TB can be managed

 

TB can be managed

THE month of March also focuses on TB Awareness and how it is no longer a death sentence. The national theme for the country is 'Invest in Action to End TB Now!' and the tagline is 'Get Screened. End Stigma. Save Lives'. Although progress has been made in recent years in the reduction of TB cases and mortality rate, the disease remains a public health threat. The KwaZulu Natal Province is considered the most affected together with the Eastern Cape, Gauteng and the Western Cape. The Head of eThekwini Municipality's Health Unit, Rose Van Heerden said despite the highest burden, but the TB treatment outcomes show definite progressive improvement. The COVID-19 pandemic also severely impacted on the control of TB and the restrictions increased the number of undiagnosed patients. The eThekwini District has identified 5 high transmission informal setllements considered geographically as priorities which include Malukazi, Inanda, Bester, Amatikwe and Tshelimnyama to increase case finding and identification of TB contacts and refer those diagnosed positive to clinics for initiation of treatment. As a means to ensure adherence to treatment, the district has TB/HIV Outreach Teams. Their function is to visit households to provide injections and supervise that patients take their medication. The municipality is appealing to the public to get screened and tested for TB as there may be undetected cases. Those who test positive are urged not to delay receiving medical care. 

What is the link between TB and COVID-19?

People with TB may have a weak immune system and may be at risk of getting infected with COVID-19. 

• If you have TB, you are also at risk of suffering more severe symptoms from COVID-19. The risk is even higher if you are HIV positive or diabetic. 
• Symptoms of TB and Covid-19 are similar (cough, fever, night sweats) however symptoms of Covid-19 start suddenly. Sore throat, nausea and vomiting, and loss of smell and taste are associated with Covid-19 and not TB. 
• Both are transmitted by droplets (coughing and sneezing) but Covid-19 is also found on surfaces, and is more contagious than TB. 
• TB is treated with 6 months of antibiotics, while there is no current treatment for Covid-19. 

Why is TB treatment important especially during the COVID-19 pandemic?

• People with lung damage, such as people with TB, or those with weak immune systems, including those with poorly controlled HIV, may suffer from more severe forms of COVID-19 if infected. 
• Treating TB improves the body's ability to fight other infections, like COVID-19. 

Visit any municipal clinic and get screened for TB today!

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Clean water is a Basic Human right

THE month of March is both Water month and Human Rights month. The provision of clean fresh water is one of the basic Human Rights everyone should enjoy. It is often said that Water is Life, which is why we need to conserve it all the time. South Africa is amongst the 30 most dry countries in the world. Hence, the importance of using wise ways of conserving water at any home. These simple ways include, but are not limited to, the following ways: 

• Only flush the toilets when it is absolutely necessary. 
• Collect rain-water for watering the gardens. 
• Use the shower instead of bathing and limit this action to 2 minutes.
• Do not leave the taps running while brushing your teeth. 
• Do not use hosepipes as they consume large amounts of water. 
• Ensure that children do not play with the hose/s and sprinklers and reward them for conserving water. 
• Do not water plants, fill swimming pools or wash cars with the tap water but instead use water that comes from the rainwater tanks. 
• If you do have rainwater tanks, use this water wherever possible in the home. 
• Turn off the water while shaving. 
• Designate one glass or bottle for your drinking water a day so you do not have to keep washing them. 
• Check your home and premises for water leaks and learn how to use your water meter to check for leaks. 
• Keep a close eye on your water bill to help spot leaks (and wasted money) 
• If you wash dishes by hand, do not leave the water running for rinsing. 
• Soak pots and pans instead of running the tap while you scrape them. 

By saving water, consumers are similarly able to save money by bringing their water bills down. In public places, individuals are encouraged to report leaks, burst pipes and illegal connections. Changing water consumption patterns and behaviours now, will help manage the limited water resources in and for the future. 

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Turning waste into cash

RECYCLING is a process of collecting and processing material that would otherwise be thrown away as waste and turning it into new products.

WHY RECYCLE?

