Day: August 15, 2022

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North West Health refutes reports of severe medication shortages in facilities

Department refutes reports of severe medication shortages in facilities

The North West Department of Health has noted with concern various reports in the media regarding the alleged unavailability of medication for patients on Antiretroviral (ARVs), tuberculosis (TB) treatment and family planning following the release of the Second Edition of the Retshidze report recently.

The Department deems the media reports as misleading as they do not provide an accurate impression of the state of the health in the North West Province particularly the current status of medicine availability in the province.

Therefore, the NWDoH refutes, with the contempt that it deserves the distorted information that has made its way into the public space as a result of the Retshidze report, an assessment compiled based on observations and interviews without soliciting facts from the department which is the custodian of public health services in the province.

The Department has as part of the Section 100 (1) (b) interventions made significant strides in addressing the shortages of medicine stock in provincial public health

The overall provincial medicine availability has reached 81% as per national essential list in the 3rd quarter of 2021/2022. The availability of Antiretrovirals (ARVs) and vaccines for the Extended Programme on Immunization has been maintained above 92%, while Tuberculosis (TB) medicines are above 82%.

The Province has developed and put in place a system to track medicine availability in the province. This system allows for stock to be transferred between facilities depending on individual needs of each facility.

Stock availability in the province currently stands as follows:

ARVs

The media reported Lamivudine drug as having the highest number of stock outs (44%) in facilities. The Department refutes these reports and can confirm that the medicine availability for lamivudine 150mg 56 tablets, improved from 76% at the beginning of the year to 83% in July 2022. This improvement in availability followed a departmental intervention where concern was raised with the National Department of Health pertaining to the shortages of Lamivudine in January this year and was assisted to acquire two months stock from Aspen and Adcock.

The department has resolved to solicit Lamivudine stock for the provincial depot from Gauteng province in the interim in line with the Inter-Provincial stock transfers as approved by the National Department of Health until the matter of stock levels of this particular drug are stabilised.

The NWDoH can confirm that the stock availability of Dolutegravir has constantly been above 90% since the beginning of 2022 despite media reports which claimed severe unavailability of the drug and subsequently placing it as the second highest number of stock outs.

department of Health is in discussions with Hetero, Mylan and Sonke to supply stock this month and will ensure all Provinces get an equal share.

The TLD drug was reportedly on a stock out rate of 7% according to publications, however, the accurate availability trend is above 97% for the 28 pack. Health facilities also stock the 90-day pack, but it is not on the National or Provincial formularies as this item was donated by USAID and Global fund and no NSN number was allocated.

The reports have further alleged severe shortages of the Abacavir/lamivudine, Efavirenz, Abacavir, zidovudine medicines placing the stock out at between 5 and 7%. As a Department we can confidently report that the availability trend for Abacavir/Lamivudine 300/600, 28s has been constantly above 95% since the beginning of this year. The availability of Abacavir/Lamivudine 300/600, 28s has been above 95% while Abacavir Medicine availability trends for the 20mg/ml solution as well as the 300mg tablets are constantly above 95% for 2022, with the 60mg dispersible tablets achieving mid to high eighties. Zidovudine on average trends at roughly 87% medicine availability with the 100mg 100 capsule pack achieving an availability upwards of 90% for the entire 2022.

TB treatment

The overall TB medicine availability at the end of July 2022 is 81.6%.

Rifampicin/ Isoniazid received a reported stock out percentage of 47% in the media, however provincial availability trends for the 300mg/150mg 56s stand above 94% for the entire 2022 thus far, the 150mg/75mg 56s singles stand between 89% and 91% for 2022 as well. Acquiring Refinah 60/60 28s & 56s was a challenge for the province earlier this year due to suppliers being out of stock, however, the challenge was resolved in May and we currently range between 70 and 80% in terms of stock availability.

province never experienced any supply challenges with Rifafour which currently ranges between 80% and 90% in terms of stock availability.

The availability of family planning drugs and injectables in our facilities ranges between

88 and 95% with Depo Provera (medroxyprogesterone) registering a drastic availability improvement of 67% in January to 95% In July this year. Oral contraceptives which include Ovral, and Triphasil have recorded an 85-87% stock availability in the province. We have further recorded 92% availability of sub dermal implants at facilities which were reported to be experiencing stock shortages.

The Department will experience shortages of specific items from time to time when there is a national problem with that specific medicine. However, information regarding a departmental process of lodging general complaints is available at various health facilities. Through this process, persons who experience medicine shortages can escalate their challenges should they believe they do not get cooperation from the health facilities they are visiting.

Source: Government of South Africa

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Minister Stella Ndabeni- Abrahams leads 2022 Women’s Month commemoration in Rustenburg, 16 Aug

The Minister of Small Business Development, Ms Stella Ndabeni- Abrahams to lead a commemoration of the 2022 Women’s Month programme in the Rustenburg Local Municipality, North West Province

The Minister for Small Business Development, Ms Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams will be leading a programme to commemorate the 2022 Women’s Month in Rustenburg Local Municipality, North West Province on Tuesday, 16 August 2022 under the theme: “Women’s Socio-Economic rights and empowerment: Building back better for women’s resilience!” with the shortened sub-theme of:” Women’s Socio-Economic Rights, Empowerment and Resilience”.

During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the DSBD initiated new programmes which include amongst others, supporting SMME to have their products tested and placed on the shelves of retailers, wholesalers, other big companies, and international markets. In line with the 2022 Women’s Month theme, we will be showcasing and promoting the good work and products that are proudly produced by women entrepreneurs at all economic levels for the past few years.

