McKinley Elementary School hosts Multicultural Day in Davenport
There was a culture fair in the gym where students could sample different foods and learn about different countries. The fair had different stations that each represented a country with different items. Students also danced, made crafts, and viewed flags from around the world. The Davenport Public Library, common chord, and the Figge had stations for kids to engage with also. ESL teacher Mariah Jensen told Our Quad Cities News this event is something students look forward to every year.
'They're really excited this is a really anticipated day that they're ready for, they talk about it all year.'
She says the school has students from all different types of backgrounds and there are 17 different languages spoken there. The school hopes this event is something that encourages inclusivity and understanding among the students.
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Daily Maverick
a few seconds ago
- Daily Maverick
Dragon slayer — Dr Nomathemba Chandiwana battles obesity, ‘SA's new HIV epidemic'
The obesity epidemic will hit South Africa hard on top of our high HIV burden, but advocate researcher and scientist Dr Nomathemba Chandiwana says she is ready to fight back harder. She speaks to Spotlight about her journey from working in state hospitals to transitioning into obesity medicine, and her move to Cape Town. For the briefest moment, Dr Nomathemba Chandiwana could have had a career in music – guitar in her arms, singing songs of being far from home but being lost in the best way possible. The chief scientific officer at the Desmond Tutu Health Foundation has carved out a career in public health for more than a decade. Her focus has been on HIV and, most recently, bringing insights from HIV research into tackling South Africa's high rates of obesity. But in her late teens, her undergrad years were spent at Northeastern in Boston, United States, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in behavioural neuroscience. Her degree included a guitar credit, and she spent hours wandering through museums. 'It was some of the best experiences of my life, really – because I could be just another kid in just another college town. I got to learn that life isn't just for learning, it's also for learning about life,' she tells Spotlight. It was perspective she needed so that by the time she enrolled at Wits Medical School in 2006 for her third degree, it wasn't to tick boxes of expectation of a kid who got good grades; the daughter of a prominent virologist and the graduate accepted to study medicine in the United States. She would learn another lesson about expectation when frontline medicine didn't turn out to be her career path after all. She was well into her journey of becoming a paediatrician and had worked as a medical officer at three state hospitals in Johannesburg, when she says a series of devastating public service strikes, culminating in tragedy in 2012, 'broke' her. A health system failing people Nurses couldn't come to work and there were deaths, she recalls. 'I was young, barely out of medical school and I was in charge of kids in high care. In one week, 12 babies passed … and one of the nurses was killed,' says Chandiwana. She adds: 'It was the health system that failed people; it wasn't the doctors and nurses. It was so clear to me that we have to fix the healthcare system.' Her move from healthcare provider to researcher began with joining Wits RHI – a leading research institute that specialises in HIV, TB, sexual and reproductive health, vaccines and infectious diseases. Here she worked in strengthening health systems, focused on maternal, child and adolescent health. She says arriving at public health research has been her 'happy place'. Chandiwana helped to write the chapter on HIV treatment in the National Strategic Plan (NSP) for HIV, TB and STIs 2023-2028 and contributed to treatment guidelines on tuberculosis and sexually transmitted infections such as syphilis. Working at Wits' Ezintsha Research Centre with Professor Francois Venter, among the foremost HIV research scientists in South Africa, Chandiwana was part of a team that conducted a landmark study that confirmed the safety and efficacy of HIV treatment that includes the antiretroviral drug dolutegravir. More than four million people in South Africa have since started taking dolutegravir-based HIV treatment. Raising the profile of African research 'This was African-led research and data. So you're helping your own people with real answers that they need – it's not research for research's sake,' she says. 'Less than 2% of research output is from Africa, yet we are the continent with one of the highest disease burdens from Covid-19, to TB, HIV and malaria,' she says. African researchers, she says, have real challenges compared with their Global North colleagues. She points out, for instance, some medical journals have publishing fees that run into the thousands of dollars – fees that are hard to pay given the very tight budgets most local researchers have to work with. 