• Reduces the amount of waste sent to landfills
• Protect the environment
• Helps create jobs
• Promote the re-use of resources

BUY-BACK AND COMMUNITY DROP OFF CENTRES.

The municipality has established Buy back and Community drop off centres which are used for recycling purposes. 

Buy-Back Centres are operated by a licensed commercial recycler where individual waste collectors and street waste pickers can sell their recyclable waste. Here are Buy-Back Centres in eThekwini where residents can ''sell'' their recyclables

Edgars Deal for Three eThekwini Municipality Fashion Development Programme Beneficiaries

 

By Fred Felton | Mar. 19, 2022

The designs of three fashion designers that have come through the eThekwini Municpality’s Fashion Development Programme have landed a deal to supply clothing to Edgars.

The three fashion designers are Makhosi Ntshangase of the label ‘Sista Felas’, Kwenzi Nkomo of ‘Indoni Fashion House’ and Sandile Mlambo, the founder of ‘House of Alfalfa.’

The retail clothing store Edgars was impressed with their works and each of their collections will be available from March 2022. The collection of Ntsangase’s was supplied to Edgars in Sandton City Mall from 1 March; Mlambo has confirmed that his designs will be available at the same store later in March.  Indoni Fashion House has started supplying Sandton City Edgars and her fashion has been receiving excellent reviews.  As a result of this, she has been offered the opportunity to supply Edgars in Gateway Mall in Durban and Canal Walk Shopping Centre in Cape Town. Her designs are now available in three stores.

Ntshangase believes that the Durban Fashion Fair (DFF) has opened doors for her. She was a product of the programme in 2019. She has won awards which include being named DFF rising star and she was also the Vodacom Durban July Young Designer of year in 2019. ‘’I now employ a team of 20 permanent people,’’ said Ntshangase.

Mlambo also fees that his success involves the City’s Fashion Development Programme. He employs a staff of five and he has two studios in Glenwood, Durban and Maboneng, Johannesburg. Mlambo supplies a range of boutiques in Johannesburg and Sandton as well as Vitorria and Co. at the Pavilion Shopping Centre in KwaZulu-Natal.

Nkomo has based the Indoni Fashion House in Glenwood. She employs a staff of six people. She has also come out of the DFF programme. She co-owns the clothing store ‘The Fifth’ with four other women, three of which have also come out of the DFF development programme.

The City’s Fashion Development programme also helps fashion designers with the DFF Emporium which sells fashion designs for programme recipients and for other local designers of fashion.

''We are grateful to see this programme yielding positive results and these three fashion designers alone employ a total of 31 permanent staff and create temporary employment,'' said eThekwini Municipality Mayor, Councillor Mxolisi Kaunda. 

EThekwini hosts fruitful engagement with Editors

EThekwini hosts fruitful 

engagement with Editors

IN A bid to strengthen media relations the Mayor Councillor Mxolisi Kaunda, invited all Editors to introduce the newly elected leadership to the captains of newsrooms. The municipality views the media as one of its important stakeholders, indispensable for it to aggressively advance the agenda of development. Deputy City Managers had an opportunity to shed some light on the anatomy of their clusters and the strides that have been made by the municipality to meet the needs of all its stakeholders. Cllr Kaunda commended the media fraternity for the good work it is doing of being the eyes and the ears of the public. He urged it to continue to keep the municipality on its toes but also humbly appealed to them to also pay attention to the good developmental work it is doing against all odds to improve the wellbeing of its residents. He also communicated mega plans that are afoot to grow the economy of eThekwini which at the heart of it, is the advancement of Radical Economic Transformation. ''With this gathering we want to send a clear message to the media that we value its existence. We are of the strong conviction that we cannot strengthen our democracy without the media on board. We are not saying it must heap praises on us, but we humbly request that it must also help us to tell a good story about the municipality. We must all be mindful of the fact that if we keep on publishing negative stories, there is no sane investor that will consider our city for investment. However, where we have shortcomings, you are at liberty to ask difficult questions because at the end of the day, we spend public money, and we must at all times account as to how the public funds was used'' Cllr Kaunda vowed that engagements of this nature are going to feature prominently in this current leadership's agenda to take the municipality to new heights. 

