Health Mate - Issue 1, 05 February 2009

Hello I’m Half Tiger, your Health
Mate. Being healthy is the way to
go but it’s sure not easy! So many
choices can be confusing and
challenging but together we can
choose health.
www.education.gov.za
issue
1
e:
Promotion Directorat
d
Greetings teachers an
l
learners! A busy schoo
d
hin
be
ost
year is alm
us and the summer
holidays are around
the corner.
This supplement,
n
the Health Promotio
by
u
yo
brought to
to
w
ho
u
yo
w
Directorate, will sho
er
ain good health ov
achieve and maint
h
alt
he
od
Go
.
yond
the holidays and be
ntal and spiritual
refers to physical, me
well-being.
ucation works
The Department of Ed
rtment to
pa
De
h
alt
closely with the He
out the value of
educate everyone ab
always striving to
d
living a healthy life an
es.
oic
ch
make healthy
Directorate’s
The Health Promotion
help implement
d
an
lop
purpose is to deve
es that promote
policies and programm
healthy lifestyles and
health and wellness,
viour amongst
ha
be
y
a change in risk
.
ers
ch
tea
d
an
learners
at you think, so
We’d like to know wh
h Promotion
alt
He
at
us
please write to
g X895, Pretoria,
Directorate, Private Ba
@eish.co.za
ate
hm
0001 or email healt
– the measure of your wealth
h
g
i
H ife
l
n
o
alth
Here for you: The He
your health
Health promotion
T
he Department of Education believes that schools should be centres of care, support
and learning. The department is involved in the following health promotion programmes
in schools:
An HIV and AIDS
programme and Peer
Education Programme
that teaches
all learners
to make healthy
life choices.
The programme
also promotes the
prevention of risky
sexual behaviours.
A Drug and
Substance Abu
se
Prevention an
d
Education Pro
gramme
educates lear
ners,
educators and
parents about
the
dangers of dr
ug
abuse amongst
South
Africa’s yout
h.
A School
Health
Screenin
g
Programm
e
whose ob
jective
is the e
arly
identific
ation of
health b
arriers
to
learning
so that
learners
learn
effectiv
ely.
in this issue:
Smart Talk: Take a chill-pill!
PG 2
peer pressure: Be your own
person
PG 2
ON THE COUCH: Strategies to
survive exam stress
PG 3
mind, body and soul:
Exercising – a smart choice
PG 4
summer lovin’
The long-awaited
December
holidays are
around the corner
but not all the learners at
Kgatelopele High School are in
agreement about the best way
to kick back this summer …
Not me,
bra. I’ve got
other plans. I
want to relax
these holidays, play
some soccer
and swim.
I want to
be ready
for Grade 10
next year!
What’s
wrong?
Let’s stop before we get
too carried away.
A
bstinence is the
only guarantee,
or 100 percent way,
of preventing HIV and
pregnancy. Abstinence
refers to refraining
from all types of sexual
activity including anal
and oral sex.
M
ake responsible
sexual choices
and only get involved with
people who respect you.
Educate yourself and stay
safe.
Are you considering,
or being pressured to
consider sex? Here are
some questions to ask yourself.
Hey Aubrey ...
wanna hook up?
in the school yard ...
Ola,
peeps! Exams
are finally over!
Hey Thabi…can’t you keep your hands
off the guys? Yebo-yes, ladies and gents!
I’m going to kick back, drink all the beer I
can find and hook up with a different lady
every night.
Eish …
you sound like a
teacher.
Aaaah … here we go again … Aubrey,
we’re young and free … it’s time to go
wild! So many girls, so little time!
But
Aubrey,
I love
you, and
I’m ready
to go all the
way with
you. Don’t
you love
me?
Don’t
you know that there are 42
million people living with
HIV worldwide?
Naz,
you know
I’m crazy
about you
and I’m committed to this
relationship.
Loser ...
Let’s get
outa here.
We
need to
stick to our
life plans and
make smart
choices.
But I’m not ready to have sex. I’m
definitely not old enough to be a father.
Are you ready to be a mother?
