Health For Mzansi Podcast

It is a miracle to make it out of an abusive relationship. Abuse whether physical, emotional, verbal, or sexual can have a long-term effect on your mental health. On this episode of Sisters Without Shame, psychologist Amina Mwaikambo unpacks the trauma of intimate partner violence. Mwaikambo is a licensed Psychologist, and a Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Practitioner at the Centre for the...

People with disabilities face many barriers in accessing good healthcare in Mzansi. On this week’s episode of Sisters Without Shame Alan Downey the founder of Disability Info South Africa (DiSA) unpacks the most common barriers faced by communities of people living with disability and possible solutions for improvement. Disability info South Africa (DiSA) was started in 2015 by Downey to provide a...

People with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have symptoms that many find relatable like difficulty sitting still or being easily distracted. At one point or another you may even find yourself saying something like “I am so ADHD!” to describe your own experience. This just does more harm than go to those who are diagnosed and undiagnosed says Western Cape psychiatrist, Professor Ren...

Stroke is a major health problem that can have devastating consequences on your life. President of the Neurological Association of South Africa (NASA), Dr Patty Francis joins this episode of Sisters Without Shame to share her insights on causes and treatment of stroke. Francis has a special interest in stroke treatment and is part of an acute stroke service at Umhlanga Hospital. Her other special...

Ladies it is important to understand that you are not alone in your breast cancer journey. Cancer warrior Lorraine Govender joins this week’s episode of Sisters Without Shame to share her insights on coming to terms with breast cancer diagnosis and treatment options you can explore in Mzansi’s public health sector. Never lose hope and continue to fight the good fight Govender says on this episode....

Being diagnosed with diabetes can be life altering says Sunward Medical Park’s, Dr Angela Murphy. Whether it is type 1 diabetes where the body does not make any insulin at all or type 2 when the pancreas makes some insulin but not enough, diagnosis means making changes to your lifestyle that you may not be ready to commit to.   Murphy joins this week’s episode of Sisters Without Shame to help...

It can be potentially lifesaving to get used to the way your breasts normally look and feel. In Mzansi breast cancer is the most common cancer affecting 1 in 27 women of all races. On this episode of Sisters Without Shame, Dr Liana Roodt who is the founding surgeon of Project Flamingo shares her insights from risks to treatment and management and why you should take breast cancer screenings more s...

On this episode of Sisters Without Shame, a friend in crisis wonders if she will ever overcome the traumatic events in her life. Quraisha Baig, a clinical psychologist joins this episode to unpack trauma and finding healing. Trauma is to the human mind and spirit what a physical wound is to the flesh explains Baig. Generally speaking, trauma is an emotional response to a terrible event. This can b...

All women should be concerned about their vaginal health, but what constitutes a healthy vagina? On this episode of Sisters Without Shame, Centurion-based fertility specialist Dr Qinisile Diale joins to unpack some of our most pressing vaginal woes. While a healthy vagina depends somewhat on a woman’s age, the vagina generally has an acidic pH, contains rich quantities of beneficial bacteria that...

Mzansi there is no way around it: the death of a loved one is insurmountable, and funerals are difficult. A final gift can however save multiple lives and bring healing to other families. Through organ donation something positive can come out of the pain. Tanya Bothma has been on both spectrums in the emotional process: as a recipient and as the family member of a loved one who has gifted their or...

There are currently about 4300 adults and children are awaiting solid organ and tissue transplants in Mzansi. This according to Samantha Nicholls who is the executive director of operations of the Organ Donor Foundation of South Africa. Nicholls joins this week’s episode of Sisters Without Shame to answer all our burning questions about organ donation in Mzansi. Organ Donation is a medical procedu...

On this episode of Sisters Without Shame, Polokwane Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) specialist Dr Lorraine Masotja comes to the aid of a parent in crisis from Vryburg who needs more insights on the treatment of glue ear. Glue ear or otitis media happens when the middle ear becomes inflamed due to infection. It is most common in children and can follow a sore throat, respiratory infection or cold.

On this episode of Sisters Without Shame, a friend in crisis needs advice on how to deal with Premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) can be described as a health problem that is similar to premenstrual syndrome but is more serious. PMDD can cause severe irritability, depression, or anxiety in the week before your period starts. This according to medical activist an...

