Interview via email with Tyrone Nell : 2 February 2010.
I have been looking for young people (gay and straight) in order to assess the level of awareness and responsibility young people take for their health. The old norm of “going to the doctor when you are sick” is outdated and with information readily available there is no excuse for ignorance anymore. I will be posting a few interviews with prominent people between the ages 18 to 30 in order to find out the level of awareness of various medical tests and screenings that is available.
I started by doing an interview with Tyrone Nell. Tyrone is a model and works as a business consultant in Durban. My initial approach is captured below as well as the interview.
Please let us know your ideas and opinions on this subject and if you would like to complete the survey as well please feel free to drop me an email and I will gladly send it on to you.
Initial approach to Tyrone: We want to get young people to be aware to start screening for disease early rather than later so it is just about awareness. Seeming that you are well connected and an icon people look up to you we thought if we interview you we can get young people (gay and straight) to follow the trend and take responsibility for their medical status. Will you be willing to answer some questions in our interview?
Interview via email with Tyrone Nell : 2 February 2010.
How old are you now Tyrone?
I am 22
1 Do you think it is important that young people go to a doctor and have screening medicals done? If so why? Absolutely, in the past this was not much of a concern but as the world becomes more populated and more illnesses and sicknesses develop and more people start coming into contact with each other I believe that it is definitely important to know your medical status and have screenings done etc.
2 Do you have any illnesses in your family (mom / dad / brothers / sisters)? I have a very mild case of Asthma; it used to be a lot worse when I was younger.
3 Do you know what your blood pressure / sugar / cholesterol levels are? When last have you had yours tested? I had mine tested towards the end of last year, it was actually promoted in the work place. My blood pressure was higher than what it was supposed to be but they advised me on it and I am okay now.
4 Do you have friends who suffer with any chronic diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol or asthma? Yes, I know quite a few friends with these problems especially diabetes and high blood pressure. I am actually amazed by the rise in number of people I know with these illnesses.
5 Do you think it is important for couples to come for HIV screening? As a sign of respect for one another (I really wanna promote this in the gay & straight community!) If you are involved did you and your partner screen before you got seriously involved? Yes, I believe that this is very important. Both I and my partner have been tested. It is important that you know your status and I also believe you should be tested at least once a year, if so with your partner. It also brings around a sense of trust.
6 Would you like to be involved in getting more of our gay community health conscious being a gay model and icon in SA? Certainly, but I definitely believe that this should be aimed and not just the gay community but the straight community as well, especially young adults.
7 The last time you visited a doctor did you walk out understanding fully what the diagnosis was and the medication you were using, thus feeling empowered? Did you feel 100% satisfied? If NOT what would be your suggestion to doctors in SA? The last time, yes, I felt confident about the service and treatment I received, but I can recall more times than often where I did not feel 100% satisfied.
8 Do you think young gay guys take responsibility for their health and risk factors? If not how do you think can we get them more conscious and involved? I have seen an increase in guys becoming more health conscious, but I also see a lot of young guys still not taking responsibility. I know that some of the varsities have big health drives, as well as club Legends has their ‘know your status’ party every year, I think those are definitely ways to get to the younger crowd more conscious and involved.
9 How many times have you visited your doctor in the last 5 years? I visit a doctor at least 3 times a year, not only when I am sick, but for checkups as well. I like to believe that I am quite a healthy person and that I do not need the doctor that often, but it is good to know that everything is okay.
Read more about Tyrone here:
Tyrone on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/tyrone.nell.fan
Tyrone’s Blog: http://www.tyronemodel.blogspot.com
Tyrone on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Scootersa
Contact MediCape Clinic here:
Shop c104, First floor, Cape Quarter, de Waterkant, Cape Town, South Africa, 8000
Tel: 021-801-8193 / 0825579366 / 0825216986
Dr David van den Bergh: medicape.david@gmail.com
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