•Is having sex a morally comfortable
choice for me?
•Do I understand enough about the act
of sex itself?
•If I get pregnant/get someone
pregnant, am I prepared to handle
parenthood? If not, am I ready to deal
with the pain of abortion or adoption?
•Do I really know this person who wants
to have sex with me?
•If the relationship breaks up, will I be
glad that I had sex with this person?
•Is he/she pressuring me to have sex?
•Am I pressuring him/her to have sex?
•Am I sure that my partner is not infected
with a sexually transmitted disease?
•Do I know enough about sexually
transmitted diseases like HIV?
later that night ...
A
ids is caused by the Human
Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). HIV
destroys a type of defence cell in the
body called a CD4 helper lymphocyte
(pronounced: lim-fuh-site). These
lymphocytes are part of the body’s
immune system, the defence system that
fights infectious diseases. As HIV destroys
these lymphocytes, people begin to
get serious infections. The name for this
condition is Acquired Immunodeficiency
Syndrome (Aids).
HIV is spread through high-risk
behaviours including:
• Unprotected oral, anal, or vaginal
sexual intercourse
• Sharing needles, such as needles used
to inject drugs or steroids
• People who have another sexually
You’re
right Aubrey.
That’s what
attracted me to
you in the first
place. You’re
smart, safe and
responsible ...
and I want to be
a child before I
have a child!
transmitted disease, such as
syphilis, genital herpes, chlamydia,
gonorrhoea, or bacterial vaginosis,
are at greater risk of getting HIV
during sex with infected partners.
• If a woman with HIV is pregnant, her
newborn baby can catch the virus
from her before birth, during the
birthing process, or from breastfeeding.
You cannot get HIV from:
• Hugging
• Holding hands
• Sneezes
• Coughs
• From sitting near someone who has it
• Mosquitoes, fleas or other bugs
• The toilet seat
• Sharing cutlery and crockery.
Remember, when you have sex with someone, you are potentially exposing yourself to
infections from all their previous partners, and their partners, and their partners ...
The Social Model of Health: A recipe for good health
T
he recipe for good health includes the availability of
adequate shelter, peace, income, food and water supply,
employment, education, safety, a stable ecosystem, sustainable
resources and socioeconomic status.
I
n the 1970s governments all over
the world realised that, despite
technological advances, many
members of society still did not enjoy
their right to good health. Nations
– including South Africa – therefore
started developing social models of
health to identify social, environmental
and economic causes of poor health.
To create the conditions for
sustainable healthy living for South
Africans, different government
departments (like labour, education,
social development and transport) must
work in close conjunction with private
sector partners (like manufacturers of
products or service providers).
Let’s use the example of road
safety to illustrate what we mean.
We all know that over the Christmas
holidays, there is an increase in the
number of road-related accidents
and deaths. To reduce traffic-related
injuries and fatalities, several sectors
• the roads must be well maintained;
• there must be a safe, affordable
and well maintained public
transport system;
• alcohol manufacturers and
advertisers must promote
must work together:
• people must be educated to
change their behaviour around
issues like drinking and driving, speed
and driver fatigue;
• the law must enforce the rules of
the road;
Health is a human rights issue
Human rights are central to good health
responsible alcohol use;
• car manufacturers must include and
promote safety features; and
• hotel managers and club owners
must work to control excessive
alcohol intake.
The social model of health also
recognises other human
rights related to
health care.
The Health
Promotion
Directorate
encourages
people to
take control of
their health by
accessing skills
and resources
they need to
change social
factors affecting
their health.
It also recognises that
health services should
be affordable and
available according to
people’s needs, and
that health information
should be available to
all citizens.
