Health24.com | Will a cheap pill cure gonorrhoea? New test can tell

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  • A certain strain of gonorrhoea may be successfully treated with an out-of-use drug
  • A single dose of ciprofloxacin, given by mouth, may cure the strain called wild-type gyrA serine
  • This drug can be given as a pill, instead of a painful injection

Researchers say a new test can tell which patients with gonorrhoea will benefit from treatment with the antibiotic ciprofloxacin.

The low-cost drug has been out of use amid concern that the bacterium that causes gonorrhoea was becoming resistant to it.

In this study, 106 patients identified as having a gonorrhoea strain called wild-type gyrA serine were cured with a single dose of ciprofloxacin. A test to screen for that strain has been available for three years, but this is the first time it has been systematically studied in humans, researchers said.

Easier and safer to treat

“Gonorrhoea is one of the most common drug-resistant infections worldwide and is becoming harder to treat. Current treatment methods require an antibiotic injection, which is expensive and painful,” said lead author Dr Jeffrey Klausner, a professor of medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles.

“This new test could make it easier and safer to treat gonorrhoea with different antibiotics, including one pill given by mouth. Using a pill instead of a shot would also make it easier and faster to treat sex partners of patients with gonorrhoea,” he added in a UCLA news release.

The DNA test that researchers developed identifies a genetic mutation that makes the gonorrhoea bacterium resistant to ciprofloxacin. Ciprofloxacin works against infections without that mutation.

In 2007, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stopped recommending ciprofloxacin after the gonorrhoea bacterium developed resistance to it.

Small number of participants

But 70% to 80% of gonorrhoea infections in the United States still can be treated with ciprofloxacin, the researchers said. Scientists have been trying to reduce the need to use the injectable antibiotic, ceftriaxone. Gonorrhoea’s resistance to ceftriaxone is less than 1%.

However, the researchers noted the study was limited by the small number of participants, and that several people who had the wild-type strain of gonorrhoea also had other strain types.

The findings were published on 7 August in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases.

Image credit: Unsplash

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Senior C# Developer – Angular (Cape Town)

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Remuneration: R1000000 – R1000002 per year 
Location: Cape Town
Education level: Degree
Type: Permanent
Reference: #RS504435
Company: E-Merge IT Recruitment

Job description

This is for travel junkie who misses the adrenaline rush of interacting with various cultures when traveling abroad. 

You will find yourself working remotely alongside some of Ireland and Ukraines most talented Software Developers who have a common aim – utilising their individual craft to develop, shape and deliver on various client projects.  

If you thought it couldn’t get better….. This company is currently revolutionising the insurance space by partnering up with some of South Africa’s leading banks and insurance companies with the aim of dominating the market within the foreseeable future. 

As a C# developer to join a vibrant, elite group of software developers expanding their international footprint in the insurance industry, you will tackle complex projects well equipped with the latest technology.

Reference number for this position is RS504435 which is a permanent position based in Cape Town offering a permanent rate of R1.02m per annum negotiable on experience and ability. Contact Rylene on

or call her on 011 463 3633 to discuss this and other opportunities.

Are you ready for a change of scenery? E-Merge IT Recruitment is a specialist niche recruitment agency. We offer our candidates options so that we can successfully place the right developers with the right companies in the right roles. Check out the E-Merge website www.e-merge.co.za for more great positions.

Do you have a friend who is a developer or technology specialist? We pay cash for successful referrals: https://www.e-merge.co.za/careers/referralprogramme/

Requirements

  • Eight years of .Net experience
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  • Cloud exposure (advantageous)
  • Passion for developing bespoke solutions 
  • Beyond the box thinking

Qualification

  • IT-related qualification

Posted on 14 Aug 15:51

All4women Editor (Johannesburg)

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Location: Johannesburg, Industria West
Education level: Degree
Job level: Mid/Senior
Own transport required: Yes
Travel requirement: Occasional
Type: Permanent
Company: The Citizen

Job description

The Citizen has an opportunity for passionate, go-getter to edit the recently acquired site: All4Women.

If you understand how news impacts readers’ lives, have a good grasp of celebrity culture both locally and internationally and have experience in leading a team, then this role is for you.

The role would suit someone who has a good contact book in the lifestyle space: food, fashion health, relationships, celebs, and news who can quickly generate original content and guide and direct content from content producers. We are looking for someone who is creative and has a good understanding of what makes South Africans tick.

You understand Google Analytics, SEO and know how to effectively roll out social media campaigns which your audience find engaging.

The candidate should have a proven record of growing an audience with a diverse background in media ideally, a combination between magazines, newspapers and online.

