Message from our Principal Officer : Lee Callakoppen
The last 19 months have been a turbulent time in our lives . The 3rd wave of COVID-19 has had a major impact on our healthcare system with reports of hospital admissions being significantly higher than during waves 1 and 2 . Our healthcare workers have gone beyond the call of duty in difficult circumstances and we thank them for their dedication and commitment . Unfortunately many people have lost their lives due to COVID-19 and our thoughts and condolences go out to their families and friends .
Fortunately there is light at the end of the tunnel . Vaccines are now available to everyone 18 years and older and we urge all our members , as well as every South African , to register and get the COVID-19 vaccine to minimise the impact of this pandemic . Apart from our 10 operational vaccination sites , we have begun the process of opening vaccination facilities at major scheme employer sites , such as Eskom .
At the outset of the pandemic we created an informative and educational COVID-19 Hub as a reliable source of information and to educate and empower our members . Recently we enhanced this centralised , digital COVID-19 information Hub and made it accessible to all South Africans . The enhancements will also assist our members with vaccine registration and help speed up the process at Bonitas vaccination sites . See how on page 32 .
With August being Women ’ s Month , there was a big focus on women ’ s health . On pages 9 to 11 we discuss the key health issues currently faced by South African women . On the subject of health , here ’ s a shocking statistic : One out of every five deaths are heart disease related . However , the good news is that 80 % of all heart disease cases can be prevented . Read more on page 22 about the risk factors for heart disease .
Spring is in the air and I know many of us will welcome the warmer temperatures . Unfortunately , with the change of season each year , there ’ s an increase in allergies . Read more about why allergies occur and what you can do to ease the symptoms on page 28 .
As a medical aid we ’ re moving into the busiest time of year as we prepare for our 2022 product launch . What ’ s especially important is to understand the different options we offer and which plan will best suit you and your family ’ s healthcare needs . On pages 14 to 19 we look at the different types of plans , tips on choosing a plan and the difference between a hospital plan and hospital insurance . Some valuable info to consider ahead of making your choice for 2022 .
In closing , let ’ s all continue to do our bit to help the Department of Health achieve their goal of vaccinating 67 % of the country ’ s population . Vaccinating as many people as soon as possible remains a priority if we are to minimise the impact of COVID-19 . In the meantime , stay safe and stay healthy .
Lee
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Bonitas Member Magazine Issue 3 | 2021