Mmegi

Sun exposure isn’t harmful, but high temperatures are

At risk: Prolonged high temperature tend to affect the very young and the elderly
At risk: Prolonged high temperature tend to affect the very young and the elderly

The Department of Meteorological Services has warned that the nation is experiencing rolling heatwaves. Amid this phase,Mmegi correspondent LESEDI MKHUTSHWA spoke with a local health official about the effects of rising temperatures

According to Kenneth Photlokwe, an MSc in Medicine student at Wits University, South Africa and local health columnist, because the human body requires Vitamin D, being outside in the sun is not always detrimental.

He says research has shown that a daily dose of five to 30 minutes in the sun is enough to produce enough Vitamin D for an individual’s body. However, being overheated to the point where temperatures approach extremes can be harmful to one’s health.

Editor's Comment
Child protection needs more than prevailing laws

The rise in defilement and missing persons cases, particularly over the recent festive period, points not merely to a failure of policing, but to a profound and widespread societal crisis. Whilst the Police chief’s plea is rightly directed at parents, the root of this emergency runs deeper, demanding a collective response from every corner of our community. Marathe’s observations paint a picture of neglect with children left alone for...

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