Hanging out with Health Mate
We got chatting to some young South Africans about how they
respond to peer pressure – and learnt a lot in the process! Basically,
it seems we’re all pretty clued up about how to take care of
ourselves – the big challenge lies in making the best choices for
our social, emotional and sexual well-being!
anna
, on p
eer p
r, on
nomatte
ressu
re
“Life’s too short to
worry about what other
people think of me! I’m
assertive and outgoing,
and I feel confident
about my beliefs and
values, so I’m not
afraid to stand up for
myself. I feel sad for
shy, insecure people
who think they’ll be
more popular if they go
along with the in-crowd
because, in fact, the
opposite is true: people
respect and admire
you if you dare to be
different and true to
yourself.”
fashion
“There’s a lot of pressu
re
to be seen in expensi
ve
clothing brands, but
for
those of us who don’t
have the money, the
re are
creative ways aroun
d the
problem. I think boys
are
probably under even
more
pressure than girls wh
en it
comes to wearing the
‘right’
labels: there are loa
ds of
non-costly ways you
can
style and accessorise
a
dress, but only so mu
ch
you can do with a pa
ir of
jeans and a T-shirt! I
think
it’s important to deve
lop
your own unique sty
le
rather than relying on
a
superficial label – cre
ated
by someone else – to
make
people think you’re
cool.”
Lethimpilo Campaign
E
very child has the right to go to
school, and to enjoy good health and
social security.
The Department of Education is
working closely with other government
departments to help learners access
these rights.
This cooperation is called integrated
service delivery. Important services are
delivered to learners in primary school
and their parents who live in poor
communities.
This programme is called the
Lethimpilo Campaign and targets
kayly
n, on
drug
s
“I’ve never been able
to see the benefit of
taking drugs. The guys
who smoke weed
think they’re so cool,
but actually they’re
just doffed out. They
can’t work up the
energy to participate
in anything – apart
from discussions about
legalising dope – and
the only time they’re
enthusiastic about
anything is when
they’re competing with
each other about who
got the most stoned
over the weekend!
Quite honestly, I think
it’s just childish.”
smoking
david, on
“There’s huge peer
pressure, especially
in Grade 6 or 7, to
smoke: I suppose
it’s all about wanting
to fit in and trying to
project a grown-up
image. It’s stupid
really, because all the
grown-ups I know who
smoke are desperate
to give up because
they feel so unfit and
unhealthy! I choose
not to smoke, but I do
carry a lighter in my
pocket whenever I go
out: it’s a great way to
meet girls, even if you
then don’t want to get
too close to them ’cos
their breath stinks like
an ashtray!”
morena,
on alcoh
ol
“I suppose it’s human
nature, especially for
guys, to be competitive.
So there’s lots of
irrational pressure to
get wasted and prove
you’re a man by outdrinking your friends.
Hmmm, I can think of
a hundred better ways
to prove myself than by
vomiting and passing
out! And while guys
somehow think it’s cool
for them to drink to
excess, they generally
regard girls who get
drunk as trashy and
easy prey – I’ve heard
some pretty naasty
stories being passed
around the day after a
heavy night out.”
on sex
bonolo,
“I love that I’m a
virgin. I think it’s so
cool to be pure. My
mom works hard for
my benefit and I want
to make her proud
of me. It’s interesting
that the tables seem
to be turning for the
guys as well: I know
a lot of girls who
think guys are more
attractive if they’re
still virgins. I choose to
abstain from sex, not
just because of the
threat of pregnancy
and HIV/AIDS, but
because I value
myself and my future
too much to give
myself away lightly.”
to begin the process of mainstreaming
that they can access their
this intergrated approach in support of
right to education. They are
educators, learners and their families.
also screened for hearing,
vision, dental health,
and other physical
problems that may
affect learning.
Through
Lethimpilo, learners
and parents can
Touching young lives – the Lethimpilo campaign in action
also apply for
social grants, social
assistance and birth registration.
learners between Grade R and Grade 4
The Department of Education
across the country.
held an Inter-Provincial Forum
Lethimpilo brings health education to
Lethimpilo – care and support for teaching and learning
on 10 and 11 November 2008
these young learners and their families so
sawubona fiona
Strategies to Survive Exam Results
Dear Fiona
F
...
iona de Villiers has worked with teachers,
trainers and learners in schools, NGOs
and businesses for nearly 20 years. She is
particularly interested in empowering youth
to make healthy life choices that will enable
them to live productive, fulfilling lives.