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Entries deadline for inaugural Durban Tourism Awards looms

THE first annual Durban Tourism Awards is fast approaching. The municipality therefore urges all local tourism product owners to enter for the awards before the deadline, 25 February. The awards scheduled to take place in May during the Tourism Indaba, will recognise products in the tourism industry value chain that inspire visitors' trust by demonstrating the City's high standards and commitment to excellence in the tourism industry. The awards also aim to reward products that attract tourists to the City and contribute to job creation and economic growth. The awards categories include service excellence, tour operators, emerging entrepreneur, meetings and exhibitions, sustainable development, tour guides, upcoming filmmakers, and a special Mayor's award. To enter online and for more information on the categories visit www.durbantourismawards.com 

Manual entry forms are available at all Durban Tourism satellite offices. EThekwini Mayor, Councillor Mxolisi Kaunda said: ''By rewarding these businesses, we hope that others will be inspired to explore innovative ways in which they can adjust to the dynamic conditions that influence the global tourism industry.'' 

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Property owners advised to inspect general valuation roll

The municipality is undertaking a general valuation of all properties across the municipality. This is in accordance with the Municipal Property Rates Act (MPRA) No. 6 of 2004, as amended. Property owners are encouraged to inspect the roll between 11 February and 31 March 2022 and lodge an objection if deemed necessary. The new valuation roll (GV 2022) will come into effect on 1 July 2022. The date of valuation has been determined as 2 July 2021 and the general valuation will reflect the market value of all properties in accordance with property market conditions that apply to this date. There are about 560 000 properties consisting of commercial, industrial, specialised properties, single residential, sectional title, and vacant land throughout the eThekwini municipal area. Physical inspection of every property was neither feasible, affordable, nor required in terms of the law. However, inspections are undertaken to verify information already on hand or where such information was considered incomplete. The Municipality has access to a vast database of property information including building plans, Deeds Office data, geographic information systems, aerial photography, information obtained from previous inspections, as well as data from property sales in each area. This information is regularly maintained, and inspections are routinely carried out where alterations, additions and new developments are completed. The valuation roll can be inspected at the office of  the Municipal Manager, Valuation Roll Division, 5th Floor Embassy Building, 199 Anton Lembede (Smith) Street, Durban and at Sizakala Customer Centres during office hours from 7.30am to 4pm. Objection forms can be obtained from the same address. 

The roll and forms are also available on the municipality's website: http://www.durban.gov.za:8000/propertysearch.htm 

Durban Tourism Joined Tsogo Sun Hotels in Cleaning the Beachfront

 

By Fred Felton | Feb. 19, 2022

The hospitality sector of the City of Durban teamed up with Tsogo Sun Hotels and those in the tourism industry to help clean up the beachfront on 18 February 2022.

Durban Tourism and staff and guests of Tsogo Sun Hotels helped to clean-up the Durban Beachfront on 18 February 2022. | Image: Durban Tourism 

This project was also aimed at assisting the Childhood Cancer Foundation South Africa (CHOC) with its fundraising drive to assist children with cancer.

This campaign was supported by Durban Tourism and it saw in the region of 10 hotels that are situated on the Durban beachfront and Umhlanga beachfront team together to help clean up their part of the beachfront.

Durban Tourism supported the clean-up campaign of Tsogo Sun Hotels in Durban on Friday. | Image: Durban Tourism 

‘’This collaboration is a big deal to Durban Tourism as Tsogo Sun is the biggest accommodation group in Durban. The significance of this action as private sector in their own accord deciding to add beach clean-up into their initiative demonstrates their support to Municipality service delivery. It also sends a message that as big tourism stakeholders, keeping the City clean protects tourism as the second biggest economic contributor to the Durban economy,’’ said Melusi Khumalo, Regional Marketing Manager for Durban Tourism.

