ADSA E-newsletter Vol 13

FROM THE PRESIDENT

With 2023 off to a flying start, I took a moment to pause and reflect on activities and progress over the past few months; and what a whirlwind of a first quarter it has been! The nutrition landscape in South Africa has been a hive of activity: two critical draft regulations published for comments; global and local launch of the 2023 Lancet Series on Breastfeeding; preparations for the National Nutrition Congress; and several ADSA branch events with opportunities for dietitians to interact, learn and network.

The ADSA executive committee utilised every opportunity to engage with stakeholders towards the promotion of the profession and to the benefit of our members. We provide feedback on some of these engagements in this edition of the newsletter and will continue to seek opportunities to advance the profession.

I look forward to meeting many of our members at the 2023 National Nutrition Congress in Somerset West!

Best wishes,

Maria van der Merwe

ADSA PRESIDENT, 2021 TO 2023

ADSA executive committee

1. ADSA SECRETARY

DISCOVERY VITALITY ENGAGEMENT

The Discovery Vitality programme allows members to access Vitality points by visiting a dietitian for an assessment. Engagement with Vitality started in 2021, in preparation of the launch of a potential restructured programme in 2022/2023. In 2022, the Vitality Healthy Weight programme was launched, raising concerns regarding the use of terminology, scope of practice as well as marketing material comparing dietitian services to other offerings available. Members

expressed their concerns to executive committee members and on social media, and a meeting was held with Vitality team members on the 20th of February 2023, with ADSA being represented by Maria van der Merwe (President) and Carla Gerryts (Secretary). It was a fruitful meeting, the concerns of ADSA and members were voiced and heard. The outcome of the meeting was a retraction of a specific infographic in marketing material, revision and correction of terminology when referring to dietitians, an invitation to the launch of the Healthy Weight Programme

on the 1st of March (attended by Alta Kloppers, PPD) and the conclusion that continued engagements are vital for clear communication between Vitality and dietitians.

For any further information, please contact Carla Gerryts on secretaryadsaexec@gmail.com

MENTORSHIP PROGRAMME

We were very excited to launch the ADSA Mentorship Programme in 2022. The aim of the programme is to provide guidance, support and advice on a voluntary person-to-person basis. From individual personal information, we match mentees and mentors with similar interests to optimise the benefits of this initiative. Each mentee-mentor pair is able to customize their mentoring approach and format.

Who is this initiative aimed at?

If you are at an early stage in your career, considering a change in your career path or at any stage of your career where you would like to connect with another dietitian for guidance and support, you are invited to subscribe to this initiative as a mentee. Dietitians who have some experience in the field, a special interest or expertise in an area of work or with a passion for personal growth and development are invited to subscribe as mentors.

For further information, please contact secretaryadsaexec@gmail.com

Mentor Careen Visagie, dietitian in private practice based in Pretoria.

“You cannot teach a man anything. You can only help him discover it within himself.” – Galileo Galilei

In 2022 I had the privilege of taking part in the ADSA mentorship programme. Over the years working in many different areas of dietetics, I’ve gained a wealth of experience and had ample opportunity to grow through all the joys, hardships, failures and successes of all that our profession has to offer. As mentor, I could share and guide from my own experiences and journey with the mentees through their challenges and growth processes. Winston Churchill said: “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” Mentoring others is an opportunity to give, but this time round I was so blessed by what I received. ADSA did a great job of matching the mentees and mentors. The ability to engage in conversation and see people grow and challenge their blind spots, is always a pleasure but this time I found it refreshing and exhilarating as the conversations provided me with an opportunity to not just guide a colleague, but to also review and reflect

Reflections on the mentorship programme –an opportunity for growth, direction and development

on my own journey and view it with a ‘fresh pair of glasses’.

I can honestly say that the experience added to my wisdom, knowledge and understanding of the challenges we face as a profession. It was a wonderful reminder that we do not just share for someone else’s growth, but we also grow as we share. We all have something to offer and areas where we can grow and need a nudge to help us move out of our comfort zones. If you missed the previous opportunity – whether to mentor or be a mentee – I invite you, do not miss out again. Sign up and join us when the time comes.

“Mentoring is about listening to people, helping them go over what the issues are and how to clarify ways to deal with any problems that may arise.” — Mildred Dresselhaus.

About Careen: “I work in private practice from my home in Pretoria. My special nutrition interests include GIT health, nutrigenomics, and auto-immune diseases; and my passion is focused towards helping people improve their relationships with themselves, their bodies, food and lifestyle. I am also a trained and credentialled coach and mentor.”

