Western Cape Health Department urges parents to sign consent forms for HPV vaccination of girls

Aadilah Maker Diderrick demonstrates resilience and an active stance in the field of human rights protection, transforming her life experience into work aimed at strengthening community health and supporting informed decision-making. Her journey began with hardships experienced in District Six, leading her to spearhead the fight against alcohol harm in South Africa.

When Diderrick discusses what shaped her professional path, she starts not with education or career, but with childhood, when inequality was not an abstract concept but a daily reality for her family. Born in District Six, her family was forcibly relocated to Mitchells Plain, where she witnessed how inequality affected people's lives. These experiences ultimately steered her toward a career in public health and human rights activism.

Currently, 58-year-old Diderrick serves as the Secretary General of the South African Alcohol Policy Alliance (SAAPA). She works in countries such as Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, promoting evidence-based alcohol policies that reduce harm and protect vulnerable families.

Diderrick recalls how her life changed: 'I had a brother with a disability who lacked access to amenities. This was compounded by the fact that I grew up in Mitchells Plain, where the girls I went to school with started pregnant early,' she shared. Furthermore, meeting people living with HIV during university studies, when Sean Mellors, who lives with HIV and AIDS, spoke before their psychology class, solidified her resolve to address the social and environmental factors influencing people's health and choices.

Building a Career Based on Prevention

For over three decades, Diderrick has been involved in sexual and reproductive health, HIV and AIDS, child and youth development, gender equality, and violence prevention. She holds a Master of Public Health from the University of New South Wales in Australia.

One of her most significant achievements is assisting in the development of the multimedia program 'Soul Buddyz.' When children across South Africa participated in the pilot project, it led to the creation of Soul Buddyz clubs that continue to have an impact today. Diderrick notes: 'When we tested the pilot project, children across South Africa asked to join. We never planned to create a club, but this reaction led to the establishment of Soul Buddyz clubs nationwide.' She emphasizes that even now adults tell her about the significance of Soul Buddyz in their lives, reminding her of the potential children hold.

Despite her successes, Diderrick believes that becoming a leader first required learning to believe in her own voice. She admits that one of the main challenges for a Black female leader was developing self-confidence. Apartheid affected the self-esteem of many, and since English was her second language, she had to work hard to gain the confidence to speak in audiences full of academics and professionals.

More than three decades later, this belief continues to guide her work in public health. She asserts that 'change is a long-term project. The life of every person you touch creates a domino effect. When people tell me our work has changed their lives, it reminds me why this work is important.'

Combating Alcohol Harm Through Policy

These experiences now define the issue that occupies much of her time—reducing the harm associated with alcohol consumption in South Africa. As Secretary General of SAAPA, Diderrick advocates for stricter alcohol policies to address what she sees as one of the most preventable public health problems in the region.

She points out that in South Africa, alcohol is widely available in residential areas, and its accessibility is too often poorly regulated. Children are exposed to alcohol on their way to school, neighbors sell it from their homes, and many grow up seeing harmful consumption as the norm. Over time, this shapes their own choices.

Diderrick stresses that the consequences extend far beyond simple alcohol consumption. 'Alcohol diverts money from household needs, contributes to gender-based violence, and exposes children to abuse, creating long-term consequences for families.'

Her work is research-based. Diderrick is co-lead of a four-country study examining the link between alcohol availability and gender-based violence. She also co-authored an article published in 2025 concerning the alcohol industry's role in delaying the adoption of amendments to South Africa's liquor laws. She is convinced that scientific data, not commercial interests, should dictate alcohol policy.

'It is critical that South Africa adopts evidence-based alcohol policy because legislation and public health programs must be guided by science. The alcohol industry should not regulate its own advertising. Advertising for six-packs and 'two-for-one' deals promotes a culture of consumption that is unhealthy and fuels the culture of binge drinking that we particularly observe in South Africa. No advertising campaign informs women that every drink they consume increases their risk of breast cancer.'

Diderrick specifically noted that independent regulation would better protect consumers.

