Category: General Interest

Categories : General Interest VaccinesTags :

“Not Being Afraid to Speak out, it does get me into Trouble Quite Often,” Says Prof Shabir Madhi

On By ModernMedia
Professor Shabir Madhi of Wits University. Photo: supplied.

By Biénne Huisman

Amid the uncertainty of the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Professor Shabir Madhi often stood out for his clarity of thought in making sense of rapidly evolving scientific evidence. Biénne Huisman chatted to Madhi about vaccines, ongoing challenges with the Gauteng health department, and being outspoken about issues such as the war in Gaza.

Professor Shabir Madhi became known to many in South Africa for leading the charge in two of the first COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials conducted in Africa – those for the AstraZeneca and Novavax vaccines. At a time of much scientific uncertainty, he was often quoted in the press – gaining a reputation for keeping his cool and calling things as he saw them based on available evidence.

He spoke out against the politicisation of science and was a staunch advocate for access to vaccines, especially for older people at higher risk of severe illness and death. He wasn’t afraid to ruffle feathers, openly criticising government’s COVID-19 vaccine communication efforts and arguing that government should take vaccines to the people, rather than the other way around. He called for the ending of strict lockdowns, before many others did so. Reflecting on his reputation for not holding back on his beliefs, he admits to “having a short fuse, especially when people are talking nonsense – or what I consider to be entirely off the mark”.

What may be less obvious to the public, is that Madhi’s healthcare impact precedes COVID by decades.

Internationally respected for his research into paediatric infectious diseases, his work has helped to save the lives of hundreds of thousands of children and informed World Health Organization policy (WHO) – notably relating to the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (to prevent pneumonia and meningitis) and the rotavirus vaccine (to prevent diarrhoeal disease in young children).

His work continues. Just last year a landmark study, led in South Africa by Madhi’s Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics Research Unit at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), found that immunisation of pregnant women safely protected their unborn babies from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). As Spotlight reported at the time, researchers estimate the vaccine can save thousands of young lives.

Speaking to Spotlight over Zoom from Wits in Johannesburg, where he is Dean of Health Sciences, Madhi relays his love of treating kids – who “most importantly, don’t lie, and who are the most vulnerable”.

“Accidental vaccinologist”

Madhi has been described as an “accidental vaccinologist”. Shrugging inside a navy suit, he says he never intended to become a physician, let alone a professor in vaccinology. At medical school at Wits, he nearly dropped out after a month.

As a child, growing up in Lenasia, Madhi wanted to become an engineer. But born to a mathematics teacher father and a stay at home mum, money was tight. His only opportunity to attend university presented itself via a bursary in medicine.

“I only really started to enjoy medicine once I specialised in paediatrics,” he says. “But more importantly, that’s when I realised the huge potential that existed in medicine to make a difference, particularly the potential for vaccines to make a big difference over a short period of time – not on an individual level, but at a community level. And that’s what really drove me into the space of research.”

While doing his peadiatric training at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital (he obtained a master’s degree in paediatrics from Wits in 1998), it struck him that the leading causes of death among children were entirely preventable.

“Back then, close to 750 000 children were dying of measles globally; half of those deaths were happening in Africa, despite the vaccine for measles being available since the 1970s. South Africa was one of the countries with a poor public immunisation programme; up until 1992 South Africa didn’t have a public immunisation programme.”

In 2009, in a first on the African continent, pneumococcal and rotavirus vaccines were finally officially rolled out in South Africa.

“While I was training at Baragwanath, there was a ward just for children with gastroenteritis or diarrhoea,” he recalls. “But six months after we introduced the rotavirus vaccine in South Africa [in 2009], we shut down the diarrhoea ward at Baragwanath and probably every other diarrhoea ward in the country.”

Contributing internationally

Today Madhi’s CV is long. He sits on scores of scientific advisory committees, attending conferences and delivering talks around the world.

Since 2019, he has served on a global panel of experts convened by the WHO, the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE), of which he now is deputy chair. He also chairs the SAGE working group on polio.

“I’m really enjoying SAGE at the moment,” he says. “This is where I think I am making a meaningful contribution. It really is an eye opener to the different types of research that’s taking place globally; but also the type of challenges we face in terms of ensuring that children are adequately immunised.

“It’s great to be working on new vaccines, coming up with new vaccines; but that’s a meaningless exercise unless you can ensure that those vaccines are getting into the arms of children – because that is what saves lives. So yes, dealing with issues around implementation and advocacy.”

SAGE requires frequent trips to Geneva, where the WHO is based.

Our discussion turns to business travel – the amount required for a researcher to remain “relevant and competitive”. With typical candour, Madhi outlines challenges faced by researchers from the global south.

“I think coming from South Africa, coming from the African continent, it’s more of a challenge for researchers to establish themselves, for a number of reasons. Firstly to become known in the international space, you probably need to deliver so much more than what is expected from our northern hemisphere counterparts.

“Then in addition to the inconvenience of needing to travel so often, there are subtle things which people in the northern hemisphere don’t have to deal with. Needing to get visas and dealing with customs officials when entering countries.