Mentee Carla Gerryts, ADSA Executive Secretary

“I had the privilege of being mentored by Careen

Visagie as part of ADSA’s mentorship programme in 2022. The matching allowed for a space where my interests, perspectives and goals were both valued and challenged. We had two contact sessions, where Careen was open to work with any questions and concerns I placed on the agenda. The discussions included both practical guidance in developing a private practice, as well as personal development. Through honest communication, areas of improvement were highlighted, while my strengths were identified and encouraged to be developed. “Homework” was provided by Careen as part of reflection and emphasizing the importance of personal responsibility in the process. One of the key skills that was addressed was time management and improving effectiveness administratively, which benefited me greatly. The soft skills that no degree will teach you and only the benefit of experience can bring, such as effective communication and counselling skills, was also part of our conversations. I left the sessions feeling empowered, encouraged, and enlightened. It is my hope that everyone who participated in the mentorship programme had a similar experience, and we look forward to introducing a

relaunch of the mentorship programme during the second half of the year. Watch this space!”

About Carla: Carla Gerryts is a dietitian with 7 year’s experience in private practice. Her interests include nutrition

in psychiatry (especially depression and ADD/ADHD), disordered eating patterns and food relationship, eating disorders, mental health support groups, gut health and the management of chronic conditions.

2. ADSA PPD

ADSA 2023 PROFESSIONAL INDEMNITY AND MEDICAL MALPRACTICE INSURANCE

Intersure insurance brokers have negotiated several cover enhancements for the professional indemnity cover, offered exclusively to ADSA members as a member benefit. Effective 1 February 2023, the following enhancements have been made to the cover:

• (New) Medical Aid and/or ThirdParty Administrator Forensic Audit Opposition costs, R25,000 cover automatically included, excess R2,500

• Updated Breach of confidentiality cover from R250,000.00 to the underlying cover limit of R2,5 / R5 or R10 million.

• Updated Defamation cover from R500,000 to the underlying cover limit of R2,5 / R5 or R10 million.

• Updated Negligent advice given free of charge cover from 10% of the sum insured to the underlying cover limit of R2,5 / R5 or R10 million.

• Updated Wrongful arrest cover increased R150,000 to R250,000

The following cover enhancements remain unchanged:

The cover and benefits are exceptional value at the ADSA discounted premiums. For more information, including the policy wording document and application forms, please contact the ADSA Membership Portfolio holder, Janke Draper at adsamembers@gmail.com.

CLAIMS FOR IOD FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOUR

During 2022, after 10 years of continuous efforts, ADSA successfully appealed to the Minister of Labour for the listing of dietitians as service providers to patients admitted for injuries on duty.

Remuneration for claims for patients with injuries on duty are now functional and dietitians are receiving remuneration

from the Department of Labour.

Dietitians are reminded that the claims procedure for these patients are accessible from the ADSA membership page:

https://members.adsa.org.za/MemberLogin?returnurl=%2fPPD Queries may be forwarded via email to adsappdqueries@ gmail.com.

3. ADSA PUBLIC RELATIONS

ADSA’s PR team has been extremely busy during both the fourth quarter of 2022, and into the new year. The following media releases were compiled and distributed to media across the country:

• October 2022 - How to Make Healthy Eating Choices Easier

• November 2022 - Busting the Diabetes Food Myths

• December 2022 - Is bone broth just another health fad?

• January 2023 - Nutrition trends

• February 2023 - Impacts of loadshedding and avoiding food waste

If anyone is interested in becoming an ADSA spokesperson, please email Retha Harmse at adsapublicrelations@gmail.com

FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS Practice guidelines

To be a good health care practitioner, requires a life-long commitment to sound professional and ethical practices and an overriding dedication to the interests of one’s fellow human beings and society. Are you familiar with the HPCSA Ethical guidelines for good practice in the health care professions? We will be sharing snippets from these guidelines as an integral part of professional conduct.

