WORKING IN THE FESTIVE SEASON

 I have been working in South Africa’s healthcare system for 9 years now, during all the festive seasons except for December 2022, when I was on maternity leave. I willingly made this choice, mostly because my family does not celebrate Christmas. I feel happy to know that my colleagues who celebrate during this time can spend time with their families. We know that we are part of a team and can support each other and fulfill our duties.

We have to take extra care and consideration for the patients who are also in the hospital during the festive season. Some patients might show up to casualty with vague complaints just because they didn’t want to be alone. We have even had women coming to maternity complaining of decreased fetal movement, and not initially disclosing to us that she has been a victim of gender-based violence. There are those patients who delay presenting to the hospital with their illness and they present very ill, in need of resuscitation, blood transfusion, or ICU admission.  

We have to bear in mind that being a doctor during the holidays means that we are working while other people are busy celebrating because illnesses and injuries and in my case childbirth does not take a break! When we are in medical school we tend to have a great break after the exams, but things start to get busy from internship when the interns learn that working on holidays is part of the medical work. They are still young and do not have committed relationships or children as yet which makes them adapt easily.

For those doctors who feel the tug of family, a virtual call can help them stay connected especially with little children who miss their parents. We must also remember to take care of ourselves and make sure we are eating right, taking breaks, and are able to manage stress. 

This is me and my Rahima Moosa registrars and interns on Christmas Day 2024

END OF YEAR 2024

 It is that time of the year when things tend to slow down, and we have time to reflect on what has happened through the past eleven months. Looking back, I have a good feeling about this year. We have been happy and healthy and trying our best to survive. I want to elaborate on the different aspects of my life.

My health journey: I have not had any major health issues this year besides those intense dentist visits and getting crowns for my teeth which cost a fortune. My pap smears and blood tests are up-to-date. The thought of having to do mammograms in my 40s from next year is scary. Mentally there are those days when I feel overwhelmed, overstimulated, and exhausted, but I am trying to give myself precious time to journal, read a book, and relax. Physically, I have not been successful in my weight loss journey this year, but I hope to do better next year. We cannot eat what we used to eat in our 20s and have the same figure.

Work has been going well. The first half of the year was spent on job hunting filling out application forms and praying for interviews. My prayers were eventually answered and I managed to get a job in a hospital that is much closer to my house and has a better academic environment. I started working there in July and so far have been enjoying it and growing well, professionally. For me, a job is not merely something that pays the bills, and I don’t ever dream of having enough money to sit at home and go shopping sprees and drink smoothies every day. My job gives me purpose and meaning and I love it.

Family is everything. That is what fills the rest of my heart besides my job. Hubby and I have survived another year without killing each other! There have been good days, bad days, loving days, and disagreements here and there. The good has been more than the bad, hence we are surviving and doing our best to raise our little daughter. I am thankful to the grannies and uncles who have helped us in every aspect this year, especially my mom for looking after the baby most of the days.

We are thankful for another blessed year, and wish everyone a prosperous new year. looking forward to next year with more exciting content on women’s health in this blog. 

 

 

WORLD AIDS DAY

 The 1st of December is marked as World ADIS Day. The purpose of this is to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS and honour those who are affected by the disease. This year’s theme is “Collective Action: Sustain and Accelerate HIV Progress “. The day was first observed in 1988, and since then significant progress has been made in addressing HIV/AIDS through advancements in medical research, increased access to treatment and prevention, and a broader understanding of the virus.

The objectives of dedicating a day to HIV/AIDS is to:

Raise awareness about the disease's impact

Support the affected groups

Promote HIV testing and prevention

Advocate for policies and programs that support research, treatment, and prevention

 

We can all get involved by:

Wearing a red ribbon, which is the symbol of the world AIDS day

Sharing information about HIV/AIDS on social media

Participating in local events and fundraisers

Supporting organizations that work on HIV/AIDS research, treatment, and prevention

 

Here is a passage from Laura Bush’s biography explaining her visit to African countries in 2006 like South Africa and describing its effects. “Many African nations like South Africa have lost a vast portion of their population to AIDS. They were economically devastated and coping with massive human suffering. The tragedy was compounded by the fact that for well over a decade people across the African continent were not tested for AIDS. A positive test was a death sentence because there was no medication available. “

 

Let’s work together to create a world where everyone has access to HIV prevention, treatment, and care.