SWAZILAND BUSINESS COALITION ON HEALTH AND AIDS

Transcription

1 June 2015 Message from the CEO Ms. Thobile Dlamini - SWABCHA CEO June is MENS Health Month, each time one addresses issues of gender are often challenged about what are we doing for men as the assumption is that gender refers to female, which is not the case. At SWABCHA we have gone an extra mile to join the country in dedicating the month of JUNE to the wellness and welfare of men. We urge all our members to ensure that they follow the information guide sent to them on what to do to address the health of men in our workplaces. However key to the many topics to be discussed this month is Prostate cancer. This is one of the leading cancers amongst men, yet it can be cured completely if detected early. In this news letter we have detailed information on the disease, please do read it. Another key topic for the month as we address men is the element of gender based violence, this is a silent killer as it has been found to be one of the 12 key drivers of the HIV Epidemic. As we escalate the issues of men's health we are cognisant of the fact that MEN like women do need support to overcome some of the health challenges they are faced with hence the session will also involve both sexes. The month will close with an open dialogue planned for the 26th June, 2015, where SWABCHA with generous support form the American Embassy will host a half day dialogue for its member companies to discuss strategies that men can engage to address gender based violence and also embrace the element of gender equity at all level. It will also bring Leeson's learned over the month in the different sessions that will be held at the different workplaces. Membership news SWAZILAND BUSINESS COALITION ON HEALTH AND AIDS We extend a warm welcome to three of our new members who joined SWABCHA in the first half of 2015, these are Siteki Town Council, KOBWA and Exams Council. KOBWA is not necessarily a new member however they have been silent for some time, also exams Council has been participating actively in our programs through that were supported by PEPFAR through PACT. All three have joined SWABCHA on the Economy package. We also take this opportunity to congratulate and appreciate the renewing members being, FNB, SPTC,SWACAA, NEDBANK, Standard bank, RSSC, CONCO, SEC, SRA and Inyatsi Construction. We continue to strive to organize activities that will bring together our members both for information sharing and to motivate them to continue implementing their individual workplace programs, here are some of the national upcoming activities in the next quarter. Activity Venue Date MENS Health Dialogue TBA 26 June, 2015 Aerobathon challenge Mavuso Sports Centre 11July, 2015 Peer Educators Day TBA 10 July, 2015 Corporate Wellness Week All workplaces 6-10 July, 2015

2 Page 2 Safety Awareness Campaign A successful safety awareness program continually reminds employees to work safely using proper procedures when performing all tasks. To have a real and lasting effect, the safety awareness program must be both pertinent to the specific activities of the workplace and be consistent day to day. However, the program and its messages must have enough variety so they don't become routine or mundane. As part of SWABCHA mandate of a Healthy Worker ; Healthy Business, one of our member companies Illovo (Ubombo Sugar) had a safety awareness campaign. Everyone in the workplace plays a role in delivering safe care and by uniting and sharing that common goal, we can make a difference in employee safety. All departments come together to do tests (HIV, glucose, cholesterol, TB, BP, BMI and counselling). All the departments are tasked to showcase what they do on health and there are awards that are given for the best drama on safety in the workplace. The event began with a march from the hospital to the Illovo Administration premises, as a way to spreading the message of safety to everyone while also exercising as another way of getting healthy. SWABCHA was part of the event. Training of Focal Persons The Focal persons training saw a total of 39 people attending from 18 different companies including SWABCHA staff. A sharing of best practices platform was opened for participants, and three sessions were held. Two of the sessions focused on the wellbeing of the focal persons, topics that were covered included Self-mastery, and Emotional Intelligence. The last session from SWASA focused on assisting companies in setting up the wellness systems. This was to ensure that all companies are able to run competent wellness programs. The TB training gave synopses of the current trends of TB in Swaziland, and then looked at the bacteria itself, how it affects the worker, and how it affects the child. The session further focused on MDR and XDR TB, stigma and discrimination on these issues, and gender issues related to health care. Awareness and Peer Educators Training The following companies had their Peer Educators trained these were: Kukhanya Construction, Mbabane City Council, and Swaziland Sugar Association; Sessions were conducted for Standard Bank, National Maize Corporation and the Swaziland Energy Regulatory Authority. The sessions conducted were on the importance of wellness and stress management. The month of March is a month which we had dedicated to Tuberculosis (TB) awareness as SWABCHA. This awareness raising was aimed at making sure those different stakeholders addresses TB and its effects in the work place. The awareness also focused on the HIV & TB co-infection and treatment adherence for employees.

3 Page 3 Awareness and Peer Educators Training continued.. A communiqué on TB was sent via to all SWABCHA members and stakeholders. SWABCHA was further able to partner with the National TB program and Doctors without Borders (MSF) in implementing activities within the month. As part of the awareness raising a motivating for employees to screen for TB and HIV was made. Some companies were reached on health talks and sessions on Gender based Violence, Gender Empowerment, and on the importance of Wellness programs. Peer Educators Testimonies Peer Educators are the heart of the Social Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC) approach to health promotion at the local level, SWABCHA trains Peer Educators in workplaces to become communicators rather than educators and as such respond to local needs rather than predetermined assumptions. From the trainings the Peer Educators had the following to say about SWABCHA trainings and the facilitation. Such workshops should be extended to all sectors e. g elders, unemployed youth or school going children Facilitators are very open to everyone and make it easy for anyone to ask any question, they promote open dialogue Now I know about cancer and more informed to make conscious decisions about my health and that of my family The training is so informative, you wish you could train for 2 or more weeks