BOOKLET 2: Ethical

COVERING

9. (1) A practitioner shall employ as a professional assistant or locum tenens, or in any other contractual capacity and, in the case of locum tenens for a period not exceeding six months, only a person

(a) who is registered under the Act to practise in independent practice;

(b) whose name currently appears on the register kept by the registrar in terms of section 18 of the Act; and

(c) who is not suspended from practising his or her profession

(https://www.hpcsa.co.za/Uploads/ Professional_Practice/Ethics_Booklet.pdf)

and professionals rules of the Health Professions Council of South Africa

IMPORTANT

draft regulations

FOR PUBLIC COMMENT

The publication of draft regulations provides the opportunity for all persons with an interest in the regulations to submit substantiated inputs, to be considered during the finalisation of the regulations. Two regulations of particular interest to dietitians have recently been published, as follows:

1) On 31 January 2023, Regulations

Relating to the Labelling and Advertising of Foodstuffs (R2986 https://www.gov. za/documents/foodstuffs-cosmeticsand-disinfectants-act-regulationslabelling-and-advertising-3) of the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act, 1972 (Act No.54 of 1972), were published in the Government Gazette by the Minister of Health, Dr MJ Phaahla. With this publication, the Minister invited interested persons to submit substantiated comments or representations on the proposed regulations within three months of the date of publication of this Notice.

ADSA members who still wish to submit comments on R2986 can do so individually using the correspondence details provided in the regulations, by 30 April 2023.

2) On 3 March 2023, Regulations

Defining the Scope of Profession of Dietitians, 2023 (R3100 - https:// www.gov.za/documents/healthprofessions-act-regulations-defining-

scope-profession-dietitianscomments-invited-3) were published in the Government Gazette by the Minister of Health. Interested persons are invited to submit substantiated comments or representations on the proposed regulations to the Director-General of Health, within three months of the date of publication (3 June 2023).

ADSA members who would like to submit comments on R3100 can either do so individually using the correspondence details provided in the regulations, or alternatively comments can be submitted to ADSA, who will then collate and submit comments to the Minister, on behalf of members. Should you wish to submit comments via ADSA, kindly forward substantiated inputs to: adsapresident01@gmail.com by 12 May 2023.

2023 LANCET SERIES ON breastfeeding

Contributed by Dr Chantell Witten (cbwitten@uwc.ac.za)

On 8 February 2023, the global launch event of the 2023 Lancet Series on Breastfeeding (https://www.thelancet. com/series/Breastfeeding-2023) took place in London at the Royal Society of Medicine, London, and online. The local launch event for South Africa took place at the University of the Western Cape, DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence for Food Security ( https://foodsecurity.ac.za/news/ coe-fs-co-hosts-local-launch-of-2023lancet-series-on-breastfeeding/) on 10 February, 2023.

The 2023 Lancet Series on Breastfeeding published three papers, providing an indepth examination of how the marketing of commercial milk formula industry uses manipulative and insidious tactics to undermine mothers’ and society, in general, confidence in breastfeeding. The commercial milk formula industry’s nefarious and exploitative methods create an artificial demand for their products, thereby undermining breastfeeding. The papers in the Series outline the multifaceted and highly effective strategies used by commercial

formula manufacturers to target parents, health-care professionals, and policy-makers. The industry’s dubious marketing practices—in breach of the breastfeeding Code, generates a revenue of about $55 billion each year.(https:// www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/ article/PIIS0140-6736(23)00118-6/ fulltext)

While breastfeeding has proven health benefits for both mothers and babies in high- and low-income settings alike, less than 50% of babies worldwide are breastfed according to WHO recommendations. For decades, the commercial milk formula industry has used underhand marketing strategies, designed to prey on parents’ fears and concerns, under the guise of a trustworthy source of information and care for mothers and babies.

( https://www.thelancet.com/ journals/lancet/ article/PIIS01406736(22)01931-6/fulltext)

Paper 3 exposes how the multibillion dollar industry that lobbies governments, often covertly via trade associations and front groups, is against strengthening breastfeeding protection laws and challenging food standard regulations (https://www.thelancet. com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS01406736(22)01933-X/fulltext). Under the leadership of Prof Tanya Doherty from the South African Medical Research Council, a full commentary on the series by a group of South African researchers and child rights advocates calls for a transformative breastfeeding agenda to stem the tide on commercial formula marketing (https://www.thelancet. com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS01406736(23)00095-8/fulltext). The 2023 Lancet Series re-affirms breastfeeding as the undisputed feeding option for infants and young child feeding and calls on governments to protect mothers and infants from human rights violations by the commercial formula companies.

FLTR: Prof Tracey Naledi, Deputy Dean, UCT/Faculty of Health Sciences; Prof Linda Richter, WITS/ CoE: Human Development; Mr Nzama Nbalati, HEALA during the national launch event of the 2023 Lancet Series on Breastfeeding.