People First

One of the outcomes of her recent research left a deep impression after the interview concluded. 'I was truly struck when people talked about constant noise and lack of sleep due to the operation of bars in residential areas. When children and adults do not get enough sleep for a long time, it affects both their physical and mental well-being.'

She acknowledges that balancing a demanding career in human rights advocacy with family life has not always been easy. 'At night, I need to set a quitting time. Understanding your partner helps. I also make sure my children understand what the next two weeks will look like and what my work requires, and I still do this even though they are older.'

On the occasion of Women's Month in South Africa, Diderrick views it as an opportunity to acknowledge progress while reflecting on the work ahead. 'It is an opportunity to affirm myself and others, celebrate positive changes, and reflect.'

From a childhood shaped by forced removals and inequality to influencing public health policy across South Africa, Diderrick has built a career on the conviction that long-term change begins when people are equipped with the ability to make informed decisions about their own lives. She concludes: 'I want to help create spaces where people and communities can make informed decisions about their lives. Our role as professionals is to support communities so they can lead the change themselves.'

The National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) has lifted the limitation that prevented Shopee from displaying and selling medicines on its platform. This change aligns with new regulations that allow duly licensed pharmacies to use digital platforms for deliveries.

This determination, published in the Official Gazette of the Union, expands the use of marketplaces in the pharmaceutical segment, while preserving rigorous requirements to ensure that only approved items reach buyers.

With this new guideline, Shopee can be used by accredited pharmacies and drugstores both as a sales channel and for logistics management. It is important to note, however, that this does not mean that any seller on the platform can commercialize medicines.

Sales remain restricted to establishments that hold a health license and products that have been formally registered by Anvisa. Among the maintained conditions, it is highlighted that, in practice, consumers will find medicines in digital environments, but the responsibility for the transaction always lies with the authorized locations.

Anvisa's decision was based on Law No. 15.357, enacted on March 20 of this year. This law modified the pharmaceutical sector's legislation by allowing licensed pharmacies and drugstores to contract e-commerce platforms for delivery and logistics services.

Additionally, the change authorized the installation of pharmacies inside supermarkets, enabling sales both at physical points and through the virtual channels of these same establishments.

With this update, digital platforms gain a recognized role in medicine distribution, provided that all sanitary standards are strictly observed. Despite this permission, Anvisa maintains its monitoring over products offered online. Medicines without registration or advertisements containing false information remain prohibited and may lead to content removal and seller blocking.

This measure signals a new phase in the interaction between e-commerce and the pharmaceutical sector in Brazil. Consumers gain new means of digital access and purchase, but they must remain vigilant about the origin of the products.

The inclusion of platforms like Shopee in this market does not alter the basic security premises: medicines must be purchased from accredited companies and in compliance with sanitary regulations. Anvisa's intention is to keep pace with the increase in online purchases without neglecting control over products that directly impact users' health.

Gary and Sarah Chatham had to deal with an unexpected reality when they welcomed their son Theo; the subsequent years were marked by constant back and forth between the family home and the hospital environment.

The boy was born premature and, at three weeks old, developed necrotizing enterocolitis, a serious neonatal gastrointestinal emergency. Due to a series of health complications, Theo needed to remain hospitalized for the following five years.

During this period, Theo moved between different hospitals, depending on his needs and the availability of the most suitable healthcare unit for his care. He faced conditions such as epilepsy, brain damage, and vision problems.

According to the American magazine People, Theo underwent more than 200 surgical procedures, 48 of which were performed with the goal of saving his life.

After years of struggle, on June 23rd, the boy was discharged from the Royal Hospital for Children in Scotland, returning home for the first time.

The mother shared the difficulty of this journey, mentioning moments when she prepared for the worst-case scenario. Sarah maintained a firm hope that her son would overcome this battle.

With the realization of the hope of taking her son home, the moment arrived in June. The parents expressed their enthusiasm for this new stage, stating that while people talk about 'recovering life' or 'getting back to normal,' for them it means 'starting from scratch,' as they have never been through anything like this before.

The family is aware that the road ahead will still require continuous healthcare, but they are confident in starting a life at three years old. This month, Theo will begin attending a specialized school, where he will receive individualized support from therapists and teachers, which the parents describe as 'wonderful'.