Zac Abel

Rhodes Scholar // Oxford Health and Development economics // Management consultant // Lover of all things outside (apart from the English winter)

[Zac Abel @Zabel_R]

The first paper of my DPhil is out - looking at inequities in perceived challenges to accessing health systems during the COVID-19 Pandemic!

[Economics of Population Health Research Centre @EPH_Oxford]

NEW PUBLICATION

Access to healthcare services during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional analysis of income and user-access across 16 economically diverse countries

Zachary Abel, @larryroope, @RayDuch, @pmc868

https://t.co/m5ozJd3EyZ

[Brent Lindeque @BrentLindeque]

To the small island who once ruled the world… come the men who do.

24 years ago, Nike released this advert. It’s trending on social media again. I watched it this morning and it made me cry.

I bumped into a neighbour yesterday who has lived in South Africa for 5 years and we were talking about the upcoming game. She’s heading down to our Clubhouse to watch it… as most of us are. And she was telling me how excited she is for South Africa. She’s originally from America but will be wearing her Green and Gold tonight.

We started talking about the heart of rugby in our country.

You see, the Bokke don’t just play a sport, they play with everything they have. They play for every single South African. They play to remind us who we are. And they play to show us who we can be.

My neighbour said, “There is no other nation that does that. It’s so beautiful.”

She ignited a core memory in me.

It was 1995. The Rugby World Cup was the first major sporting event to take place in South Africa following the end of apartheid. We were the hosts. It was also the first World Cup in which we were allowed to compete.

I was sitting on the floor with my brother and sister watching. My folks were on the couch. There was this intense feeling of trepidation. We needed to win. Our country needed to win.

“But how do you remember that? You must have been so young?” My neighbour asked.

Because it was the first time we felt like one nation. Undivided. It was the first time our country was standing behind a new president and a new flag - together. Nelson Mandela made us believe that we were the rainbow nation. He gave us hope that as a country, we could become more than what we were before. We could rewrite our history.

When that last whistle blew our entire team dropped to their knees crying, the crowd flying the new South African flags higher than high and then Nelson Mandela made his way to the pitch to meet Francois Pienaar.

Something was ignited in us all.

The spirit and heart of how rugby brings South Africans together.

So ja, our team don’t just play a sport. They play with everything they have. They play for every single South African. They play to remind us who we are. And they play to show us who we can be.

Win or lose, they play to bring us together.

To the Bokke today, noma ngabe kwenzekani namuhla, iNingizimu Afrika iyaziqhenya ngani. Ngiyabonga Bokke!

Searching for the best in me, I will fight for what I can be. If I win, lose or draw, there's a winner in us all! It's the world in union. The world as one. As we climb to reach our destiny. A new age has begun.

For South Africa!

Okay. Love you.

[Ulrich Janse van Vuuren @UlrichJvV]

While I was going through security at OR Tambo International Airport, an American tourist standing in line behind me struck up an interesting conversation.

He was from Atlanta, Georgia travelling on a work trip to the UK, when he spontaneously decided to take a detour flight down to South Africa to fulfill his dream of visiting somewhere in Africa before turning 50.

In the days he spent here, he explored the sights around Johannesburg, toured Soweto, and saw lions, rhinos and other wildlife in reserves around the city.

His excitement was palpable. "Back in the States, what we learned about South Africa was all wrong," he enthused. "The city, the wildlife, the culture - it's all so amazing! Everyone needs to experience this! Just look at this impressive airport!" As he continued to share his plans to return, I couldn't help but feel so much pride.

As we moved through security, he eagerly shared his tales with the next person behind us in line, spreading his joy. Witnessing his enthusiasm having seen just a small part of South Africa and his eagerness to come back soon made me deeply grateful and proud of my home.

[UCI @UCI_cycling]

The Holiday season is already upon us!

You can win one of our @Santini_SMS gifts every advent Sunday 🎅🏻🎄until Christmas, with this week a limited edition hoodie

👉 Retweet this post for a chance to win!

[Tulio de Oliveira @Tuliodna]

To keep sane these days one needs to laugh... Please see this 20sec video on the travel ban to Southern Africa

[Gaibrie Stephen @SGaibrie]

The Federal Government is banning travel to Canada from 7 African countries amidst the Omicron variant.

Why African countries specifically? Why not Hong Kong, Belgium or Israel where this variant is present?

Go ahead, explain it to me precisely why.

[Dr. Lucky Tran @luckytran]

Pandemic policy for colonizers:

1. Hoard vaccines + block IP waiver & tech transfer

2. Drop public health measures, leading to mass infection & new variants

3. Blame & ban countries for doing science & detecting new variants, even though you likely created the problem

[Ridhwaan Suliman @rid1tweets]

Is the travel ban to/from South Africa really justified? Should the UK not be looking closer to home? 🤔
The continent (Europe) is surging yet we fear that which is now named! 🤨
#B11529 #NuVariant #COVID19

[Dawie Scholtz @DawieScholtz]

Stating the obvious here, but we have competitive electoral democracy in South Africa now.

Exciting times.

[Geoffrey York @geoffreyyork]

Over 75% of workers at Gold Fields South Deep Mine now fully vaccinated. New infections have dropped from 28% (mid-July) to 1% (Sept). No new hospital admissions since Aug. “The vaccine significantly reduces the likelihood of Covid and the severity of illness," company says.

[Zac Abel @Zabel_R]

SA Red list decision must be due to bad blood resulting from Lions’ series loss… 👀 would be the least damaging excuse propping up poor science at this point. The alternatives being even more embarrassing/sinister and deep-rooted than a schoolboy tantrum. Shame either way.

[UK in South Africa🇬🇧🇿🇦 @ukinsouthafrica]

We recognise positive developments in SA - cases going down, data on variants of concern improving and vaccinations rising. While a small number of cases, we remain concerned about the continued presence of Beta given its potential ability to circumvent vaccines.

[Lloyds Tour of Britain @TourofBritain]

The real race we're here for!

Nicely done, @PascalEenkhoorn 🙌

📺 Watch stage seven live on ITV4

#TourOfBritain 🔵⚪🔵

[Zac Abel @Zabel_R]

One of South Africa’s best ❤️❤️

[RideShimano @RideShimano]

The G.O.A.T strikes again! Congratulations @gregminnaar on World Cup Victory #22 🥇 #ShimanoMTB

[Team South Africa @OfficialTeamRSA]

LEAPING TO GOLD!!! 🥇🇿🇦

#TeamSA
#ParaAthletics
#Paralympics

[Team South Africa @OfficialTeamRSA]

This is what it means to win GOLD!!
😭🇿🇦❤️@AnRUNel

#TeamSA
#ParaAthletics
#Paralympics

[Zac Abel @Zabel_R]

@Jess_Auerbach @bkpublishing I think elbow to elbow with subtitle for sure 😌

[Jonathan Jansen @JJ_Stellies]

10. Truth is, you only have one life. Don’t screw it up. Take the damn shot.

[SACS @SACSHIGH]

We will soon be installing about 190 solar panels on our roof. All surplus energy being sent back to @CityofCT grid.
#Sustainability #GreenEnergy

[SANTACO @SA_Taxis]

Our Association in Tshwane has taken over the protection of 3 malls in Soshanguve and the momentum is gaining ground

[Zac Abel @Zabel_R]

True champion and role model!

[Nicholas Dlamini @nich_dlamini]

Yesterday was brutal - rain, cold and a crash just colluded to make it extra difficult on an already tough stage. Despite knowing I was out of the time limit, I was determined to finish the stage and honour the world’s most prestigious race @LeTour