The suitable candidate will report directly to the Head of Lifestyle.

Main responsibilities

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  • Develop social media strategies in conjunction with the content producers and social media specialist.
  • Lead the lifestyle digital department to excellence by monitoring website performance, traffic and engagement and constantly work towards improvement.
  • Monitor visitor statistics, in consultation with the data analyst, to determine the success/performance of the articles and the newsletters and seek to increase reader engagement and retainment.
  • Lead the editorial meetings.
  • Relationship building/networking.
  • Responsible for newsletters in own portfolio and overseeing newsletters in the content producers’ portfolios.
  • Good commercial sense of how to partner with potential advertisers

Knowledge/Experience

  • An appropriate bachelor’s or higher degree in journalism
  • Minimum eight years’ experience in mainstream and online journalism
  • Understanding of good headline writing
  • Suitable experience managing a lifestyle online team, as well as ability to train staff
  • Good leader and talent and skills for writing, editing raw copy and copy tasting abilities
  • Advanced awareness of the media law and current trends
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Skills

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  • Excellent people management skills
  • Excellent organisational skills
  • Good administrative skills

Attitude

  • Ability to work under pressure and deliver the All4Women strategy
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  • Self-motivated
  • Deadline-driven
  • Team player

Other requirements

  • Willingness to work inconvenient and extra hours from time to time as the job demands
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  • Own vehicle a must
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  • Solid references
  • No criminal record
  • Joburg based preferable

Posted on 14 Aug 14:33

NOTICE – Amendment to the Standing Facility rates

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Publish Date: 2020-08-14
Category: Modifications to MM Operations
Author: Financial Markets

​The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) continuously reviews the appropriateness and effectiveness of its open market operations (OMOs) and makes amendments where necessary…

You can also use the following link to access:

https://www.resbank.co.za/Markets/Domestic/MarketDocuments/Pages/Modifications%20to%20the%20Money%20Market-Operations.aspx

Attachments:

Web Developer (Randburg)

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Remuneration: R20000 – R25000 per month Basic salary 
Location: Randburg, Ferndale
Education level: Degree
Job level: Mid/Senior
Type: Permanent
Company: Adclick Africa

Job description

We are looking for an outstanding web developer responsible for the coding, innovative design, and layout of our web domains. You know HTML and CSS like the back of your hand, and you have recently met Bootstrap. You are willing to extend your skills in front-end development using the latest technologies such as AngularJS or jQuery. You should be able to write clean code and ensure your programs run correctly.

Company Description

Adclick Africa is one of South Africa’s fastest-growing digital performance marketing agencies. We offer the best in class digital solutions that drive revenue growth for brands.

Our unique results-based performance marketing approach is based on real-time in-market audience data and superior service delivery. Clients rely on our strategic and creative thinking to help them achieve real business objectives. We have worked with brands across multiple verticals, including the automotive, insurance, retail, travel, hospitality, TELCO, government, and petroleum industries.

Responsibilities:

  • Work with the design and other team members to create pixel perfect HTML files using Bootstrap, CSS, and jQuery
  • Champion development and technical best practices and exhibit thoughtful and sound judgment.
  • Maintain and modify all our WordPress portfolio of websites
  • Communicate and collaborate with cross-functional team members, other teams, and departments, such as project management and business stakeholders.

Requirements:

  • Four+ years of professional coding experience.
  • Excellent HTML, CSS, and JavaScript skills.
  • Working knowledge of Javascript frameworks and libraries.
  • Working knowledge of minification and front end preprocessors.
  • Understanding of SEO and able to implement SEO best practices.
  • Experience working in an Agile environment and familiarity with Agile development practices: Scrum, Kanban/Lean, test-driven development, continuous integration
  • Excellent attitude and personal skills; be committed and focused.
  • Strong communication skills.
  • BS degree in computer science or engineering or related qualification.

Advantageous:

  • PHP and SQL experience.
  • Familiarity with A/B testing.
  • Familiarity with website analytics.
  • Experience building scalable internet e-commerce/web applications.