'If you're an African researcher, it's not like you're doing just research. You're probably writing the protocol, you're looking for funding, you are training and teaching,' she says. But Chandiwana also says difficulties build resilience and adaptability – she calls it 'Africa's spunk'. She adds that publishing should not, in any case, supersede the goal of conducting research that has real impact. Chandiwana goes as far as saying that publishing in high-impact research journals is great, but publishing in medium-impact journals is important too. And that's not where it ends, she says, adding that social media messaging also has its role. A growing threat Around 2018, some of the groundbreaking research that Chandiwana was involved with at Ezintsha demanded just such a wider audience. She and her colleagues were seeing a peculiar but clear correlation between people with HIV taking certain ARVs and gaining weight. Researchers are still figuring out to what extent this weight gain is due to people simply putting on pounds because the ARVs are helping them get healthier, and to what extent some ARVs might contribute to weight gain in other ways. It was an important finding, potentially affecting many of the more than six million people on HIV treatment in South Africa (there is a total of around eight million people in SA living with the virus). The picture is further complicated by the fact that South Africa's population of people living with HIV is ageing, and therefore at greater risk of developing conditions such as obesity and diabetes simply because they are living longer. In March 2024, Chandiwana and Venter wrote an editorial in the South African Medical Journal, calling obesity 'South Africa's new HIV epidemic'. The editorial warned that the lessons and missteps of the HIV response in the late 1990s and early 2000s should be a wake-up call for the country's response to fighting obesity. 'As with the HIV epidemic in the 1990s, we are facing a calamitous threat to the health of the population that has been ignored for too long,' they wrote. 'Weight-related diseases have eclipsed tuberculosis and HIV as leading causes of morbidity and mortality. Over two-thirds of South African women are overweight or are living with obesity,' they warned, citing that type 2 diabetes, stroke and heart disease are conditions all directly linked to obesity. 'They account for three of the top four causes of death nationally and incur massive health system costs,' they wrote. Chandiwana and Venter also slammed the sluggish response from a government which has not even now reined in industries that prop up ultra-processed food systems through policies or regulations. 'This is how I transitioned into obesity medicine,' says Chandiwana, who since the end of 2024 has been based at the Desmond Tutu Health Foundation in Cape Town, led by Professor Linda-Gail Bekker. She counts Venter and Bekker as the mentors and value-based leaders she admires. 'Obesity is the disease of our time' Chandiwana says obesity research is still a relatively new field. There is no specific formal training on obesity in local medical schools. As such, her work is intertwined with advocacy, shaping policy direction and putting planning in place to push for equitable access to new drugs, treatments and therapies for obesity. (Spotlight previously published an in-depth feature on the case for using breakthrough new weight loss medicines in South Africa.) 'Obesity is the disease of our time, all throughout the world. Every country in the world has got an obesity issue, but low- and middle-income countries are most affected. So we have to ask questions about the environment in which people live, the role of fast foods and ultra processed foods, the built environment, the levels of safety and security in neighbourhoods and how this impacts things like how people feel about exercising outdoors, their quality of sleep, and their access to places where they can access nutritious foods,' she says. The other strand in tackling obesity, she points out, is in the rise of a new class of type 2 diabetes drugs called glucagon-like-peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), increasingly also used to treat obesity. For instance, the diabetes medication Semaglutide can work to reduce appetite, help people feel fuller for longer and slow down gastric emptying, thereby promoting weight loss. (Spotlight previously published an article on which of the breakthrough weight loss medicines are available in South Africa and at what price.) These drugs are gamechangers, Chandiwana says. With treatment available, it means obesity can be seen and treated as a chronic metabolic disease. It helps to shed the stigma that obesity is simply an affliction caused by poor willpower and bad lifestyle choices. But the catch is the high price of the drugs, making questions about fair access to treatment top of mind for Chandiwana. As an HIV physician and research advocate, there are many parallels Chandiwana draws about these new drugs and ARVs in the early days of getting treatment to people living with HIV. Ultimately, it's about who gets left behind. And once again, even in the case of obesity in South Africa, she says it's black women most at risk. 'My research interest is therefore also about how to make sure we have comprehensive treatment plans that include looking at environment, food and lifestyle. Everyone should be allowed to increase not just their lifespan but their health-span, including through access to antiretrovirals, anti-obesity drugs, diabetic drugs or hypertension drugs,' she says. Putting people at the heart of research Chandiwana says her research approach is shaped by community strategies, building advocacy and training others, and locally appropriate solutions and interventions. One project Chandiwana highlights is the work the Desmond Tutu Health Foundation does at the Mpilo Health Park in Masiphumelele, Cape Town. It is where youth can access sexual and reproductive health services and also use an on-site gym and sports grounds. The idea is that combining services means looking to more holistic interventions to improve health, wellbeing and even access to secure recreational spaces for young people. 