Stem cell transplants are medical procedures performed to replace bone marrow that have been damaged or destroyed by disease, infection, or chemotherapy. This according to Dr Candice Hendricks a paediatric haematologist who joins this week’s episode of Sisters Without Shame to unpack the common misconceptions of stem cell donation in Mzansi.

Blood stem cell transplants are often the only hope to treat blood cancers and disorders in Mzansi. On this episode of Sisters Without Shame Thabo Maleka who lives with aplastic anaemia and Unathi Mtengwana, a blood cancer fighter detail their journey’s searching for blood stem donation. Maleka from Polokwane and Mtengwana from Zeereust have spent more time in hospitals than outside of them waitin...

On this episode of Sisters Without Shame a friend in crisis has lost all hope in the weight loss process and is interested in exploring weight loss surgery as a last resort. Registered dietitian Mariam Forgan shares what we need to know about weight loss surgery and bariatric procedures.  Forgan works alongside endocrinologist  Dr Jocelyn Hellig  in the therapeutic management of chr...

On this week’s episode of Sisters Without Shame lactation specialist Emma Numangolu unpacks the emotional and psychological benefits of breastfeeding. Parenthood is filled with a rollercoaster of emotions. From hormonal changes to sleep deprivation to feeding choices for your baby, your life and emotions may seem to be all over the place all the time. Not only is breast best for baby’s health but...

On this week’s episode of Sisters Without Shame a friend in crisis wonders why she feels down in the slumps after eating certain foods. We all have those days where we feel so miserable that we cannot even force ourselves out of bed to face the world with a little bit of enthusiasm and energy. Western Cape dietitian, Jo-Anne Roets unpacks the links between food and our mental health.

In a landmark decision on June 24, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned  Roe v. Wade a nearly 5 0 year law protecting the right of women to medical privacy and safe legal abortions. The policy allows abortion only in cases of rape, incest, or when a woman’s life is at risk, explains women’s health specialist Kayla Beare who joins this week’s episode of Sisters Without Shame.  The 1973...

There is surely a lot going on in Mzansi. Eskom, fuel, food prices? If your adult emotions are feeling down in the dumps, just imagine what the impact must be on our adolescent citizens of Mzansi. A mother in crisis from Kraaifontein asks how she can deal with her moody teen in the holidays. Cape Town social worker Tamsyn Alfino joins this episode of Sisters Without Shame with some advice.

This week a worker bee from Bloemfontein wonders if the work life is really her cup of tea and if she shouldn’t just find a sugar daddy and call it a day. Work will often take precedence over everything else in our lives forcing us to focus on success and neglect our mental health. Gauteng clinical psychologist Kelebogile Mojanaga talks finding work life balance on this episode of Sisters Without...

We have heard of the physical consequence of carrying extra weight including lifestyle diseases like diabetes, heart disease and osteoarthritis. But not as much spotlight is given to the impact of extra weight on our mental and emotional health. On this week’s episode of Sisters Without Shame, Dr Mothomang Diaho unpacks the psychological impact of carrying extra weight.

On episode 47 of Sisters Without Shame, a friend in crisis has become increasingly frustrated with her elderly uncle’s hesitancy to visit a doctor. Common reasons for men’s hesitancy to visit their GP include embarrassment, discomfort, and not wanting to change their diets. This is according to Men’s Foundation founder Garron Gselle.

On this week’s episode of Sisters Without Shame human rights activist Steve Letsike unpacks the increase in HIV/AIDS infections of young women and adolescent girls. Letsike is the co-chairperson of South African National Aids Council. With over 30 million deaths across the globe and no known cure, HIV/AIDS remains a looming threat across the globe. Letsike is also the founder of Access Chapter 2 (...

On this week’s episode of Sisters Without Shame, blood recipient Zukiswa Mpoka shares her story on how blood donation saved her life. June is dedicated to blood donors. Without them and their dedication to blood donation, lives would be lost. Did you know that only 1% of Mzansi’s population are active donors? Khensani Mahlanguis the communications officer for the South Africa National Blood Servic...