“It can become an extremely unpleasant experience, and you really need to swallow your pride given what is blatant racism at times. For example, nowadays I refuse to fly through Germany because the customs office in Frankfurt is probably the worst I have encountered. All of a sudden, they would keep me and question me for both arrival, as well as departure…”

Local challenges

The discussion turns back to South Africa, and health challenges in his home province of Gauteng. Here also Madhi has tried to make a difference, but it hasn’t been plain sailing.

Commenting on a floundered memorandum of agreement (MOA) signed between Wits and the Gauteng Department of Health in June 2022, Madhi says: “The bottom line unfortunately; the Gauteng Department of Health simply doesn’t have stability of leadership. At the level of the MEC in particular; I mean since I’ve been dean, there’s been about four or five heads of department. And it becomes difficult to follow through with any of these programmes.”

Madhi adds that Wits university executives had worked on the memorandum for seven years. The agreement set out a plan to combine university and government resources in “academic health complexes” for enhanced service delivery. But the Department of Health put it on hold three months later, following a related Public Service Commission inquiry.

He explains: “They convened this big workshop, spending probably a mini fortune, to basically facilitate the establishment of an MOA, not just between Wits and the Department of Health, but between the Department of Health and many other academic hospitals in the province. Because of the intervention, the Department of Health indicated that they weren’t going to implement our MOA until that particular commission concluded their work. But since then, there’s been absolutely no report from that meeting.”

Not afraid to speak out

On social media, Madhi speaks out about atrocities being committed in Gaza.

To Spotlight, he says leadership holds no place for neutrality.

“As part of leadership, and I do consider myself a leader in the different roles that I play – either in my research unit or currently as university dean – you need to be prepared to take a stance. You can’t remain neutral on positions. You need to interrogate facts. And once having interrogated the facts, you need to reach a conclusion; then follow through with what is required, if there’s anything that needs to be implemented.”

Madhi says his leadership style was honed during childhood. “Not being afraid to speak out, it does get me into trouble quite often,” he says, laughing. “I think that’s just part of my upbringing, being an activist during apartheid in the Lenasia Youth League and other activist organisations. My upbringing was, when things are not what it’s meant to be, you speak out; you champion the right cause.”

These days Madhi lives in Northcliff with his wife, with whom he has two children. His favourite football team is Arsenal and a book he says he recently enjoyed was The Covenant of Water – a three generation family account set in India, by physician and author Abraham Verghese.

Republished from Spotlight under a Creative Commons licence.

Read the original article

Categories : General Interest Medical IndustryTags :

Essenwood Residential Home – A Case Study in Elevated Care Through Staffing Partnership

On By ModernMedia

Essenwood Residential Home, a haven for senior women since the 1850s in Durban, South Africa, provides exceptional care for its residents. However, managing the complexities of HR for a growing number of caregivers became a burden, taking away time and resources from core resident care duties. This is where Allmed, a specialist medical personnel solutions provider, stepped in to make a significant difference.

A long history of caring
Founded by the Durban Benevolent Society to provide care for elderly women, it initially resided on Victoria Street and in 1921, the home relocated to its current location on Essenwood Road, a larger and more suitable site. The Greenacre family played a pivotal role in this development, with Walter Greenacre donating the land and a bequest from his father, Sir Benjamin Greenacre, facilitating the construction.

Over the years, Essenwood has continuously evolved to meet the needs of its residents. It acquired autonomy in 1950 and established a dedicated assisted living wing in 1970. Most recently, in 2015, the home underwent extensive renovations to ensure it remained a safe and comfortable haven for its residents. Currently, Essenwood is home to 85 residents, with the capacity to care for 110.

The challenge of HR burdens stifling quality care
Essenwood, like many care facilities, struggled with the time-consuming tasks of HR management. Nursing Services Manager, Colleen Dempers, found herself spending a considerable amount of time on tasks like rostering, replacements for absent staff, and disciplinary issues. This detracted from the home’s primary focus – ensuring the well-being and individual care of residents.

“We found that we were spending so much time on HR issues that it became a huge distraction, Dempers explains. “It detracted us from additional time on HR issues that could be better spent on quality of care. This is what led us to Allmed for a solution.”

Allmed to the rescue with a partnership for success
Building on their established trust with Allmed, a partnership that began in 2016, Essenwood Residential Home made a strategic move to elevate resident care. Allmed was already providing relief support for registered nurses and enrolled nurses, offering a flexible solution for fluctuating staffing needs. The governing board made the tactical decision to entrust Allmed with their entire caregiving staff, ensuring continuity and quality.

“Our core function is resident care,” clarifies Chad Saus, Essenwood Residential Home’s General Manager. “We need to provide individual attention, activities, and a stimulating environment. By outsourcing HR, IR and payroll for 56 caregivers, along with the flexibility of additional resources when needed, Allmed frees us to focus on what truly matters – our residents.”