Posted on 14 Aug 14:08

Administrative Assistant – Oncology Division (Cape Town)

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Remuneration: negotiable 
Location: Cape Town, Observatory
Education level: Matric
Job level: Senior
Type: Permanent
Company: Genesis Medical Scheme

Job description

Genesis Medical Scheme is seeking to appoint an Administrative Assistant in Oncology to fill a position that exists within our Clinical Division. The position is aimed at a suitable candidate who is client focused, energetic and who has ability to perform to the highest standards while working effectively with a diversity of people, both internally and externally.The successful applicant will be responsible for, but not limited to the following:

  • Assist with loading treatment plans
  • To provide administrative support to oncology
  • To interact and communicate both telephonically and written
  • To maintain the high standards of quality as set by the Scheme

Key Responsibilities:

  • Self-motivated
  • Bilingual in both English and Afrikaans
  • Pro-active and innovative
  • Ability to prioritize effectively
  • Possess excellent organizational skills
  • Excellent attention to detail

The following qualifications are required:

  • Matric or equivalent qualification
  • Two to three years relevant work experience within an oncology/nursing environment
  • MS Office proficiency

If you wish to be considered you should state in your letter of application how you meet the competencies, as described above.Kindly email your CV to Closing date: 21 August 2020

Posted on 14 Aug 14:07

Clinical Hospital Claims Review (Cape Town)

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Remuneration: negotiable 
Location: Cape Town, Observatory
Education level: Matric
Type: Permanent
Company: Genesis Medical Scheme

Job description

Genesis Medical Scheme is seeking to appoint a clinical auditor. The position offered will suit a self-motivated and driven person who will to be responsible for the reviewing of clinical claims in a well-established medical scheme based in Cape Town.

Your duties will include but not be limited to the following job functions:

  • Reviewing doctors and hospital accounts, by applying industry rules and guidelines set out in the relevant billing and tariff manuals.

If you do not possess the following competencies your application will not be considered:

    • Self-motivated
    • Bilingual in both English and Afrikaans
    • Pro-active and innovative
    • Ability to prioritize effectively
    • Possess excellent organizational skills
  • Excellent attention to detail
  • Good verbal and written communication
  • Knowledge of ICD-10 coding

The following minimum qualifications are required:

  • Registered nurse with experience as a “scrub sister”
  • Minimum two years relevant work experience in Clinical Auditing in the Medical Scheme’s Industry 

Should you qualify and be interested in applying for the above-mentioned vacancy, please forward your current CV together with a covering letter to the email address below. Your letter should give brief reasons why you should be considered for the position. Only applications with contactable references will be considered.

If you wish to be considered you should state in your letter of application how you meet the competencies, as described above.

E-mail:

Posted on 14 Aug 14:06

BI Team/Technical Lead (Cape Town)

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Remuneration: Market related 
Location: Cape Town, Southern Suburbs
Job level: Management Jnr-Mid
Job policy: Employment Equity position
Type: Permanent
Reference: #HCH-1438
Company: HomeChoice

Job description

The ideal candidate for this role will be responsible to support, enhance and optimise the current data warehouse environment by extracting, transforming and loading data from various sources using TSQL & SSIS and will develop and enhance reporting and analytical capabilities/solutions, using SSRS, Power-BI and SSAS, delivering projects that support the business’ requirements in an agile manner.

Here’s what you can expect to be doing in the role

  • Interpret and understand business data and information requirements as per technical specifications
  • Deliver data and information to the business in line with business priorities, according to quality standards, within the agreed time constraints and according to departmental coding practice & standards as well as user expectations 
  • Be involved in the process of populating new data within the Data Warehouse
  • Understand and offer support to the current production environment and relevant processes  
  • Support the BI Team in maintaining the production environment, ensuring delivery of current information to the business on time, effectively collected, correctly transformed, audited, accurately published
  • Ensure efficient and effective resolution of production issues
  • Monitor the environment to proactively engage in prevention activities and to maintain an environment that is easy to understand and troubleshoot
  • Recurring standby to support and resolve operational issues encountered in the day to day operations of the data warehouse production environment
  • Provide support service to users on data and information to satisfy user needs

A little about who you are

  • Relevant three year IT degree/diploma
  • A minimum of five years’ data warehousing experience with a working understanding of dimensional modelling
  • At least five years’ experience in ETL processes using SSIS
  • Intermediate to Advanced skill level in using MS-SQL/T-SQL
  • Intermediate to Advanced skill level in developing reports using SSRS
  • Experience in building and maintaining Tabular Cubes (DAX) using SSAS will be an added advantage
  • Exposure to Self-Service BI using Power-BI will be an added advantage
  • Exposure in using TFS or SVN will be an added advantage
  • Exposure in working within an agile project environment will be an added advantage

Benefits 

  • Flexible benefits to structure your own package
  • Creative agile work environment
  • Flexible working hours
  • Café and lounge area
  • Staff restaurant with a variety of healthy meal options

Posted on 14 Aug 12:48

Senior Software Engineer – C# (Johannesburg)

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Remuneration: R1000000 – R1050000 per year Cost to company 
Location: Johannesburg
Education level: Diploma
Job level: Management Jnr-Mid
Type: Permanent
Reference: #ND50436
Company: E-Merge IT Recruitment

New remote work. This is high tech, community-driven, digital dev shop and they are looking for two specialised software engineers who love to code

This team is currently distributed across Ireland and South Africa; They are a close-knit team who love their craft and strive to continually improve it; they have autonomy + freedom to create, control and help shape the project! They are managed on output and in turn produce quality, solid, robust code

You will get involved in the digital transformation of a rather competitive and niche product that is expanding across Africa. (the nature of the work is hush).

