Sick again?
I have not dumped much on this page for a while, but today seems to be the day. It happens when you have been sick at home for a few days and you get bored.
Once again I am laid low by a dose of Malaria. Once again I marvel at how malaria is viewed in South Africa as opposed to the endemic areas of West Africa.
If you go to a Doc in Ghana and complain about Malaria symptoms, he would prick your finger, spread a bit of blood on a slide, peer through an ancient school type microscope and announce “plus one” or “Plus two” or “nothing” and you would be treated or sent on your merry way.
In South Africa, you get checked over, blood pressure, etc and blood gets taken. You are then told they will contact you with the test results, but just in case you are sent home with R300 worth of Antibiotics, Dry Me Up Pills, Cough Mixture and pain tablets.
If you are positive, you get advised three – five hours later, climb back in your car, go and get the malaria muti, anti Ralph tablets and some headache tablets. This for R149
You throw away your R300 muti and start taking the R149 muti.
Is it any wonder that medical aids are charging what they are?
This bout however started around 12 days ago while I was in Cameroon. After Landing in SA, I popped off to the local Medicross Clinic (We diagnose in 15 mins cause that’s how close we put all our appointments)
Get R300 muti and get advised four hours later my Malaria test is negative. One week later, I am feeling worse than ever and go back for another check up. True’s fuck if I do not walk out with R400 muti and the lovely statement of “You do not have a temperature so it cannot be Malaria”
Next day, I am even worse. Did not sleep much and spent a fair amount of time over the loo with my stomach rejecting the mornings toothpaste. It had nothing else to reject as by this time I had not eaten in over a day.
I decided at around 12 to take myself off to the local hospital.
The Doctor asked what was wrong and I basically stated I was sure I had Malaria but for some reason the medical profession decided I had flu.
“So you do not trust the results of the test” she says
“No” says I “I have had malaria a couple of times before and this is what it felt like before”
“Well what happens if it is just flu?” she asks with a little more than a sneer
“Then best you give me something to get rid of it as the two courses of Antibiotics are not working”
“Antibiotics do not help with flu” she says “flu is a virus and antibiotics are for bacteria”
“Well then best someone advise the medical fraternity that prescribed two sets of anti biotics that fact” I state with just a small amount of acid in my voice.
-uneasy silence-
This time however I have a fever, so another malaria test is in order. They justify their 50% extra charge from “15 minute diagnosis clinic” by running a drip up with some nice muti to attack the fever.
I sleep while the liquid runs into my veins.
-Two hours later-
“You have Malaria” penetrates my fuzzy mind
“No shit Sherlock”
One prescription later and hopefully I am on my way to full recovery.
That said.
I have nothing but admiration for the gold/platinum industry and Eskom for conspiring to raise the prices of their commodity’s and still managing to complain bitterly that the 10% reduction in power will cost jobs.
Let us have a quiet look at the facts.
January before all hell broke loose on the power front
Gold Price $680/oz USD/ZAR 6.80
Factor 4624
March after one month of 10% reduction in power and an alleged 20% reduction in gold production.
Gold Price $974/oz USD/ZAR 8.00
Factor 7792
Reduce the factor by the 20% loss of production
Factor 6233
So dear reader!
Our gold mines are taking home 35% more revenue and happily retaining 20% of the reserves in the ground.
We all know that gold mines have valuations placed on reserves, and the more reserves they have the better.
And for this they say they are losing money and jobs are at risk?
Please pull the other one.
Oh yes.
Malaria is a notifiable disease
The nice lady comes to fill in the form
“Why did you take so long to seek medical help” she asks
“If you mean that me begging to be tested for Malaria three times over the last week makes it my fault, then so be it” I answer as I put my shoes on and get out of the medical peoples clutches.
On the plus side
I have lost 4kg and have not been able to drink.
I should be booking my company medical next week
Once again I am laid low by a dose of Malaria. Once again I marvel at how malaria is viewed in South Africa as opposed to the endemic areas of West Africa.
If you go to a Doc in Ghana and complain about Malaria symptoms, he would prick your finger, spread a bit of blood on a slide, peer through an ancient school type microscope and announce “plus one” or “Plus two” or “nothing” and you would be treated or sent on your merry way.
In South Africa, you get checked over, blood pressure, etc and blood gets taken. You are then told they will contact you with the test results, but just in case you are sent home with R300 worth of Antibiotics, Dry Me Up Pills, Cough Mixture and pain tablets.
If you are positive, you get advised three – five hours later, climb back in your car, go and get the malaria muti, anti Ralph tablets and some headache tablets. This for R149
You throw away your R300 muti and start taking the R149 muti.
Is it any wonder that medical aids are charging what they are?
This bout however started around 12 days ago while I was in Cameroon. After Landing in SA, I popped off to the local Medicross Clinic (We diagnose in 15 mins cause that’s how close we put all our appointments)
Get R300 muti and get advised four hours later my Malaria test is negative. One week later, I am feeling worse than ever and go back for another check up. True’s fuck if I do not walk out with R400 muti and the lovely statement of “You do not have a temperature so it cannot be Malaria”
Next day, I am even worse. Did not sleep much and spent a fair amount of time over the loo with my stomach rejecting the mornings toothpaste. It had nothing else to reject as by this time I had not eaten in over a day.
I decided at around 12 to take myself off to the local hospital.
The Doctor asked what was wrong and I basically stated I was sure I had Malaria but for some reason the medical profession decided I had flu.
“So you do not trust the results of the test” she says
“No” says I “I have had malaria a couple of times before and this is what it felt like before”
“Well what happens if it is just flu?” she asks with a little more than a sneer
“Then best you give me something to get rid of it as the two courses of Antibiotics are not working”
“Antibiotics do not help with flu” she says “flu is a virus and antibiotics are for bacteria”
“Well then best someone advise the medical fraternity that prescribed two sets of anti biotics that fact” I state with just a small amount of acid in my voice.
-uneasy silence-
This time however I have a fever, so another malaria test is in order. They justify their 50% extra charge from “15 minute diagnosis clinic” by running a drip up with some nice muti to attack the fever.
I sleep while the liquid runs into my veins.
-Two hours later-
“You have Malaria” penetrates my fuzzy mind
“No shit Sherlock”
One prescription later and hopefully I am on my way to full recovery.
That said.
I have nothing but admiration for the gold/platinum industry and Eskom for conspiring to raise the prices of their commodity’s and still managing to complain bitterly that the 10% reduction in power will cost jobs.
Let us have a quiet look at the facts.
January before all hell broke loose on the power front
Gold Price $680/oz USD/ZAR 6.80
Factor 4624
March after one month of 10% reduction in power and an alleged 20% reduction in gold production.
Gold Price $974/oz USD/ZAR 8.00
Factor 7792
Reduce the factor by the 20% loss of production
Factor 6233
So dear reader!
Our gold mines are taking home 35% more revenue and happily retaining 20% of the reserves in the ground.
We all know that gold mines have valuations placed on reserves, and the more reserves they have the better.
And for this they say they are losing money and jobs are at risk?
Please pull the other one.
Oh yes.
Malaria is a notifiable disease
The nice lady comes to fill in the form
“Why did you take so long to seek medical help” she asks
“If you mean that me begging to be tested for Malaria three times over the last week makes it my fault, then so be it” I answer as I put my shoes on and get out of the medical peoples clutches.
On the plus side
I have lost 4kg and have not been able to drink.
I should be booking my company medical next week
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