Streamlining operations for quality care with the Allmed advantage
The partnership with Allmed has yielded multiple benefits for Essenwood:

  • Reduced HR burden: Allmed took over recruitment, payroll, and disciplinary processes for caregivers, freeing up Essenwood’s staff to focus on resident care and quality of service.
  • Enhanced responsiveness: Allmed provided prompt and efficient support, addressing Essenwood’s concerns quickly and professionally. Whether it was staffing issues, training needs, or resident care challenges, Allmed offered round-the-clock support, solutions, and a “can-do” attitude.
  • Improved caregiver fit: Allmed understood Essenwood’s care philosophy and resident needs. The caregivers placed by Allmed at Essenwood integrated seamlessly into the environment, providing the high-quality care residents deserve.
  • Leadership that listens: Essenwood valued Allmed’s commitment to open communication. Any concerns raised by Essenwood were addressed promptly and collaboratively.

The impact: residents feel the difference
The positive ripple effects of the Essenwood-Allmed partnership are evident in the high standard of care received by residents. With a dedicated and well-matched caregiving staff, Essenwood can cater to individual needs and provide a more enriching environment for its residents.

A model partnership for senior care
The Essenwood Residential Home exemplifies the success achievable through a well-structured healthcare staffing partnership. By outsourcing HR and leveraging a qualified care staffing agency, Essenwood has demonstrably improved the quality of care for its residents. This model can serve as an inspiration for senior care facilities seeking to elevate their services and prioritise resident well-being.

Categories : General InterestTags :

Holiday Season Already? Anticipation Might Make Time Seem to Fly

On By ModernMedia

Those excited for Christmas or Ramadan are more likely to feel they come quicker, study shows

Photo by Malvestida on Unsplash

Christmas or Ramadan might seem to come around more quickly each year, for people who pay more attention to time, are more forgetful of plans, and love a good holiday. A research team led by Ruth Ogden of Liverpool John Moores University, UK, and Saad Sabet Alatrany of Imam Ja’afar Al-Sadiq University, Iraq, published these findings in the open-access journal PLOS ONE on July 10, 2024. They suggest this could mean that someone’s experience of time is shaped not only by what they’ve done, but what is left to do.

“Christmas seems to come quicker each year,” is a staple of small talk. But the feeling that a holiday comes around faster could also mean that someone’s sense of time is slightly distorted. To find out how often people sense this phenomenon, and what shapes their perception of time, Ogden and colleagues conducted a survey of more than 1000 people in the United Kingdom and more than 600 people in Iraq. They asked them if they believed Christmas or Ramadan came more quickly each year, and measured their memory function and attention to time as well as asking about age, gender, and social life.

The authors found 76 percent of people in the United Kingdom felt Christmas came quicker every year, and 70 percent of people in Iraq felt the same about Ramadan. For both cases, people were more likely to report this perceived acceleration if they enjoyed the holiday, and also for UK participants, if they reported better social lives. In both Iraq and the UK, people were more likely to feel holidays came earlier if they thought about the passage of time more often, and if they were prone to prospective memory errors – such as forgetting to do a planned task. Perhaps surprisingly, age did not play a role in the perception.

While Ramadan and Christmas are very different holidays, and perceptions of time could certainly be influenced by marketing and other factors, the scientists suggest that our experience of time might be shaped both by our attention to its passage and by our plans for the future.

Provided by PLOS

Categories : General Interest Medical IndustryTags :

Social Media’s Double-edged Sword: Boosting Connections or Risking Careers?

On By ModernMedia
Photo by Pexels on Pixabay

Social media has become an integral part of our daily lives, revolutionising how we communicate, connect and share information. So much so that insights suggest that over 5 billion people worldwide use social media, with 259 million users coming online within the last year. Closer to home, of the 45 million internet users in South Africa, 26 million use social media. 

Platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter), have bridged gaps, brought distant loved ones closer, and created communities around shared interests and passions. While these platforms have enriched our personal lives in countless ways, they are also a mixed blessing, impacting the professional lives of some individuals in unprecedented ways.

According to Jennifer Barkhuizen, Head of Marketing at MIE, companies are increasingly relying on screening the social media platforms of potential and current employees to gain a window into a candidate’s true self, and provide insights into their hobbies, interests and overall personality. 

“For companies, social media has become an invaluable tool to find the perfect cultural fit for their organisations. However, this practice also uncovers another side of the coin, exposing any unprofessional or inappropriate behaviour that companies may not want to be associated with,” she says.

A significant 70% of recruiters, both across the human resources industry and those within companies, now use social media to screen potential candidates, a trend that continues to grow rapidly. As the digital footprint of individuals becomes more prominent, the trend of social media screening is expected to continue its upward trajectory, reshaping the recruitment landscape.

While the increasing reliance on social media screening by recruiters is bolstering the recruitment process, it is also having a profound psychosocial impact on employees. 

“Knowing that their online activities are being screened can lead to anxiety and a sense of privacy being invaded,” adds Barkhuizen. “Employees may feel pressured to meticulously curate their online presence and the content that they post, which can be mentally exhausting and foster a sense of inauthenticity. The fear of being judged for past posts or casual comments can undermine personal freedom and contribute to a perpetual state of vigilance.” 

