has been approved for use in South Africa, but it is strictly not for sale to the public or for use by general practitioners. The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) has given the nod for the supply of a single finger prick (point of care) serology test. In addition, approval of the first laboratory-based COVID-19 antibody test in the country is also imminent.
“COVID-19 may lead to spike in AIDS deaths, warns UNAIDS” Six months more of disruptions related to the COVID-19 pandemic could potentially result in a spike of an additional 500 000 AIDS-related deaths in sub-Saharan Africa by the end of next year. Speaking at the launch of the 2020 UNAIDS Global AIDS Update on 6 July, UNAIDS executive director Winnie Byanyima said the agency’s modelling shows that a continuation of severe disruptions from COVID-19 response measures has the potential to push up the AIDS death rate by devastating numbers. It’s a scenario that would amount to a 72 percent increase on the estimated 690 000 HIV-related deaths globally in 2019. More here: https://www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2020/07/07/covid-19-may-lead-to-spike-in-aids-deaths-warns-unaids/
“COVID-19: How PE waste pickers navigate lockdown and hunger” At Arlington and Uitenhage waste disposal sites in Port Elizabeth hundreds of people daily search for recyclable materials to sell and food to eat. More here: https://www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2020/07/08/covid-19-how-pe-waste-pickers-navigate-lockdown-and-hunger/ and the more on what is the risk of waste here: https://www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2020/07/08/covid-19-what-is-the-risk-from-waste/
“COVID-19: How high-flow nasal oxygen is saving lives and sparing some patients the trauma of intubation” Doctors at two of the Western Cape’s most impacted COVID-19 hospitals say they have seen positive outcomes from using high-flow nasal oxygen (HFNO), a non-invasive oxygen therapy, instead of mechanical ventilation. More here: https://www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2020/07/02/covid-19-how-high-flow-nasal-oxygen-is-saving-lives-and-sparing-some-patients-the-trauma-of-intubation/
COVID-19: Palliative care needed now more than ever
“Palliative care services are associated with hospices. Very few hospitals have palliative care doctors but now with COVID-19 we are seeing the need of a palliative care team at a hospital. These are some of the things that have to be improved on. There is no magic way, step by step we try make people understand the need of palliative care and what it is,” she says.
https://www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2020/07/06/covid-19-palliative-care-needed-now-more-than-ever/
COVID-19: More government support needed for old age facilities – expert
As COVID-19 infections and deaths rise among older persons (people older than 60) in South Africa, old age residential facilities are battling with costly interventions to keep residents safe. Questions have also been raised on whether the Department of Social Development (DSD) that funds many of these facilities are providing the necessary support.
Lastly, our team has put together the following list of organisations that are distributing food parcels to all people in need, including documented and undocumented migrants, during the national lockdown. Download and share the poster if you know someone in need at this time or if you would like to assist the organisations listed on the poster with donations of food: https://section27.org.za/2020/07/organisations-distributing-food-parcels-during-the-lock-down/
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