'There is no research without communities. They are the people who say 'yes' to being part of research – yes, they'll help us find answers. It is not researchers doing it by themselves,' she says. Chandiwana is intentional about putting people at the heart of research. She says people know what works best for them ultimately and people, when they're heard, can sway governments. 'As a researcher, I believe I am a storyteller. Research is not something abstract or just about the data, for me it's people's stories that I am telling,' says Chandiwana. Falling in love with Cape Town Her own story has seen her become a Capetonian. It was unexpected, she says, and so was becoming a Capetonian with a dog who enjoys going on long hikes, she jokes. But the die-hard ex-Joburger admits to falling in love with Cape Town more deeply each day. It's home now for her, husband Zviko Mudimu, their two children and nanny Thembi Ndlovu. 'I was one of those people who said I could never live in Cape Town,' Chandiwana says of the city's notoriously blatant racial and wealth divides. 'One of the things I remind myself of in Cape Town is that I might be pushing in spaces that I've been told are not meant for me. I have to remind myself that it's my country too, and I am allowed. Some things about Cape Town do need a shake-up,' she says. She calls for dragon slayers in a time of dragons – drawing an analogy from her soft spot for high fantasy and science fiction. But she also admits that Cape Town has made her check her assumptions and expectations. It's surprised and shaken her, too. Reciprocal action, after all, can be how change is made. And change in the right direction is what keeps her going, or as she puts it on her WhatsApp status, to 'chop wood, carry water'. Chandiwana adds: 'The whole point of the work we do is that we believe we're leaving our corner of the world a little better off. Sometimes it's about pushing back, becoming a bigger advocate, and working with imperfect allies. In the end, it's about finding more ways to walk this road we're on.' DM
IOL News
a few seconds ago
- IOL News
Rolling the dice: Why South African workers are turning to gambling
As inflation and rising debt levels across the country continue to soar, a new report has revealed that more than half of South Africa's working population is turning to gambling Image: Supplied As inflation and rising debt levels across the country continue to soar, a new report has revealed that more than half of South Africa's working population is turning to gambling in search of financial relief. According to the 2025 Old Mutual Savings and Investment Monitor (OMSIM) a report that tracks the shifting financial attitudes and behaviours of working South Africans, around 52% of employed adults participate in gambling. "A staggering 52% of working South Africans gamble, with incidence being highest among 30 – 49 year-olds (58%) and men (57%)," the report noted. According to the National Gambling Board, South Africans spent R1.1 trillion on gambling from April 2023 to March 2024. During this time, gambling revenue increased by 25.7% to R59.3 billion. "Of more concern is the fact that 40% of working South Africans acknowledge they gamble frequently, hoping to make money that can cover some of their expenses/debt. "This is up from the 36% recorded in the last measure, and more prevalent among lower-income earners". Many respondents said the possibility of earning extra income was a primary motivation for gambling, especially among those earning between R8,000 and R29,000 per month. The report also highlighted the growing popularity of online gambling, with 77% of gamblers using betting apps and 49% gambling via websites. "Gambling is very much an online pursuit, be that via an App or directly on an online betting website". "Amongst gamblers, Sportsbetting ranks as the highest type of gambling at 61%, followed by Lotto (53%) and Slots (52%). Just over 6 in 10 gamblers gamble at least once a week (62%) – with close to 4 in 10 gambling even more frequently." The report also noted that one in five gamblers (19%) reported borrowing money, using credit, or selling possessions to fund their gambling. "Worrying is that 1 in 5 gamblers have had to borrow, use credit or sell something to fund their gambling, and 1 in 4 have found themselves in financial difficulty as a result of their gambling," the report found. IOL Business [email protected] Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel
IOL News
a few seconds ago
- IOL News
Prioritising African-led solutions for global health at the G20 Summit
Health experts advocate for African-led solutions ahead of the G20 Summit in South Africa to strengthen global health systems and ensure resilience. Image: IOL / Ron AI As global leaders gather ahead of the G20 Summit in South Africa, discussions centre on fortifying global health systems with an urgent focus on pandemic preparedness, universal health coverage, and equitable access to healthcare. Experts are calling for African-led solutions, combined with increased investments and enhanced manufacturing capabilities, to ensure a resilient health infrastructure on the continent. South Africa, serving as the 2025 G20 president, is hosting working group meetings that bring together representatives of United Nations member states, invited countries, and various international agencies and organisations. These meetings aim to forge collaborative strategies that address the complex health challenges of the 21st century. Video Player is loading. 