Although social media screening helps companies make more informed hiring decisions, it is crucial to acknowledge and address the psychological burden it places on individuals navigating the increasingly blurred lines between their personal and professional lives.

For individuals, balancing positive and negative content on social media is crucial, particularly in the context of social recruiting. Here, studies indicate that positive content, such as showcasing achievements, sharing inspirational messages, and participating in professional discussions, can significantly enhance a candidate’s appeal. Furthermore, positive interactions on social media can create a favourable impression, portraying candidates as engaged, motivated and a cultural fit for the organisation.

“Conversely, negative content, including illicit activity, unprofessional behaviour and controversial opinions, can be detrimental and raise red flags about a candidate’s suitability for a professional environment,” explains Barkhuizen. “So much so that a survey conducted by CareerBuilder found that of the 70% of employers who screen candidates on social media, 54% have decided not to hire a candidate based on their online presence.”

Barkhuizen adds that while people seek to be publicly visible online as they look to share their own ‘personal brand’, thoughts and opinions with the world, it is only when an individual crosses into engaging in undesirable or illicit content that they risk their own reputation and that of their employer.

Despite social media screening potentially leading to anxiety for individuals, it’s a crucial step for businesses to ensure they hire the right candidates. This practice helps protect the company’s reputation by identifying online behaviour that could negatively impact the organisation. It also helps ensure a good cultural fit by revealing candidates’ values and interests, aligning them with the company’s ethos. 

To mitigate the risks associated with using social media during the screening process, Barkhuizen points to five key best practices that HR professionals should abide by. These include:

  1. Develop a social media screening policy: Document a policy outlining the purpose, scope and procedure for social media screening to minimise bias or discrimination. Separate decision-makers from those conducting checks to ensure a fair and compliant hiring process.
  2. Educate staff: Train staff on the legal and ethical aspects of social media screening, ensuring they apply the process consistently to all candidates in the same job category,
  3. Be transparent: Inform candidates about the screening process and obtain their written consent if a social media check is conducted. 
  4. Be respectful: Respect candidates’ privacy settings and only view publicly available information. Avoid “friending” or “following” candidates during the hiring process.
  5. Be impartial and job-specific: Focus on professional information relevant to the job, such as skills and accomplishments. Document information consistently and avoid using protected characteristics like race, religion or gender. To this end, it is advisable to use a third party supplier to avoid bias. 

In today’s digital landscape, where social media is a powerful yet double-edged sword, leveraging the expertise of industry leaders such as MIE can make a significant difference. 

With trusted and innovative smart vetting solutions, MIE’s extensive industry knowledge ensures thorough and reliable background checks, helping businesses navigate the complexities of social media screening to make informed, strategic hiring decisions while safeguarding their reputation and maintaining a positive workplace culture.

Categories : General Interest HospitalsTags :

Private Clinic Offers Affordable Healthcare for its Community

On By ModernMedia
Photo by Derek Finch

Only 16% of South Africans can afford private healthcare, and many low-income earners cannot afford healthcare and must rely on community clinics. These facilities are under intense pressure as they often cannot cope with the demand. For many workers, getting medical attention at these facilities means waiting for hours and being unable to work for a day and therefore losing wages. However, things could change if the pioneering efforts of a dedicated nurse with the financial backing of Standard Bank reach their full national potential.

“We assist this sector by working longer hours than do local government clinics that only open five days a week. Our services are available seven days a week at R300 per visit. Those able to pay for primary healthcare often must travel long distances to get to pharmacy-based primary healthcare clinics, mostly in the suburbs. The Rapha Clinic has been strategically placed between the city and the townships so that it can be easily reached by people commuting from their homes to the city,” says Ntombi Skosane, founder of Rapha Healthcare Services.

For Skosane, the clinic, which is located in the Montana area of Pretoria, realised her dream of being able to fill a vital gap in providing primary and basic healthcare to her community.

“As a nurse with 30 years in both the public and the private sector, I believed that I could open a clinic where I could establish a community service offering quality healthcare at affordable rates. The growing success of our operation shows that I was correct,” she adds.

Using her experience of clinics as a guide, Skosane has opted to have Rapha offer nine core services ranging from antenatal care and family planning to assisting with immunisations and wound care, as well as helping those with chronic illnesses and HIV testing and counselling.

“The Rapha Clinic met the stringent guidelines for being considered for a grant. These included an assessment of the viability of the business by the Standard Bank Enterprise Development Funding Committee, the commitment and required personal investment of the owner, and the sector in which the business operates. Although the business was operating successfully, it needed financial assistance to reach its full potential. In this case, the company needed additional stock and equipment to deliver a full service. After considering the application, Standard Bank purchased the required equipment for Rapha,” says Naledzani Mosomane, Head of Enterprise and Supplier Development at Standard Bank.

Skosane says that acquiring additional medical and surgical stock, emergency trollies, a vaccine fridge, wheelchairs, and air-conditioning through Standard Bank meant that the clinic would be able to attend to more patients more efficiently.

Rapha may be just a single clinic, but new outlets are being planned for Gauteng and the North West Province. Ten new clinics are being considered, as are health assessment centres in partnership with gyms and medical aids.