Can you show them enough love?

  • You have eigh to ten years of Microsoft Full Stack dev exp; with key skills in C#, .Net Core, SQL Server, Web API, Xamarin or other hybrids, + Angular 9
  • (If you don’t have one of the above you can pick it up quickly)
  • You are a strong Techie with excellent problem-solving skills + can learn a new framework easily
  • Cloud Azure exposure
  • South African citizenship
  • This team don’t care much for the degrees/accolades, but rather: passion, vision & purpose

Reference Number for this position is ND50436-2020 which is a permanent position based Remotely with the Head office in Sandton offering a cost to company salary of R1.05mil CTC negotiable on experience and ability. Contact Nicole D on or call her on 011 463 3633 to discuss this and other opportunities.

Are you ready for a change of scenery? E-Merge IT Recruitment is a specialist niche recruitment agency. We offer our candidates options so that we can successfully place the right developers with the right companies in the right roles. Check out the e-Merge website www.e-merge.co.za for more great positions.

Do you have a friend who is a developer or technology specialist? We pay cash for successful referrals!

Posted on 14 Aug 12:42

Mid-Level Digital/Online Graphic Designer (Johannesburg)

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Remuneration: Negotiable depending on experience 
Location: Johannesburg, Jet Park, East Rand
Job level: Mid
Own transport required: Yes
Type: Permanent

A print and marketing company in the East of Johannesburg is seeking a mid-level digital/online graphic designer.

We are looking for a highly creative and out of the box thinker/who has a competitive edge, approaching any project with an understanding of the current design trends in digital (web, mobile, email) and social media design.

Main skills, knowledge and behaviours:

  • Conceptualise and create digital campaigns (newsletter, social media)as well as offline (print, products), company websites and marketing materials.
  • Create branding and printing materials, packaging, and supporting documents for company products.
  • Should be involved in the creation and execution of effective design campaigns across multiple platforms for all target markets.
  • Understanding of the printing process and specifications, brand identity and translate the brand message accordingly as well as the digital marketing environment and social media.
  • Familiarity with production and rendering methods, including drawing, offset printing, photography and interactive media.
  • Can confidently execute and craft across different multimedia (social and digital media) platforms and have an inherent understanding of how to translate creative ideas into these visual specs.
  • Ability to create online display advertising campaigns by designing creative elements suited to promote various brands through various online platforms, including desktop, tablet and mobile.
  • You need to be self-motivated, show initiative and thrive under pressure and show a professional work ethic at all times.
  • Highly creative and able to produce exceptional ideas and high-quality work.
  • Being trustworthy and credible.
  • Effective internal and external communication.
  • Time ad project management skills.
  • Intelligent, enthusiastic, resourceful and a team player.
  • Prepared to work occasional overtime when required.
  • Meticulous attention to detail.
  • Exceptional design skills and attention to details.
  • Good admin skills.
  • Able to interact on all levels.

Preferred minimum education and experience:

  • Recognised tertiary diploma/degree in visual communications and/or multimedia design/or proven graphic design experience in a similar field such as art/textile/product design.
  • A strong portfolio of illustrations or other graphics.
  • Three+ years of proven graphic/digital and multimedia design experience (agency experience preferred).
  • Fluent level in Adobe Creative Suite;- Adobe Creative Suite (Adobe Photoshop/Adobe InDesign/Adobe Illustrator/Dreamweaver/Adobe After Effects/Adobe Premiere Pro/Adobe Animate)
  • HTML
  • MS Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
  • iOS
  • WordPress
  • PrestaShop
  • Google web designer
  • Final Cut Pro (optional)
  • Experience translating designs into HTML and CSS

Shortlisted candidates will participate in a project-simulation to showcase their skills, in order to move to the final interview stage. Should you meet the requirement for this position, please email your Curriculum Vitae with contactable references – Only CVs with portfolios will be considered. Please ensure the portfolio is under 10MB in size. Own reliable vehicle and valid SA drivers license.

Please submit CVs with a portfolio to the email address:

Posted on 14 Aug 11:48