The day will culminate in a hand over of tools of trade to Informal businesses who have been identified by the Local Municipality and supported through the Departmental

Informal and Micro Enterprise Development Programme (IMEDP). The celebration will also include Waste Pickers identified by the Local Municipality and the provincial Department of Environmental Affairs.

Source: Government of South Africa

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Water and Sanitation on Western Cape water situation

Latest update on Western Cape water situation

The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) wishes to update citizens on the latest Western Cape’s water situation. Today’s hydrological report indicates that the average combined dam levels of the Western Cape Water Supply System are at 76,26%, a notable decline from 98,11% in the comparative period last year.

DWS Western Cape Provincial Head Ntombizanele Bila-Mupariwa says the Western Cape received below normal rainfall in the past four months, and as such dam storages are a concern compared to the last two years.

The West Coast District Municipality has experienced a sharp decline in dam levels compared to the same time last year. For instance, the Clanwilliam Dam’s current level is 58,08%, a significant decline from 99,63% last year. At present, Theewaterskloof, the largest dam in the Western Cape, is at 76,76%, compared to 101% last year this time.

“Despite the dam levels being low compared to the previous two years, there is no need to panic just yet since we are still in a rainy season,” Bila-Mupariwa says.

The South African Weather Services as well as private weather prediction modelling have indicated the Western Cape Water Supply System is to receive the bulk of its rainfall within the latter half, in August to October, of the hydrological year.

While this is the case water users are reminded that climate change has made the rainfall patterns unpredictable. DWS will make pronouncements at the end of the hydrological year, in the month of November.

All water users, especially high-end water users are urged to use water responsible.

For more information, contact Sputnik Ratau, Spokesperson for the Department of Water and Sanitation on 082 874 2942

Source: Government of South Africa

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South Africa’s Defense Minister in Russia for Security Conference

South Africa’s Defense Minister Thandi Modise has arrived in Russia for a Moscow-hosted conference on international security. The visit comes amid Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine and as Russian forces there are occupying Europe’s largest nuclear power plant. It also comes just days after U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited South Africa in part to try to win more African support against Russia’s invasion.

Despite South Africa repeatedly proclaiming its neutrality in the Russia/Ukraine war, several analysts say Modise’s attendance at the 10th Moscow Conference on International Security shows the country is siding with Russia.

“We have not seen any condemnation of Russia, despite the dire impact of the war on the supply of goods and services in South Africa, said Ralph Mathekga, a political analyst at Geopolitical Intelligence Services. “And, also, when you look at attending a defense-kind of a forum in a moment such as this, I mean I cannot imagine any stronger indication of support of Russia,” he said.

Mathekga believes it’s a blow to South African-U.S. relations, considering U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited South Africa just last week.

“It actually says that South Africa is nailing its colors to the mast.,” he said. “I think it was a frustrating visit for the secretary of state because South Africa did not hold back on their indication that they are not going to pick sides on this, they are not going to be bullied by global powers in their continued cold war as it’s being called.”

Mathekga warns that while South Africa may be willing to rely on its bigger partners in the BRICS alliance, namely China and India, to help it through these turbulent economic times, it should not ignore the reality that the European Union and America are two of its biggest trading partners.

Sipho Mantula, a researcher at the Thabo Mbeki African School on Public and International Affairs, says it’s likely South Africa couldn’t ignore the invitation because of its status as a member of the African Union’s Peace and Security Council.

He says Russia also has a close relationship with many African states whose freedom fighters it helped train during the 1960s and 1970s.

“The conflict of Russia and Ukraine is absent from this official program. The key issues that will come out will be around dealing with international global terrorism, the issues of the Middle East and North Africa,” he said.

However, he conceded that while South Africa may call for peaceful negotiations to end the Russian/Ukraine war, the gathering in Moscow may be a sign of a potential military alliance.

“One will assume so because Russia is trying by all means to galvanize its support politically, economically, militarily. So one would assume that they are trying by all means because this is a very high-level technical meeting that is taking place. And one will assume yes, it is part of mobilizing allies, mobilize those who can say they are friendly states towards Russia,” he said.

Defense Minister Modise is due to address the Moscow security conference Tuesday.

Source: Voice of America

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Minister Thandi Modise attends the 10th Moscow Conference on International Security in Russia, 15 to 17 Aug

Minister Thandi Modise arrives in Russia to attend the 10th Moscow Conference on International Security

Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Ms Thandi Modise, today (Monday, 15 August 2022), landed in Moscow, Russia, to attend the 10th Moscow Conference on International Security at the invitation of the Russian Minister of Defence, General Shoigu.

The Conference, which takes place from the 15th to the 17th of August 2022, will be attended by Ministers of Defence from different countries as well as experts and key stakeholders in the military field. The Conference‘s objectives are to share practical ideas and explore solutions on matters of global security. Minister Thandi Modise will address the conference on Tuesday, the 16th of August.

Minister Thandi Modise is also scheduled to have a bilateral meeting with the Russian Minister of Defence, General Shoigu, on the margins of the conference. South Africa and the Russian Federation enjoy cordial relations. Both countries have signed a number of military-related bilateral agreements which are yielding significant benefits for both countries.

The conference will also be an opportunity for Minister Modise to engage with her counterparts on security issues in the context of ongoing global security challenges. As one of the key players on peace and security on the African continent, it is hoped that this conference will help expose South Africa to practical and innovative strategies to address defence and security challenges that confront Africa.

South Africa stands ready to work with all peace-loving nations of the world, through relevant multilateral bodies, to contribute meaningfully towards lasting peace in the world.

Source: Government of South Africa