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Opportunity Issue 92 - Nov-Dec 2019

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Re-Solving a critical

Re-Solving a critical issue There is no life without water. Re-Solve Consulting provides advanced solutions for preserving a critical resource. PROFILE With a track record that covers more than 200 projects providing advanced water and environmental engineering solutions, Re-Solve Consulting (Pty) Ltd has seen considerable growth since its establishment in 2005. Now operating out of 10 offices across the country, Re-Solve’s client base spans the public and private sector, including municipalities, metros, utilities, research organizations, international and local development agencies and mining and industrial companies. Currently, for example, Re-Solve is working on private sector projects that include remediation interventions of water and sanitation supply at rural schools. For the public sector, current projects range from a water loss project for an Eastern Cape District Municipality, through to a shared cost and water savings initiative for a national government department. Earlier private sector projects include water use licence agreement, preliminary dam design and environmental impact assessment for a major diamond mine, and the detailed design and construction for road, storm water, water and sanitation infrastructure for a proposed housing development for a national property development group. For the public sector, projects have included the assessment and installation of bulk water meters and management information systems for an Mpumalanga District Municipality and the assessment of an unaccounted water programme for a metro in Gauteng. True to its name, Re-Solve seeks to address the technical, social, environmental and economic developmental challenges faced by South Africa, as they relate to water service delivery, provision and maintenance of infrastructure, system inefficiencies, application of technology, institutional arrangements and capacity development. Working both with municipalities and private consultants, Re-Solve’s cost effective interventions have resulted in drastic water savings and reduced water losses, thus creating the desired efficiencies, as well as creating greater awareness around this threatened resource. The company offers the water sector a comprehensive solution from planning, to project management and contract administration. Specialized services are offered in management of water demand, water supply and water loss; climate change adaptation and mitigation; and developmental engineering. Services are offered through a network of offices in Gauteng, Eastern Cape, Western Cape, the Free State and the North West, bringing Re-Solve’s advanced technical skills and service excellence right to the doorstep of its client base. Focused on the Southern African region, the company has conducted work in all nine provinces of South Africa, as well as in Lesotho, Swaziland, Mozambique, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. Re-Solve’s industry-leading expertise is underpinned by the application of international best practice, advanced technologies and innovation, in addition to a network of partners from financial institutions to water testing laboratories. This enables it to provide a holistic approach to meeting its clients’ needs and to delivering on its commitment to make a difference to communities of Southern Africa by preserving and saving the increasingly at risk water sources. Above: Installation of pressure reducing valve. Left: Construction to secure borehole chamber. The company holds level 6CE grading with the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) and has Level 2 B-BEE certification. Visit Re-Solve’s website at www.re-solve.co.za for further information and for contact details. 16 | www.opportunityonline.co.za

PROFILE Be proactive with probiotics Treating gastrointestinal disorders with probiotics Probiotics are being used and perhaps more often than not as a treatment for a variety of gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. Disturbances of bacterial microflora of the GI tract may play an important role in the pathophysiology of some GI disorders. It appears that probiotics being used as a treatment modality may have originated more than a century ago. It may restore normal microflora bacterial colonies and effect the functioning of the GI tract by a variety of mechanisms.Probiotics are not currently regulated and only few authoritative randomised controlled trials exist investigating their efficacy in different GI disorders. The efficacy of probiotics, as either a single strain or a combination of probiotics, has been assessed in antibiotic associated diarrhoea, Clostridium difcile colitis, infectious diarrhoea, and irritable bowel syndrome, among other disorders. Today, we are aware that there are beneficial enteric micro-organisms and other potentially harmful ones and that the former can be used to influence or counteract the work of the latter. Some micro-organisms, known as probiotics, when present in adequate amounts in the gut, are able to interact with the host influencing the immune response and produce a range of gastrointestinal and systemic benefits. Intestinal flora are affected by the intake of certain foods, which in turn stimulate the increase of useful bacteria within the intestine in order to replace the pathogenous species, which, on the contrary, caused damage. The definition of probiotic bacteria agreed on is the following: ‘‘Living micro-organisms, that when included in foods, can influence the composition and activity of the gut microbiota, modulate the inflammatory response, improve the non-specifc intestinal barrier, and reinforce or modulate the mucosal and the systemic immune responses.’’ Use of probiotics in gastrointestinal disorders Infectious diarrhoea In the treatment and prevention of infectious diarrhoea, the use of probiotics may be appropriate in order to reduce the duration of symptoms. It also appears that the bacteria are able to reduce the duration and frequency of infectious diarrhoea. Antibiotic-associated diarrhoea (AAD) Diarrhoea caused by antibiotics represents a form that occurs in conjunction with oral antibiotic use. The incidence and severity of AAD depend upon the specific type of antibiotic, the health of the host and exposure to pathogens. It results from an imbalance in the colonic microbiota caused by antibiotic therapy. It appears that almost all oral antibiotics, particularly those with activity towards anaerobic bacteria, can cause AAD. Investigations about the importance of a balance of intestinal flora have justified the use of probiotics in the treatment of this disease, and a number of studies have been performed on how to prevent AAD. Reference available on request. KEEPS THE COLON HEALTHY COLON HEALTHY KEEPS THE COLON HEALTHY ALL PROBIOTICS ARE NOT THE SAME. ALL PROBIOTICS INSIST ON QUATROFLORA® ARE NOT SAME. ALL ALL PROBIOTICS INSIST KEEPS PROBIOTICS ON QUATROFLORA® THE ARE NOT ARE THE NOT SAME. THE SAME. INSIST ON QUATROFLORA® COLON HEALTHY INSIST ON QUATROFLORA R One of the greatest challenges for human wellbeing in the 21st century will be to focus on the advantage of having a healthy colon and therefore a good immune system – this is where probiotics can play a significant role. ALL Probiotics PROBIOTICS are critical ARE for normal NOT digestion THE SAME. and INSIST for defence ON QUATROFLORA® against infection. Bacteria in the gut are known to: • ALL Stimulate PROBIOTICS the immune ARE system NOT THE SAME. INSIST ON QUATROFLORA® • Enhance the mucosal barrier • Aid digestion and break down toxins • Inhibit adherence of pathogens A good probiotic can be beneficial in the following ailments: • Diarrhoea or constipation • Bad breath, gas and bloating • Irritable bowel and lactose Intolerance • Replenish intestinal bacteria after colonoscopy Tel: 041 378 1189 | sales@betapharm.co.za www.betapharm.co.za QuatroFlora TM capsules contain the following strains of probiotic bacteria for improving gastro-intestinal health and well-being: Bifidobacterium, B12, Lactobacillus acidophilus, LA-5, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, LBY-27 and Streptococcus themophilus, STY-31 This product is not intended to diagnose, cure or prevent any disease. Clinical documentation available on request. This product has not been evaluated by the MCC.

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