“We believe that Rapha Healthcare Services has a bright future. We look forward to playing a central role in growing the nation’s small business sector and developing relationships with a new generation of entrepreneurs,” says Mosomane.

Categories : General Interest PaediatricsTags :

Vodacom and Smile Foundation Celebrate a Legacy of Smiles in Children’s Lives

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Photo by Amina Filkins

Since 2007, Vodacom Foundation has proudly partnered with the Smile Foundation to support Smile Week, an initiative that provides life-changing reconstructive surgery to children with treatable facial anomalies. Smile Week not only addresses the physical challenges faced by these young people but also alleviates the emotional distress associated with feeling different, enabling them to embrace their lives to the fullest.

“As we mark Vodacom’s 30th anniversary this year, it’s a good time to reflect on the dramatic change in the countries in which we operate, in terms of bringing connectivity to people. What we are also particularly proud of is how we have brought purpose to society and how we have made a meaningful difference in people’s lives,” says Shameel Joosub, Vodacom Group CEO.

Orofacial cleft lip/palate (CLP) remains in the top five of South Africa’s most common congenital disorders. Smile Week sees surgeons, their surgical teams, and other medical professionals around the country dedicate their time and expertise to perform reconstructive surgery on children whose families would not otherwise have been able to afford it.

“Families invariably find their way to state hospital facilities, where there are very capable and competent surgeons and medical professionals, but budget constraints have often meant elective surgery has to wait before more critical cases are addressed,” says Marc Lubner, founder and executive chairman of the Smile Foundation.

To date, the partnership between Vodacom and the Smile Foundation has benefited 600 children, with the shared goal of enhancing their overall quality of life and well-being.

“I want to thank all the medical professionals for being partners with us since 2007, and for giving their time and commitment to make this a reality. Vodacom’s support of Smile Week reaffirms our commitment as a company to use our capabilities collaboratively for a brighter, more inclusive future,” says Joosub.

In this video, parents and Smile Week recipients share their experiences and the importance of this initiative in transforming lives.

Click here to access the high-impact video

Categories : General InterestTags :

Prominent Cardiologist’s Passing a Loss to KZN Healthcare

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Colleagues pay tribute to highly respected Dr Singh  

Dr Surendra Singh. Photo: supplied

Monday, 27 May 2024. The passing of esteemed cardiologist Dr Surendra Singh (11 April 1955 – 16 May 2024) at the age of 69 after a short illness is a tremendous loss to healthcare in KwaZulu-Natal, the communities he served and everyone who knew him.

“We wish to express our sincere condolences to Dr Singh’s wife, Professor Shanta, and his children Rajiv, Ameet and Rhea,” said Netcare uMhlanga Hospital general manager Wendy Beato.

“We mourn the passing of an exceptional healthcare professional and a man of stature. Dr Singh was highly respected and much loved by his colleagues, patients and the staff and management of Netcare uMhlanga Hospital, where he has practised for several years.

“Dr Singh will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege to know him,” she says.

After qualifying as a cardiologist in 1990, Dr Singh embarked on a journey during which he harnessed the power of his knowledge to heal others. Known for this brilliance both as a man and a doctor, he possessed a rare combination of exceptional expertise, humility and deep caring.

“Dr Singh’s dedication to his patients was evident throughout his career, and he continued to provide much valued service at Netcare uMhlanga Hospital until he became ill. His passing leaves a deep void for all who knew him and the countless patients whose lives he touched throughout his career.

“Dr Singh’s legacy as a caring healthcare provider and respected cardiologist will endure. Through his considerable dedication and expertise, he improved and saved lives while inspiring a new generation of healthcare professionals. His passion for healing and deep commitment to his patients will be forever remembered. Although his time with us was cut short, the impact of his life’s work will continue to be felt for many years to come,” Beato concluded.

Categories : General Interest Healthcare Politics and RegulationsTags :

A Humanist with an Unblinking gaze – Professor Ntobeko Ntusi Takes the Hot-seat at the South African Medical Research Council

On By ModernMedia
Professor Ntobeko Ntusi in front of a painting depicting student protests inside his office at Groote Schuur Hospital – the same office that once housed his mentor, the late Professor Bongani Mayosi. (Photo: Biénne Huisman/Spotlight)

Professor Ntobeko Ntusi may be softspoken, but he is not afraid to stand by his strongly held views. As he is set to take up the hot-seat at the country’s primary health research funder, he tells Spotlight’s Biénne Huisman about his background and his priorities for the new job.

Professor Ntobeko Ntusi’s bearing brings to mind the aphorism “speak softly and carry a big stick” cited by the 26th president of the United States Theodore Roosevelt.

Inside his office at Groote Schuur’s Old Main Building, department head of medicine at the hospital; Ntusi is soft spoken, his words a few decibels above a whisper. However his observations are thoughtful and sharp, crafted with precision. Known to call out issues around race and racism at South African universities – “inbuilt biases” even amongst young students – his level, unblinking gaze commands attention.