4 Page 4 Policy Formulation Companies have been taking long in reviewing wellness policies. In the quarter under review the following were visited; FNB, Nedbank, PSPF, MTN, Mbabane City Council, and Manzini City Council. The internal processes are necessary as most of the current policies are focused on HIV and there is need to make them comprehensive in-line with the Wellness and Disease Management Standard. A partnership with FSE &CC to train HR officer is underway where a meeting is planned for the 7 May 2015 to sensitize Human Resource Managers and other executive managers on the Wellness and Disease Management Standard (Including HIV and TB). Partnership Positive partnerships were forged and strengthened with a variety of stakeholders within Swaziland these include the National TB programme, UNDP, and MSF Swaziland. We participated in the launch of the Matsapha outreach program; a partnership with PEPFAR and Coca Cola Swaziland. This program will also provide outreach to the Matsapha Industrial area at no cost to the employees providing HTC, TB, STI screening and treatment, family planning and provide linkages with the local clinics and hospitals. A meeting was also held with condom program stakeholders to find ways of maximizing condoms uptake in the country and the promotion of the use of the lubricants provided by government. This meeting will see a rise in the distribution of condoms through the partnership with the Swaziland Beverages which distributes condoms within different business outlets which sell their products. This project is not new but it has since received a boost in that the company has made this a KPA for its marketing department. Another partnership that is still being worked on is that of the Swazis in Free enterprise a program that is aimed at supporting Swazi small business holders to have HIV and wellness programs running within their businesses. The implementation of the project activities will start in April 2015.

5 Page 5 Prostate Cancer Awareness Prostate cancer is cancer that occurs in a man's prostate a small walnut-shaped gland that produces the seminal fluid that nourishes and transports sperm. Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in men. Prostate cancer usually grows slowly and initially remains confined to the prostate gland, where it may not cause serious harm. While some types of prostate cancer grow slowly and may need minimal or no treatment, other types are aggressive and can spread quickly. Men above the age of 45 years are likely to develop prostate cancer. Of note is that not all hardening and enlargement of the prostate means there is prostate cancers, and not all difficulty in urination is an indication of prostate cancer, a medical examination is important. Prostate cancer that is detected early when it's still confined to the prostate gland has a better chance of successful treatment. Symptoms Prostate cancer may cause no signs or symptoms in its early stages. Prostate cancer that is more advanced may cause signs and symptoms such as: Trouble urinating Decreased force in the stream of urine Blood in the semen Discomfort in the pelvic area Bone pain Erectile dysfunction Causes It's not clear what causes prostate cancer. Prostate cancer begins when some cells in your prostate become abnormal. Mutations in the abnormal cells' DNA cause the cells to grow and divide more rapidly than normal cells do. The abnormal cells continue living, when other cells would die. The accumulating abnormal cells form a tumour that can grow to invade nearby tissue. Some abnormal cells can break off and spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body. Prostate screening tests might include: Digital rectal exam (DRE). During a DRE, your medical practitioner inserts a gloved, lubricated finger into your rectum to examine your prostate, which is adjacent to the rectum. If any abnormalities in the texture, shape or size of your gland is found, you may need more tests. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test. A blood sample is drawn from a vein in your arm and analysed for PSA, a substance that's naturally produced by your prostate gland. It's normal for a small amount of PSA to be in your bloodstream. However, if a higher than normal level is found, it may be an indication of prostate infection, inflammation, enlargement or cancer. PSA testing combined with DRE helps identify prostate cancers at their earliest stages. Early dictation of prostate cancer is key.

6 Page 4 Response Risk factors Prostate Cancer Awareness continued Factors that can increase your risk of prostate cancer include: Older age. Your risk of prostate cancer increases as you age. Family history of prostate or breast cancer. If men in your family have had prostate cancer, your risk may be increased. Obesity. Obese men diagnosed with prostate cancer may be more likely to have advanced disease that's more difficult to treat. Complications Complications of prostate cancer and its treatments include: Cancer that spreads (metastasizes). Prostate cancer can spread to nearby organs, such as your bladder, or travel through your bloodstream or lymphatic system to your bones or other organs. Incontinence. Both prostate cancer and its treatment can cause urinary incontinence. Treatment for incontinence depends on the type you have, how severe it is and the likelihood it will improve over time. Treatment options may include medications, catheters and surgery. Erectile dysfunction. Erectile dysfunction can be a result of prostate cancer or its treatment, including surgery, radiation or hormone treatments. If you have signs or symptoms that worry you, start by seeing your doctor or a general practitioner. Speak openly about what is happening in your body as a patient. Prostate screening tests might include: Digital rectal exam (DRE). During a DRE, your medical practitioner inserts a gloved, lubricated finger into your rectum to examine your prostate, which is adjacent to the rectum. If any abnormalities in the texture, shape or size of your gland is found, you may need more tests. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test. A blood sample is drawn from a vein in your arm and analyzed for PSA, a substance that's naturally produced by your prostate gland. It's normal for a small amount of PSA to be in your bloodstream. However, if a higher than normal level is found, it may be an indication of prostate infection, inflammation, enlargement or cancer. By: Mr. Mbongeni Magagula (SWABCHA Programs Officer)