Fiona worked in a high school based in
Johannesburg for 15 years, and then moved
on to develop education programmes for
an NGO that goes into schools to deliver
sexual health and HIV awareness messages
to learners and teachers.
She now works with an NGO based
in Orange Farm that seeks to teach
learners traditional dance and music
forms using marimbas.
Fiona believes passionately in the value
of life-long learning, and that we are all
learners and all teachers.
Dear Fiona
I found it really hard to get
through the exams this year. The
stress and pressure got to me, and
I shut myself off from my friends
and family and studied 24/7 to
secure good results. Now exams
are over, and I’m still stressed! I
feel isolated and unsure how to
move on. What should I be doing?
Unsettled from Umhlanga
Dear Unsettled
Firstly, give yourself a
congratulatory pat on the back.
You deserve it!
Now take a deep breath and
remind yourself that it’s over and
it’s time to move on.
Next, listen to your body. You
probably need to ease yourself
back into a pre-exam regular
routine. That could mean more
sleep, but don’t go overboard. Try
to maintain a healthy sleep pattern
And if you’re feeling anxious,
perhaps some simple breathing
exercises, a yoga class could help,
or some walks could help.
Whatever you do, don’t think
that a huge party is going to
make you feel better. Drinking
irresponsibly, for example, will
only make you feel worse! Be
gentle with yourself. Read a great
book, attempt a new hobby, play
with your pets, eat some of your
favourite healthy snacks, or laze in
a deckchair. Take it easy.
Treat yourself to something
special to celebrate and mark the
end of the exams. This could also
be a way to reconnect with friends.
Suggest a meal out, a movie, or
a modest shopping expedition.
If you’re worried that you have
isolated people, this could be your
chance to explain how anxious
the exams made you feel, and to
apologise for excluding those who
are close to you.
If you continue to feel anxious,
it may be that you are worried
about something else, like your
results, or changes that will
happen next year. Try to determine
exactly what’s bothering you. If
you can’t, or even if you can, and
it’s stressing you out, it’s time to
talk to an adult you trust about
getting extra help.
If you would like to ask Fiona
a question write to:
Sawubona Fiona, Health
Promotion Directorate, Private
Bag, X895, Pretoria, 0001 or
email [email protected]
Buff Bods
Smart snacking strategies
G
ood options include home
made “trail mix”, fresh fruit and
vegetables. Small cheese sandwiches on
whole-wheat bread, or cooked mielies
make great padkos. Rice
cakes with peanut butter will
give you sustained energy,
and low-fat fruit yogurt
can satisfy cravings.
whirl the pieces in a blender with a small
amount of water or juice. Serve right
away. Add berries for a different flavour
or top with fruit or nuts.
Happy Trails Mix
Combine 1 cup
whole-grain
toasted
cereal
with ¼ cup
chopped
walnuts and
¼ cup dried
raisins for
a healthy
snack.
Treats to try
Banana Ice
Peel several very ripe
bananas, break them
into pieces, and freeze
the pieces in a sealed
bag. Just before serving,
School’s out! While
it’s tempting to
play video games,
watch TV, surf the
Web or sleep all
day and snack on
pizza, remember
that summer’s the
perfect time for
getting into shape.
Set yourself a goal:
to be energised
and toned by the
time school starts
again in January –
a great way to start
a new year!
Why exercise is a smart choice
There’s a definite connection between
living well and healthily, and having
a cheerful outlook on life. Experts
recommend that teens get 60 minutes or
more of moderate to vigorous physical
activity every day. Here’s why:
◗◗ Exercising makes the body produce
endorphins; chemicals that make one
feel more happy and content. They
can also make you sleep better
◗◗ People who exercise burn more
calories and are in better shape
Top NOSH tips
T
hese easy-to-follow top nosh tips are adapted from the South Africa Food
Based Dietary Guidelines.