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Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Robyn Hayes-Badenhorst of Supporting Health Initiatives (SHI), a division of Wits Health Consortium, said as the G20 meets in South Africa under the theme 'Strengthening Global Health Systems', SHI emphasises that preparedness must rest on strong continental foundations with African-led solutions at the centre of global health resilience. Hayes-Badenhorst said resilience in health is more than responding to emergencies; it is about building systems strong enough to withstand shocks, whether from pandemics, climate crises, or shifts in global funding. 'With international financing slowing and South Africa among the hardest hit, Africa must invest in its own regulatory capacity, manufacturing base, and harmonised systems to protect its people,' she said. A truly resilient system can respond to outbreaks quickly, maintain care for chronic conditions, and adapt to new health threats without collapsing essential services, said Hayes-Badenhorst. Earlier this month, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced that the US will pull $500 million from Messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine development. The mRNA technology has been credited with helping to end the Covid pandemic, and it is quicker and simpler to produce than traditional vaccines. According to Wits University, RFK's decision and scepticism have an impact on South Africa's mRNA vaccine development, particularly for deadly diseases like TB and HIV/Aids, and some cancers. Professor Patrick Arbuthnot, director at the Antiviral Gene Therapy Research Unit (AGTRU), said during the Covid-19 pandemic, the unit rapidly responded to build mRNA vaccine technology in South Africa. 'Our previous and successful work on using formulated mRNA to disable the Hepatitis B virus provided the foundation for disseminating the technology to low- and middle-income countries,' he said. Arbuthnot said mRNA can develop effective, safe, and patient-centric vaccine candidates that are suitable for vulnerable people, including children, the elderly, and those living in rural settings. He said what is significant is that the vaccines can be developed rapidly and quickly adapted to changes that the pathogen may evolve. 'Although funding has been slashed for mRNA research and development in the US, there is robust evidence that this technology is effective. It is thus essential that we continue to work on the technology and build self-sustaining capacity,' he said. Arbuthnot said getting the whole of Africa on board is imperative to building vaccine manufacturing capabilities on the continent. 'We can thus aim to be more prepared for future pandemics, build resilience, and provide a safer global environment,' he said. Professor Yahya Choonara, director and principal researcher at the Wits Advanced Drug Delivery Platform (WADDP), said low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), such as South Africa, need to develop new drug delivery systems as a much-needed, cost-effective, and more biologically precise strategy amid global funding cuts and pressured health services. Choonara explained that WADDP has a strong focus on tackling infectious diseases, in particular the design of nanomedicine for tuberculosis, HIV/Aids, and malaria. It also innovates at the interface of regenerative medicine using functional biomaterials. 'We provide the largest training and research platform in Africa,' he said. Choonara said LMICs often have tight healthcare budgets, and more efficient medicines can help reduce costs, making healthcare more affordable for patients who need it. 'Contextually designed drug delivery systems (medicines) can improve treatment outcomes, ensuring patients get the right dose at the right time at the right site in the body, which is crucial for infectious diseases like HIV/Aids, TB, and malaria that are highly prevalent in LMICs,' he said. He said patient-centric medicines are easier to use and can facilitate adherence to complex treatment plans, which is key for managing chronic conditions. According to Choonara, more investment and manufacturing capabilities are needed to advance work into clinical trials and ultimately into the hands of patients. 'Our mission is to undertake translational pharmaceutical research and generate intellectual property as a solution for difficult-to-solve medical challenges. This means that if we can transfer our technology to people who can industrialise our work, then we can scale and implement care and treatment,' said Choonara. He said to be self-sustaining, contextually relevant, and globally applicable, questions need to be continuously answered. 'In addition to creating these novel drug delivery systems, we must empower and train local scientists to innovate 'local' solutions for our specific context. What's so exciting is that at the Wits Advanced Drug Delivery Platform (WADDP), our skills, technology, and equipment are world-class and on par with those found in developed countries,' said Choonara. At the opening of the G20 Health Working Group in KwaZulu-Natal in March, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi said it must be acknowledged that spending on health is not a cost but an investment. The minister said innovative financing mechanisms that prioritise health are needed. 'The time for action is now. We must move beyond dialogue and commit to concrete steps. We must prioritise health financing, address inequalities, and work together to build resilient health systems,' said Motsoaledi.