Born in Umthatha to academic parents, Ntusi at age 13 was named South African Junior Ballroom Dance Champion at an event in Sasolburg. Some three decades later, the cardiologist with qualifications from around the world, does not sidestep public healthcare debate in favour of keeping the peace.

Catastrophic budget cuts

Earlier this year, Ntusi publicly criticised healthcare budget cuts. R200 million was shaved off Groote Schuur’s coffers just last year, as the Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness announced an R807.8 million shortfall for the coming year. Speaking to Spotlight, Ntusi described communication on the matter by provincial government officials (with healthcare professionals) as “appalling”.

In February, Ntusi was one of a group of executives at the hospital – affiliated to the University of Cape Town (UCT) – who spearheaded a petition to national and provincial treasury, decrying “crippling austerity” and “catastrophic budget cuts”; saying how clinicians with multiplying work hours are watching patients deteriorate, as waiting lists for lifesaving elective surgery grow longer.

At a boardroom table inside his office, he says: “How we ration limited resources, this is causing real moral injury to our front-facing clinicians. I mean, we’re having to deal with complaints from patients who no longer have access to services they have grown accustomed to. This is causing a lot of distress, especially among young doctors, and medical registrars – the engine of our operation – who are increasingly anxious and taking time out for mental health reasons.”

In his present position, Ntusi’s voice has clout. He oversees thirteen divisions – from cardiology to pulmonology, and infectious diseases and HIV medicine – and corresponding research units such as the Desmond Tutu HIV Centre, directed by Professor Linda-Gail Bekker.

‘Hope cannot be a strategy’

Reflecting on how Groote Schuur’s management are responding to these challenges, Ntusi says the hospital’s CEO (since February) Shaheem de Vries, while new, in time ought to bring concrete priorities to the table. “It’s important to have hope, but hope cannot be a strategy,” he says.

This insight may well inform how he approaches his own new job as CEO and President of the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), taking over from Professor Glenda Gray. From July, Ntusi will give up his Groote Schuur office, putting away his clinician’s stethoscope, to take up the hot-seat at the country’s primary health research funder at its headquarters behind a facebrick facade in Parow. The SAMRC employs 718 employees and will see Ntusi answer to the National Department of Health, the SAMRC board, and the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Health (you can see the latest report to the committee here).

Across medical bureaucracies, budget remains an issue. The South African government allocated R1.35 billion to the SAMRC for 2023/24. In the council’s latest annual report, diminishing funding from government is listed as a threat; while the ability to attract external funding is listed as a strength.

“A key role of the President of the SAMRC is to engage with organisations like the Wellcome Trust [in the United Kingdom] and the NIH [the National Institutes of Health in the United States] and high worth individuals to attract funding,” says Ntusi.

He points out that the SAMRC has had clean audits for several years running – a remarkable achievement for a South African parastatal. Indeed, the council’s annual performance plan for 2024/2025 states: “Despite interruptions of COVID-19, SAMRC’s exemplary performance and good governance led to the organisation achieving four consecutive clean audits… It is the organisation’s intention to continue on the same path.”

On the SAMRC’s functions, Ntusi explains: “For government, the SAMRC plays a critical role in bridging the gap between strategy and policy, and implementation. In science, it plays a critical role in providing priorities for the funding of research, and capacity building…”

In the SAMRC’s last financial year, R61.6 million was allocated to funding 171 “research capacity development” grants, including 120 to women. The annual report describes this as funding “the next generation of health researchers… with most of these awards aimed at individuals from historically disadvantaged backgrounds.”

For Ntusi, points of focus to be expanded on at the SAMRC include health issues relating to climate or planetary change, epidemic preparedness, “restoring trust in science in an age of misinformation”, digital health and artificial intelligence; and projects linking South African scholars with research entities across Africa. “In many of these countries, they don’t have the research infrastructure and budgets we have in South Africa – it is important to assist them with projects.”

To the US and back home

When he was 14, Ntusi’s family – he is one of three boys – moved to the United States where his mother pursued a PhD in social work. In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he continued competitive ballroom dancing while attending Lower Merion High School, where a video on child birth showed in a biology class stirred his passions.

At liberal arts college Haverford, in Pennsylvania, he completed a BSc Honours in cellular and molecular biology, before returning “home” to South Africa in 1999, to enrol in medical school at UCT. Here his initial interest in obstetrics was disappointed – “it was loud and messy, an anti-climax” – seeing him drawn to internal medicine and cardiology instead. In following years, he would study cardiovascular medicine under mentorship of the late Professor Bongani Mayosi.

Like Mayosi, Ntusi was awarded the Oxford Nuffield Medical Scholarship, which funded his D.Phil at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. His doctoral research looked at cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR – noninvasive tests that produce images of a beating heart) to study inflammatory heart disease.

In 2016, Ntusi took over from Mayosi as head of Groote Schuur’s department of medicine, as Mayosi became dean of the university’s faculty of health sciences. At the time Ntusi continued treating cardiology patients, with ongoing research projects including on HIV-related heart disease.