The clean-up was also used to assist the Flip Flop Friday programme on Friday, 18 February 2022. This raised much-needed funds for CHOC. Hotel staff and guests of the various hotels participated and help with the fundraising by purchasing flip flops for R10 so that they could wear them during the beach clean-up.

‘’This is a good campaign because the drains won’t get blocked anymore. I always throw my litter in the bin,’’ said local Addington Beach resident Cindy Polydorou.

The hotels that took part in this clean-up include Garden Court South Beach, The Edward, Garden Court Marine Parade, Southern Sun Elangeni and Maharani, Suncoast Towers and Sun Square Suncoast, The Beverly Hills, Garden Court uMhlanga, Cabana Beach Resort and uMhlanga Sands Resort.

‘’Let us work together to make eThekwini the most liveable city by 2030,’’ said eThekwini Municipality Mayor, Councillor Mxolisi Kaunda.

 

              KNOW YOUR WARD COUNCILLOR

Enter the Durban Tourism Awards

 

By Fred Felton | Jan 22, 2021

Those in the tourism industry are encouraged to enter the Durban Tourism Awards. The deadline for entries has been extended to 25 February 2022. This is to make sure that all of those involved in tourism within the Durban area can enter on time.

Those involved in tourism are encouraged to enter the Durban Tourism Awards. | Image: Fred Felton

‘’It is important for tourism businesses to enter for the awards as it will raise the profile and awareness of their tourism products,’’ said eThekwini Municipality Mayor Councillor Mxolisi Kaunda.

Awards are planned to be announced in May 2022. They will give recognition to those valued people and places in the tourism industry. Those involved in the tourism industry wishing to enter should have products that give tourists trust by showing off the high standards of the City and they should also have the highest standards in their industry.

The aim of these awards is to give recognition to those tourism attractions that attract travellers to Durban and help towards creating jobs and helping assist the economy.

There are a variety of categories for those involved in tourism. These include those that provide excellent service, tourism operators, entrepreneurs involved in tourism, those involved with exhibitions and meetings, development in a sustainable way, guides involved in tourism, emerging filmmakers, awards for tourism experiences, awards for a wide variety of accommodation establishments, Rickshaw awards and there will also be a special award by the Mayor.

For each category there will be five nominations. There will be four runners-up and one winner. Winners will receive a wide variety of prizes which include R30 000 in cash, a laptop, iPad or tablet, website creation and support for six months and six months of free data.

These awards aim to help small, medium and micro business, especially those in rural and township areas. The winners will also be assisted with new tools to help them formalise their companies and show them how to continue during tough times. The awards also aim to help these tourism companies build their business and stand out in the tourism industry.

The Durban Tourism Awards also aim to raise awareness of tourism and show how it helps the economy not only locally but also in KwaZulu-Natal and South Africa. The public also have a chance to give their views on which are the best of the best in the tourism sector.

To enter visit www.durbantourismawards.com

Entry forms are also available at Durban Tourism offices. They have offices at 90 Florida Road in Windermere, Durban, Village Walk at uShaka Marine World, 1 King Shaka Avenue at the Point Waterfront, Gateway Information Office, 1 Palm Blvd, Umhlanga Ridge.

For more information visit the Durban Tourism website www.visitdurban.travel or you can also call 031 322 4164 to find your nearest Durban Tourism office.

EThekwini is ready to host you safely

 