◗◗ Enjoy a variety of foods
◗◗ Be active
◗◗ Make starchy foods the basis of most meals
◗◗ Eat dry beans, split peas, lentils and soya regularly
◗◗ Chicken, fish, milk, meat or eggs can be eaten daily
◗◗ Drink lots of clean, safe water
◗◗ Eat plenty of vegetables and fruits every day
◗◗ Eat fats sparingly
◗◗ Use salt sparingly
◗◗ Use food and drinks containing sugar sparingly and not between meals
Sitting on the floor, legs bent, arms straight
in front, lean back gradually. Keep arms
straight and tummy tight. Take it as far
back as possible and slowly return to a
sitting position. Repeat.
Chair Squats
◗◗ While it may take a lot of commitment
now, exercise can help you to age
slower and better. Jumping, running
and power-walking can keep your
bones strong
Moderation
It is possible to overdo exercise. For
those who’ve never exercised before,
even walking the dog to the corner
shop, and using the stairs can mean the
start of a whole new you.
Try these strengthening exercises
to get you started. And remember,
once you get into shape, don’t stop
or give up!
I’m fine without drugs:
Drug Testing and Random
Searches in Schools
◗◗ Exercise can help you to lose weight
healthily and can lower your risk of
developing conditions like type 2
diabetes and high blood pressure
Note: If you’ve been ill, or have a
medical condition, check with your
doctor before starting any exercise
programme.
Ke Moja –
Sit Backs
Stand
tall, chair
behind
you. With
your arms
straight in
front, slowly
start to sit
down. Stop
before your
butt hits
the chair
and slowly
straighten
to standing.
Repeat
Butterfly Breath
Stand tall,
hip-width
apart, arms
lifted out to
the sides.
Exhaling, lift
right knee
and touch it
to left elbow
Inhaling,
return to
position 1.
Switch sides
and repeat.
F
◗◗ Tell your friend you believe in them,
and that they can do something
about the problem
An educator’s responsibility
Be high on life – not drugs!
◗◗ Learn as much as possible about drug
use and abuse.
◗◗ Recognise early symptoms of drug use
and ensure intervention
◗◗ Form parent/teacher
awareness groups
Be a friend
A parent’s duty
If you think a friend is involved with drugs:
◗◗ Don’t try to handle it alone. Talk to
a trusted adult, or phone ChildLine,
or the Department of Social
Development
◗ ◗ Support your friend, but explain that
their behaviour is not acceptable
to you
◗◗ Give them suggestions, but don’t bully
or threaten them
◗◗ If your friend decides to get help,
support them
◗◗
◗◗
◗◗
◗◗
◗◗
Know and look out for signs of
drug use
If necessary, confront
your child in a firm
but supportive
manner
Present the
evidence
Promote healthy
communication
If necessary, consult
a professional.
WIN with Health Mate!
F
riends, in these pages, we’ve discussed strategies to promote good mental
and physical health. Now is your chance to join in this important national
discussion. We would like to hear your opinions on the strategies we’ve
outlined here.
Health FIX
or many of us, summer means plenty
of braai, delicious pap ‘n nyama!
Make catching up with family and
friends your focus, not the food.
Pace yourself. Don’t overload your
plate, and stop eating when you’re
full. Take what’s left over to a family
that doesn’t have enough food to eat.
Instead of indulging in high-sugar,
high-fat chocolates and cakes,
T
he Department of Education calls on
all learners to say no to drugs.
To keep our schools and learners
safe and drug free, the department has
authorised school authorities to conduct
random drug searches and testing if they
suspect a problem.
If someone offers you drugs, say “Ke
Moja – I’m fine without drugs!”
Write to us and tell us what you think
about “Health Mate”. The five best letters
choose seasonal, healthy foods like
fresh fruit instead. Limit frozen treats
like ice cream to no more than once
a week.
Even if you take the time to eat
small regular meals a day, you may
still feel hungry at times. What’s the
answer? Healthy snacks that can keep
your energy levels high, your mind alert
without taking up a lot of your time.
will be printed in the next issue of “Health
Mate”, and will each win a CD (John
Legend’s Green Light), sponsored by the
Health Promotion Directorate.
Let’s all join together to promote
good health. Remember, “He who has
health has hope, and he who has hope
has everything.”