Seven years later, against pale yellow walls (the same walls decorated by Mayosi back when it was his office) several art works and certificates attest to Ntusi’s time here. He points out one painting of student protestors made by a friend – based on the #FeesMustFall protests at the university in 2016 – “a difficult time”, he says.

In 2018, Mayosi’s suicide was partially attributed by some to pressures relating to the violent protests; while also putting a spotlight on pressure on prominent black academics at UCT, and other tertiary institutions in South Africa. An enquiry found that the “sometimes disrespectful manner” in which protest was conducted, and “instigation of students’ action by some of his colleagues”, caused Mayosi “a lot of distress”.

Displayed on a shelf, beside a stuffed doll of the Archbishop Desmond Tutu and a 2021 SAMRC gold trophy for “scientific achievement”, a burgundy-bound book recounts Mayosi’s legacy. Ntusi penned the introduction, where he writes: “Bongani Mayosi – as a leader, he was awesome. He is one of the most inspiring people I will ever know. He always reminded me: ‘a journey of a thousand miles begins with a few steps’.”

Asked about following in the footsteps of a star such as Mayosi, Ntusi replies: “I am his protégée. There were always room for me to build my own scientific investigations.”

Precarious times

As Ntusi is poised to depart from Groote Schuur, present dean of UCT health sciences Associate Professor Lionel Green-Thompson points out how the cardiologist cared for critically ill patients in COVID-19 high-care wards, particularly during the fear and uncertainty of hard lockdown.

“Sometimes we would work up to 16 hour shifts in the high-care wards; upon finally leaving I’d go outside to find anti-vaccine protestors in front of the hospital. I mean, they were just annoying,” Ntusi recalls.

“Communication around the AstraZeneca vaccine went very badly – increasing confusion and vaccine hesitancy. It is really, really important to advocate for vaccines. And this brings me back to the point of restoring people’s faith in science; redressing the public image of science, a priority I have for the SAMRC going forward.” (After procuring the AstraZeneca SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, the South African government decided early in 2021 not to use it after it showed limited efficacy against mild to moderate COVID-19 in a study.)

Foremost, Ntusi describes himself as a “humanist”. Apart from science, medicine and health equity, his interests include art, wine and dogs. Ntusi lives in Milnerton. A keen runner, he is a member of the Gugulethu Athletics Club.

Republished from Spotlight under a Creative Commons licence.

Source: Spotlight

Categories : Cancer General InterestTags :

Years after His Passing, Researcher’s Cancer Target Discovery Bears Fruit

On By ModernMedia

Some of the final work of a late University of Virginia School of Medicine scientist has opened the door for life-saving new treatments for solid cancer tumours, including breast cancer, lung cancer and melanoma.

Prior to his sudden death in 2016, John Herr, PhD, had been collaborating with Craig L. Slingluff Jr, MD, to investigate the possibility that a protein recently discovered at Herr’s lab could be a viable cancer treatment target.

Eight years of research has borne that idea out: Herr’s research into the SAS1B protein could lead to “broad and profound” new treatments for multiple cancers, many of which are very difficult to treat, Slingluff reports in a new scientific paper in the Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer. Herr is listed as a senior author on the paper.

“John was very excited about this protein SAS1B to be a valuable new target on human cancers, and I am delighted that our findings together further support his hope to make such a difference,” said Slingluff, a surgical oncologist and translational immunologist at UVA Health and the UVA School of Medicine. “The work we published included work done by Dr Herr and his team over a period of years, as well as our subsequent work together; so, I am glad that the journal agreed with our request to include John as a senior author.”

Promising New Cancer Target

Herr’s lab was not originally focused on cancer – he was the head of UVA’s Center for Research in Contraceptive and Reproductive Health. In that role, he developed the first home fertility test for men, SpermCheck, which is available in pharmacies across the country. But his discoveries about the SAS1B protein found in developing eggs in women could pave the way for new cancer immunotherapies.

While SAS1B is found inside female reproductive cells called oocytes, it is also found on the surface of many different solid cancer cells, Slingluff’s new research verifies. Importantly, it did not appear on the surface of any of the other normal cells Slingluff’s laboratory tested. That suggests that doctors may be able to develop use antibody-based immunotherapy – such as antibody-drug conjugates or CAR T-cell therapy, a strength of UVA Health – to attack the cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue.

“Selectively targeting SAS1B has the potential to have broad and profound impact on the treatment, and therefore reduction in mortality, of multiple malignancies,” Slingluff and his colleagues write in their new paper.

While much more work needs to be done, the new findings are promising. If the approach is successful, it could be a big step forward in cancer care. Many solid-organ cancers are extremely difficult to treat, and patients often have few good treatment options, Slingluff notes.

“Immune therapy is revolutionising treatment of human cancers,” Slingluff said. “But some cancers have been particularly resistant to immune therapy because of the lack of good targets on those cancers. We hope that this work that John Herr started will bring new hope to patients with those cancers.”

Source: University of Virginia Health System

Categories : General Interest VaccinesTags :

Vaccinologists Keith Klugman and Shabir Madhi awarded Sabin’s Prestigious Gold Medal

On By ModernMedia
Professor Shabir Madhi of Wits University. Photo: supplied.