EThekwini is ready 

to host you safely

The municipality has implemented plans to keep holidaymakers safe during the festive season. Visitors and residents are urged to work with law enforcement to ensure a safe and incident-free holiday. To prepare for the high numbers of visitors to eThekwini's beaches, 200 000 wristbands have been procured. All children between the ages of 0 and 12 years on the beachfront will be required to wear a wristband which contains the details of their guardians. If a child is separated from their guardian, 38 child-minders have been employed to look after them until they are reunited with their families. There have been situations where some guardians have abused this service. They leave the children at the care centre and go out and have fun. The minders are aware of this and will report to authorities anyone caught abandoning children. Tags for children can be obtained as follows: For central beaches they are obtained at Addington beach; South beach; Wedge beach between North and Bay Beaches lawns; Battery beach and Laguna beach. In the South the tags are obtainable at Toti Beach in places where tents for separated children will be erected. The overnight facility for lost children that have not been united with their guardians is at Ellis Brown school. Around 65 beach guides will be stationed across the various beaches to help with information and safety and security. An additional 160 seasonal lifeguards have also been deployed at the various beaches. All bathing beaches will be operational between 6am and 6.30pm. There will be road closures especially in roads leading to the beaches. Previously permits were issued for people to access the beach even where there are road closures. This  year that facility is not available in order to limit congestion on the beach parking lots. Measures to close roads have already been implemented as of 12 December with the placement of bollards. The bollards will be manned by Metro Police from Blue Lagoon down to the Point Waterfront. There will also be access control at beaches in the North and the South. Law enforcement officers will also be out in full force to enforce by-laws with about 168 contract security employed. By-laws to be paid more attention to include the no sleeping in cars, buses or beaches, no braaing or open fires on the beach and most importantly no alcohol allowed. To control traffic on the beachfront, certain roads leading to the beachfront will be boom gate controlled. The park and ride facility is available at no cost and will be operational from 7am to 10am and 10pm to 12am on non-peak days. The service will be available on peak days from 10am to 10pm. This service will operate from the Drive-In site. Road safety campaigns to enforce municipal by-laws will also be visible to ensure that unroadworthy vehicles, drunken driving and irresponsible conduct on the road is curbed. Public amenities on the beachfront will be open from Monday to Thursday from 6am to 8pm and on Friday to Sunday and public holidays from 6am to 10pm. On holiday peak days a 24-hour service will be provided at the Point, Addington, South, New Beach, Country Club, eThekwini and Bay of Plenty beaches. ''The public is encouraged to enjoy their holidays and make memories with their loved ones in a considerate and responsible manner. Remember that COVID-19 is still a reality and we must take care of ourselves and those close to us and observe all COVID-19 protocols.'' said Mayor, Cllr Mxolisi Kaunda. 

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Calls for Africa to invest in AIDS research

The global community inclusive of scientists, policy makers, activists, and government leaders from Africa gathered in Durban to review global AIDS strategies and to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on HIV/AIDS. South African Deputy President David Mabuza, in his capacity as the Chairperson of the SA National Aids Council on 6 December opened the 21st International Conference on AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections in Africa (ICASA). The conference was held virtually from 6 to 11 December to amplify national, continental, and global integration to reach epidemic control in Africa. 

The conference was held under the theme 'Africa's AIDS response: The race to 2030 - Evidence. Scale up. Accelerate.' Deputy President Mabuza called on Africa to invest in research and innovation to build resilient capabilities for the development and manufacture of critical vaccines, drugs, and ancillary medical supplies that will support the roll-out of health programmes on the continent. ''This is the time to move beyond rhetoric and forge collaborative platforms for research and innovation to promote intra-Africa cooperation in the development and provision of health solutions that the continent needs,'' he said. 

''The lesson the COVID-19 vaccine rollout programme has taught us is that as a continent, we need to invest in our own capabilities to overcome the hogging of vaccines by wealthier nations thereby effectively responding to current and future epidemics and pandemics.'' He said Africa was more than capable using the recent example of South African scientists detecting the genome of the Omicron variant and its mutations with precision. Executive Director of UNAIDS Winnie Byanyima said to end AIDS and COVID-19 and to prevent future pandemics, the continent needs to protect human rights and build trust in health system. ''We must deepen the push to eliminate the disproportionate vulnerability of girls to HIV. We must get girls into school and keep them there. While they are in school, they need comprehensive sexual education to provide them with lifesaving information. Across this continent, comprehensive sexual education is opposed by traditional conservative forces. But we must build a movement to make it part of school curriculum and tackle violence against women and children through legislation and the courts,'' said Byanyima.