Dear MyPE The first quarter expenditure figures for the financial year (1 April 2014-30 June 2014) that were released by national treasury yesterday are a wake-up call for the Eastern Cape, particularly when it comes to capital expenditure. Expenditure on personnel is largely on track but capital expenditure (infrastructure) is lagging way behind. Our bloated bureaucracy is simply not giving us value for money. The slow pace of capital expenditure is not reducing infrastructural backlogs … [Read more...] about EC under expenditure on education and health for first quarter
health
Sustainable environmental health critical to ensure healthy populace
True to its theme "Environmental Health - the cornerstone of preventative and sustainable health care delivery in South Africa", the first day of the 2014 National Conference on Environmental Health emphasized the need to understand the effects of environmental concerns on the wellbeing of our nation. Mr Selva Mudaly, national President of the South African Institute of Environmental Health (SAIEH), emphasized that it is important to have sufficient human resources at local government … [Read more...] about Sustainable environmental health critical to ensure healthy populace
The 2014 Color Run series kicks off in Port Elizabeth
Port Elizabeth is getting ready to paint the town red... blue, green, and yellow! The world's largest event series and the original of all paint races, The Color Run™, is once again heading to Port Elizabeth to give locals and visitors the time of their lives, as they transform the town's streets into a five kilometre canvas of colour. Internationally renowned as a fun, family-friendly race, The Color Run™ celebrates healthiness, happiness, individuality and giving back, as it brings people … [Read more...] about The 2014 Color Run series kicks off in Port Elizabeth
Free Health Checks
Civil society, big business and the Government will team up from 2nd to 4th April 2014 to promote family healthy living and disease prevention by implementing a massive, annual campaign that provides comprehensive, free health care services to tens of thousands of people in underprivileged communities. The Rotary Family Health Day will take place in Port Elizabeth at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium from 09:00-15:00 daily. Services over the three days will include HIV counselling and … [Read more...] about Free Health Checks
When did we stop caring?
On Friday we had the baby and family expo at Kings Court Mall and there I was promoting pregnancy yoga. I had some of my yoga mats on display and someone who claimed to do yoga came up to enquire about the price of the mats. The mats sell for R500. A lady, quite indignantly, asked why the mat was ‘so expensive’. In short: the mat is much cheaper than what you would pay in shops or online and there are a number of reasons why it’s a wonderful yoga mat, but when I got to the part that one of the … [Read more...] about When did we stop caring?
Eastern Cape Premier must intervene in health crisis
The IFP calls on Ms Noxolo Kiviet, the Eastern Cape Premier, to take drastic action to improve the province's health care system, as the Provincial MEC of Health seems to have failed to solve health crisis. IFP spokesperson on Health, Mrs Hilda Msweli MP, said "Pregnant patients in Dora Nginza hospital are being treated on mattresses on the floor due to a chronic shortage of hospital beds. This is a violation of patients' rights. The health MEC is failing to perform his allotted duties - he … [Read more...] about Eastern Cape Premier must intervene in health crisis
Get on the Health Train
The fully equipped Phelophepa Health Train, an initiative of the Transnet Foundation, will be stationed at the Swartkops Station until Valentine’s Day (February 14) to provide healthcare services to impoverished residents from Nelson Mandela Bay. The first Phelophepa coach made its way to awaiting patients in rural South Africa in 1994 as a three-carriage eye clinic and the project grew to two custom-build eighteen-carriage trains equipped with modern medical equipment. Known as the miracle … [Read more...] about Get on the Health Train
Yoga beats a New Years Resolutions
As we enter the last week of January, 93% of people who have made new years resolutions would have abandoned them. In fact – most of the 93% would have abandoned their resolutions after just one week. It has me wondering if some of us still even remember what our resolutions were. There is an inexhaustible pile of literature out there about how to set better, more realistic and achievable new years resolutions and this article is not one of them. While I believe its good to want to change … [Read more...] about Yoga beats a New Years Resolutions
Is a sense of purpose good for our health?
Perhaps it's just about getting older, but as each year goes by, I feel less inclined to make New Year resolutions - too conscious of the many that have come in with a bang like a firework display only to fade into a whisper of smoke before the first week of January is gone. However, some interesting recent research suggests that living a more resolved and purposeful life can make a measurable difference to our health. Tom Jacobs of Pacific Standard Magazine (www.psmag.com, 29/7/2013) … [Read more...] about Is a sense of purpose good for our health?
Wellness Trends to Pay Attention to in 2014
In 2013 Port Elizabeth was found to be one of the healthier cities in South Africa. In 2014 I would love to see some trends take us from health to overall wellness, incorporating physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health. Because we’re worth it. Here are my thoughts on which wellness trends we need to be aware of: 1. Juicing, and particularly Green Juice, (or blending) is not just for cleansing You don’t have to wait for your body to be dead beat and sick before you start … [Read more...] about Wellness Trends to Pay Attention to in 2014
Prenatal Yoga – A Gift to You and Your Baby
It’s a privilege to be pregnant. It is one of the greatest gifts the Universe bestows on us and it’s only fair for us to take this responsibility and blessing seriously. In an honest attempt to create the perfect home inside us for 9 months, we can often border on becoming quite obsessed with the ever growing list of do’s and don’t’s. Without wanting to add to the confusion, I wanted to let momas- and aspiring momas-to-be know that one of the most beautiful and useful things you can do while … [Read more...] about Prenatal Yoga – A Gift to You and Your Baby
The Colour Run : How this PE event could Inspire ongoing Health and Happiness
This weekend, on the first day of Spring, almost 10 000 PE people threw themselves into the happiest 5k on the planet with more enthusiasm and energy than we’ve seen in a while. Just about every one of the almost 10 000 people wore big smiles on their faces for the duration of the event and it got me thinking…The Colour Run aims to promote being healthy and being happy: probably the two most important things we ultimately want in life. While it was evident that the organising of such an event … [Read more...] about The Colour Run : How this PE event could Inspire ongoing Health and Happiness
CHOC Lodge in PE to accommodate mothers of cancer patients
The CHOC Lodge is now open to the mothers of cancer patients who are admitted into the Oncology wards at Dora Nginza Hospital. CHOC was the beneficiary to both the 2012 Discovery Algoa FM Big Walk and the 2012 Urban Run and used these funds to get the project off the ground. “Previously parents had to wait in the cold early morning, from as early as 04h00 for the hospital to open to ensure that they are first in the queue to get treatment otherwise they had no transport fees to go home and … [Read more...] about CHOC Lodge in PE to accommodate mothers of cancer patients
Accomplish More With Less Effort
The most rewarding part of teaching yoga is the amazing responses I get from students after practice. Day in and day out people come through the door – from different backgrounds and with different sources of stress – but they all have one thing in common: through a regular yoga practice they come to realise that you achieve much more when you move with ease, than when you’re all forceful about what you think you need to achieve. As always with yoga – the lessons on the mat are so relevant to … [Read more...] about Accomplish More With Less Effort
Brangelina and The Beckhams Do It, Do You?
Couples yoga – the playful path to intimacy - is another arm of yoga that has taken the world by storm. In this particularly lighthearted and playful form of yoga, couples have the opportunity to truly connect with each other, while at the same time supporting each other in developing strength, flexibility and balance. The Beckhams do it for an hour twice per week and see it as a time for them to become one entity entirely. Stretching moving and breathing as one has them more in tune with each … [Read more...] about Brangelina and The Beckhams Do It, Do You?