The Sabin Vaccine Institute presented the Albert B. Sabin Gold Medal to physician-researchers Keith Klugman and Shabir Madhi.

Nicole Basta, an associate professor at Canada’s McGill University and Canada Research Chair in Infectious Disease Prevention, received Sabin’s 2024 Rising Star Award.

The awards were made on 18 April 2024 at a ceremony in the National Academy of Sciences building in Washington D.C.

Formidable Wits alumni are world leaders in vaccinology

Klugman and Madhi received the Sabin Gold Medal, one of the highest recognitions for vaccinologists globally, for their seminal combined contributions to the development of vaccines against pneumonia and diarrhoeal disease – major causes of death in children in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Klugman is a Wits University alumnus who received an honorary doctorate from his alma mater in 2023.

Madhi, also a Wits alumnus, is currently Professor of Vaccinology and Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at  Wits University.

The Gold Medal is Sabin’s highest scientific honour. It has been given annually for more than three decades to a distinguished member of the global health community who has made exceptional contributions to vaccinology or a complementary field. 

Klugman first met his then-graduate student Madhi at Wits University, where Klugman established, and Madhi expanded, a now globally renowned infectious diseases research institute. Apart from pneumonia, their work focused on maternal and children’s vaccines including influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), typhoid, and Group B streptococcus (GBS).

The evidence produced by these two awardees has and continues to inform the World Health Organization’s recommendations for vaccines. Klugman and Madhi’s research has helped pave the way for the introduction of lifesaving vaccines in public immunization programs – including the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine where their findings were pivotal in influencing vaccination policy in many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Klugman’s efforts help prevent babies from dying of pneumonia

Fuelled by an early interest in science as a child in South Africa – in part due to a physician father – Klugman holds both a medical as well as a science doctorate degree from Wits University and was the first student in the school’s history to obtain them simultaneously.

He began his research career nearly five decades ago investigating the typhoid vaccine and has since distinguished himself as a formidable infectious diseases’ scientist.

Klugman is widely known for his work on pneumonia, which still kills a child under five every 43 seconds, many in the world’s poorest countries.

As the director of the pneumonia programme at the Seattle-based Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Klugman orchestrates strategic initiatives aimed at reducing deaths from pneumonia, RSV, neonatal sepsis, and meningitis.

He has authored hundreds of publications that have been cited over 50 000 times to date and has been elected to the National Academy of Medicine in the United States. He is also a professor emeritus of global health at Atlanta’s Emory University.

His scientific achievements aside, Klugman has long championed the need for the world’s poorest children to have equitable access to vaccines. While in South Africa he joined in Wits University’s struggle to allow access to the institution for all students.

“It is absolutely wonderful to be receiving this award, especially together with Shabir,” he says. “When I look down the list of previous awardees, I recognize the great majority of them, and it is extraordinary to now be numbered among them.”

Past award recipients include leaders of vaccinology and vaccine advocacy such as Drs. Barney Graham, Carol Baker, Bill Foege, Anne Gershon, Stanley Plotkin, and Kathrin Jansen.

Madhi’s research informed WHO recommendations on universal rotavirus vaccination

With a career spanning more than 25 years, Madhi, also from South Africa, is a trained paediatrician whose research continues to be instrumental in prioritising the rollout of vital vaccines and guiding global public health policies. At Wits University, he led clinical trials focused on respiratory and meningeal pathogens, including vaccines targeted at pregnant women and their unborn babies.

Madhi led the first study showing that a rotavirus vaccine could significantly prevent severe diarrhoea during the first year of life in African infants. That research served as a key piece of evidence for the WHO’s recommendation of universal rotavirus vaccination. In addition, he also led the first two COVID-19 vaccine trials in Africa, and a number of COVID-19 epidemiology studies which led to the first evidence suggesting that infection-induced immunity and vaccinations played a role in reducing severity of disease.

In addition to serving as Professor of Vaccinology and Dean of Health Sciences at Wits University, Madhi heads South Africa’s widely respected South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics Research Unit (Wits VIDA). He is also the co-founder and co-Director of the African Leadership Initiative for Vaccinology Expertise (ALIVE).

He has co-authored hundreds of publications which have been cited over 59 000 times. Madhi is a recipient of numerous lifetime achievement awards in South Africa, as well being bestowed an Honorary Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) from the British Government for his services to science and public health in a global pandemic.

“It is really humbling for me to be acknowledged for my contributions in the field of vaccinology along with those who have received the Gold Medal award,” says Madhi. “It makes me realise that the work my team and I have done is acknowledged by my peers as being of substance. Most significantly, we contributed to protecting lives in those settings where a majority of death and suffering occurs, and that is in LMICs.”

Amy Finan, Sabin’s chief executive officer, says, “I am honoured to award the Sabin Gold Medal to Dr Klugman and D. Madhi for their extraordinary work on vaccines that have saved lives in communities most in need of these interventions. Their pneumonia research has been particularly transformative in shaping our understanding of the disease and strengthening global health strategies to protect children from this vaccine-preventable disease.”

Source: Wits University