Health problems in Mangaung
2012-12-19 20:48
Bloemfontein - Fatigue, allergies and chronic illness
have caused many delegates to consult doctors at the ANC conference in
Mangaung.
At the University of Free State, delegates walked long
distances from the student residences to the main marquee, thus exposing
themselves to high temperatures.
The air-conditioning in the tent was also not working,
and dancing and singing struggle songs pushed the mercury even higher.
There were two major health stations on campus - one next
to the main marquee and another next to Callie Human Hall, where the gala
dinner was held.
In every spot where people had been gathered for
commissions, business breakfast and voting, at least two mobile clinics were
stationed to help delegates with health problems.
Keith Khoza, spokesperson for the ANC, confirmed on
Wednesday that a male delegate from Mpumalanga had died on Sunday after
experiencing respiratory problems.
"We handed the matter to the provincial leadership
to ensure that they go and meet the family of the deceased," Khoza said.
Fully furnished clinic
Isaac Moisi, team leader of the medical station next to
the main marquee, said the facilities were like a fully furnished clinic,
complete with nurses and doctors.
"Most people who came for treatment were suffering
from fatigue because of lack of sleep and temperatures which were high in
Mangaung," he said.
Some of the patients consulted the clinics to get
medication for their chronic illnesses. Fundile Nyati, a medical doctor and CEO
of Proactive Health Solutions, treated a number of journalists with the same
problems.
On average, his mini-clinic based at the media centre was
open for over 12 hours at a time.
"Some of the problems that people came for were
pre-existing such as high blood pressure, sugar diabetes and wanted to check
how they were," he said.
"Some were on treatment and wanted to know if the
stress related to their job could have made things worse."
Other patients discovered that they were diabetic or had
hypertension, something they did not previously know.
"Some delegates came to do HIV tests while others
wanted condoms."
The main ailments were problems associated the sinuses
and throat.
These were mainly related to the pollen that is found on
campus because of the trees, Nyati said.
Most people had nasal blockages, sinus headaches and sore
throats - all allergy-related illnesses.
"There was a lot of fatigue, because people were not
eating at regular intervals, and not eating proper food, so they come here with
low blood sugar.
"Whenever you are going to have a gathering where
you are going to have many people, it is important as part of your planning to
also anticipate it that in such an environment there will be those who will not
be healthy," Nyati said.
- SAPA
