Dehydration
This happens when you use or lose more fluid than you
take in. And your body doesn’t have enough water and
other fluids to carry out its normal functions. The most
common cause of dehydration is severe diarrhea and
vomiting. You can usually reverse mild to moderate
dehydration by drinking more fluids. But severe
dehydration needs immediate medical treatment.
Let’s all do our bit
to help conserve
water
As you’re probably aware, the water crisis in the Cape is
definitely an area of concern for South Africa as a whole.
The latest news indicates that Day Zero for Cape Town
has been pushed back to 9 July 2018. However, current
restrictions in Cape Town are still set at using a maximum
of 50 litres of water per person, per day. In addition, the
Northern Cape, Western Cape and Eastern Cape have all
been declared provincial disasters with the government
declaring the drought affecting the southern and
western areas of South Africa a national disaster.
As the medical aid, we’re here to support our members
in maintaining their health and well-being. We therefore
want to remind members in the areas mentioned above
that during water shortage a number of diseases can
become more prevalent. This includes:
Gastroenteritis
This disease occurs when you eat foods that are not
prepared properly, drink contaminated water or have
close contact with an infected person. In addition, you
are more likely to get this condition if you have poor
personal hygiene and don’t live in sanitary conditions.
Symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal
pain. Drink oral rehydrate for mild or moderate cases. But
if your case is severe you may need to go to hospital and
receive intravenous fluids.
Bronchitis, pneumonia and asthma
Fire, dry soil and vegetation can increase pollen, smoke,
fluorocarbons and cyanobacteria in the air. The presence
of these toxins may irritate the lungs, increase the risk
for bronchitis, pneumonia and make asthma worse.
Page 3
Mental health concerns
Food prices may increase dramatically which can cause
economic hardship and malnutrition. People who rely
on water to earn a living may suffer financial hardship
during the drought. These include farmers, landscapers,
nursery owners, car wash owners, pool service owners,
gym owners and their employees. Be aware that
financial-related stress can cause depression, anxiety
and other mental and behavioural health conditions.
Our mental health programme launched on 1 March
2018. It is available to pre-identified members on
BonComprehensive, BonClassic, Standard and Standard
Select.
Please visit your GP if you or your loved ones experience
any symptoms of the conditions listed above. Visit
www.bonitas.co.za as well as our Facebook and Twitter
pages for more tips on how to handle the drought. We
will also be undertaking various initiatives to ensure
our members impacted by the drought have adequate
support.
Because the water shortage can make washing fresh
veggies and fruit difficult, read the article on page 28
to learn more about the current Listeriosis outbreak
and how you can keep your loved ones safe. Be sure to
check out our tips to make 2018 your healthiest year yet
page 21 – it included everything you need to know about
making the most of your wellness benefits too. If you’re a
runner be sure to turn to page 19, for more the rundown
of our sponsorship of the Comrades Marathon and the
seminars we will be hosting countrywide. There’s also a
wonderful competition to enter too. Remember to read
page 17 to find out how we’re leading the fight against
fraud, waste and abuse.
If you’re looking at growing your family, congratulations!
We’ve included a feature on staying healthy during
pregnancy – to help you give your little one the best
possible start. Be sure to check out our new, improved
process on obtaining a Bonitas baby bag too.
Gerhard
Gerhard van Emmenis
Principal Officer
B-Living Issue 1, 2018