“THE world is changing faster than ever before,” says Dr Renissa Naidoo, Consumer Health Medical Lead for South East Africa at Bayer.
Dr Naidoo was part of the panel during media colloquium held at Modderfontein Golf Course, whose main objective was to share and interact on healthy living.
“Whether it is the cost-of-living crisis, climate change, changing patterns of disease or uncertainty in the workplace, these factors can all affect our mental and physical wellbeing.
While we cannot control many of these external pressures, we can control the daily decisions that help build resilience,” she espoused, dressed in sneakers and tracksuits in preparation for the Pedal match.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) it estimates that depression and anxiety cost the global economy approximately US$1 trillion every year in lost productivity, while 12 billion working days are lost annually because of poor mental health.
Job insecurity, financial pressure, rising living costs, and increasingly demanding work environments are all contributing to growing psychological strain.
WHO also indicates that more than one in 10 medicines circulating in low- and middle-income countries are estimated to be substandard or falsified (fongkong- fake in local lingua) a very concerning matter in SA.
These products may contain the wrong ingredients, incorrect dosages or no active ingredients at all, potentially leading to health complications. For consumers, this makes purchasing medicines, vitamins and supplements from reputable pharmacies, licensed retailers and trusted healthcare providers more important than ever.
She was backed by Kelly Widdop, Consumer Health Cluster Division Head for Bayer in Shaub-Saharan Africa, who averred that:” We are carrying demanding careers, family responsibilities, financial pressure, uncertainty and the constant noise of a world that rarely switches off – and somewhere along the way, our own health often falls to the bottom of the list.”
Research consistently shows that healthy daily routines play a critical role in preventing disease and improving long-term wellbeing.
Simple behaviours include:
- Eating balanced, nutritious meals, and including suitable supplements as needed/ guided by a medical professional.
- Exercising regularly.
- Maintaining healthy sleep habits.
- Proactively managing stress.
- Seeking professional medical advice when symptoms persist.
However, an estimated 75% of South African adults have poor diet quality, with only 12.5% meeting recommended dietary guidelines, according to the South African National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
This means 3 out of 4 South Africans do not eat a well-balanced diet, at times for various reasons, such as low incomecan lead to poor food choices and, in turn, suboptimal micronutrient status.
Cost constraints have been shown to decrease the proportion of fruits, vegetables, meat and dairy products in the diet and increase the proportion of cereals, sweets and added fats.
Balance diet contributes to stronger immune function, improved mental wellbeing, and a lower risk of developing chronic disease.
“In an increasingly uncertain world, self-care is no longer a luxury – it is an essential investment in long-term health and wellbeing,” says Dr Naidoo.
“By building sustainable healthy habits and ensuring healthcare products are purchased from trusted sources, South Africans can take practical steps to protect themselves and their families.”
Health experts, including those at Bayer, caution that self-care extends beyond healthy habits. It also includes making informed decisions about where healthcare products are purchased and whether they are clinically and scientifically approved.
The rapid expansion of online shopping and e-commerce has made healthcare products more accessible than ever before. Unfortunately, it has also created new opportunities for counterfeit and substandard medicines to enter the market.
S’thokoza Nhleko- head of marketing for Consumer Health at Bayer indicated that economic uncertainty, geopolitical instability, climate change and rapid technological disruption continue to reshape daily life.
In responding to that consumer changing needs must take form by making self-care accessible to everyone, whose theme for the colloquium was “reimagining self-care for Modern South Africans”.
So, to lessen the stress members of the fourth estate experience daily at work- the pedal match was organised, accompanied by its popular brand Berocca effervescent energy tablets.
Image Jacob MAWELA (Dr Renissa Naidoo limned conducting a presentation of Bayer AG. products to a media rendezvous at the Modderfontein Golf Club.)