WITH A DIETITIAN interview

TERRY HARRIS

What made you choose dietetics?

The first time I met a dietitian was when I was in high school. She empowered me with knowledge, skills and confidence to make healthier food choices that were life changing. I wanted to help people in a similar way.

Where did you study?

I completed a Bachelor of Science degree majoring in Physiology and Microbiology at Wits University, followed by an Honours degree in Nutrition and Dietetics at the University of Cape Town. After a few years of working, I needed a new challenge, so I enrolled for a part-time Masters degree in Nutrition at North-West University (Potchefstroom).

Career path- tell us about your journey and where you find yourself now.

After completing my community service year, I started a private practice and met Gabi Steenkamp and other private practicing dietitians. Through this, I was introduced to Juliet Fearnhead who gave me the opportunity to work at Pick n Pay as the dietitian in the Corporate Foods division, where the main purpose of my role involved providing nutritional information and guidance to the business as well as to customers. This enabled me to work with the Discovery Vitality clinical team on the Vitality HealthyFood benefit, of which Pick n Pay is a partner. After a number of years, I moved across to Discovery Vitality as Head Dietitian where my key role was developing innovative health behaviour change programmes to improve the nutritional status of members. I have recently moved into the role of a product owner in the Vitality Member Experience team, still working on the HealthyFood benefit but now from a business angle. I am also responsible for the HealthyDining and HealthyCare benefits. The key objectives of this role are to reduce barriers and to utilize behavioural economics to nudge members to

make healthy choices.

What are your career highlights?

Proud achievements or milestones?

Forcing myself out of my comfort zone to study a part-time Masters degree, leading Vitality’s nutrition strategy for 9 years and most recently stepping out of nutrition into a business role.

If you could go back in time, what advice would you give to your younger dietitian self?

“You are enough.”

Advice for dietitians considering work in your area?

Consider yourself a nutrition behaviour change specialist as this makes dietetics tangible and practical for people to understand and relate to. It is incredibly enriching to learn from all professions and highly recommended to spend time understanding the scope and impact of marketing, legal, compliance, finance, systems development, commercial and project management teams.

What do you love most about the dietetics profession?

It is a privilege to enable people to make better food choices for themselves and their families.

If you have an interesting career story or community service experience you’d like to share, please contact adsacomms@gmail.com. We’d love to hear about your experience.

18-20 APRIL 2023

‘The congress programme is packed with diversity, true to the congress theme. I am looking forward to the congress, not only as an opportunity to be updated on the latest evidence in nutrition, but to be part of discussions on how education, collaboration and unique ways of communication can enhance the position of nutrition and the related professions.’ - Maria van der Merwe, ADSA President 2021-2023

SOMERSET-WEST, WESTERN CAPE

You can find more information at the congress website.

18-20 APRIL 2023 https://conference.eventsair.com/QuickEventWebsitePortal/2023-nutrition/nutrition2023

touch

ADSA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

PRESIDENT Maria van der Merwe adsapresident01@gmail.com

COMMUNICATIONS Cindy Chin adsacomms@gmail.com

SECRETARY Carla Gerryts secretaryadsaexec@gmail.com

MEMBERSHIP Janke Draper adsamembers@gmail.com

BRANCH LIAISON Ditope Rabodiba adsabranches@gmail.com

TREASURY Estelle Strydom treasuryadsa@gmail.com

PUBLIC SECTOR

Nireshnee Reddy adsapublicsector@gmail.com

COO Jessica Byrne cooadsa@gmail.com

SPONSORSHIP Janetta Harbron adsasponsorship@gmail.com

www.facebook.com/ADSAorgza Blog: http://nutritionconfidence.wordpress.com

https://www.youtube.com/channel/ UCIn0w-Zjjxi_ljQfnmJCiUw

DISCLAIMER

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The information, products or services referred to in this communication are for your information only, and you should exercise your own judgment before deciding to use any information in this newsletter. While ADSA always strives to ensure the scientific accuracy of information shared, we also support sharing different and emerging viewpoints to keep members informed and abreast of current happenings. The reference to goods or services in this communication

does not constitute any form of endorsement by ADSA. Sharing of information from sponsors and advertisers should not be construed as favouring one company over another. Any views or opinions presented are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of ADSA. ADSA will not be held liable by any company or their affiliates for any errors, omissions or damages arising from any information shared.