Bonitas Member Magazine 2018 - B-Living Issue 1 | Page 4

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