Behind the Frontline

03/10/2021

What is health? ⚕️

'Health is not only the absence of disease. It is the complete physical, psychological and social well-being' - World Health Organization.

My name is Dr Adil Khan and am your guide to becoming a 'Healthy Humxn'. Let's journey to evidence-based health and wellbeing... but in an entertaining way! 😅💯

With this in mind, BTF Blog is now reimagined as ‘HealthyHumxns’ 🙌🏽

You can expect content that’s factual and referenced but entertaining and relatable 🤓🎭

Click on the link in my bio for social media profiles.

And remember to keep asking - 'how can I change the world?' 🌍🖤

(PS: Grammar N***s, ‘Humxns’ is not a typo 🙄 It’s the gender neutral and non-discriminatory spelling ☺️)

30/09/2021

Bullying, discrimination and mental health challenges of healthcare professionals needs more attention

Last night, I hosted an inspiring conversation about these challenges We heard stories of working on the frontline during Covid from and who so bravely shared their vulnerabilities with us.

We unpacked the systemic drivers of mental health in the profession with Dr Cyan Brown.

And we were inspired by who has shown us what true leadership is. The interventions she has introduced is groundbreaking 🙌🏽

If you missed the live, check out the recording in my profile.

My healthcare professionals colleagues, help is nearer than you think! Here are some free resources to support you in becoming your best you 🖤

1 - 5: Anti-bullying posters developed by UKZN 🙌🏽 Feel free to repost and share it at your institutions. DM for the PDF versions if needed.
6. Free 24 hour mental health support line for Junior Drs and medical students. It’s run by and
7: Free mental health support for healthcare workers - Frontline refuge.
8: Free mental health support for healthcare workers - Healthcare Worker Care Network
9: Clinician mentorship program - YoungMD

Check out the links in my bio to access these support network 👌🏽

And remember, it’s okay to not be okay. Help is nearer than you think! 🖤

27/09/2021

Should the ‘world’s oldest profession’ be decriminalised? 🚨

S*x work is a consensual transaction between adults, without the violation of human rights (contrast with human trafficking).

S*x workers are often shunned from society and prone to abuse from clients, police and even healthcare providers.

Decriminalising recognises these people as workers whose occupational hazards needs regulating. Decriminalisation respects human rights and dignity, it offers protection from abuse and improves access to healthcare and justice.

But s*x work is steeped in religious and societal taboo. There are moral considerations and health hazards that decriminalisation will not address.

Nonetheless, should a state be allowed to dictate control over people’s bodies? 🤔

What’s your view?

PS -
1. ‘S*x worker’ is the preferred term as chosen by s*x workers. ‘Prostitute, Ho**er, Prossie’ etc are deeply offensive and insensitive terms.
2. S*x work is NOT the same as human trafficking, wherein people have no agency. Conflating the two is counterproductive.
3. An emotive topic! I’m hoping for considered and respectful views please.

For more information about s*x worker advocacy, follow .org.za

21/09/2021

Thank you for the exposure!

If you’re working in the clinical space, give this home-grown medical app a try. It’s a wonderful tool to manage your ‘wardwork’. By docs for docs 💯 Lots of free ‘perx’ too 👏🏽👏🏽

I wish I had this app during internship instead of those A4 Hardcover Jimmy books 😭😭🤣 … What a terrible flashback! 😅

PS: post not sponsored. Wardworx believes in changing the healthcare system, starting with the people ✊🏾 Our values are aligned 🙌🏽

20/09/2021

Political or apolitical healthcare?

Healthcare is a sector that serves the people. A sector that rises above political qualms and just gets the job, of saving lives, done 💯

This narrative is engrained in you as a health professional trained in a low and middle income country. It’s essentially the mantra of ‘Doctors Without Borders’ - to go where the need is, irrespective of politics.

But politics is life.
We cannot escape it.

Politics determines policy. Politics determines the public health of a community through all the social determinants of health. Smoking laws, housing projects, vaccination campaigns, health resource allocation and many more are political debates that sometimes bypass us as health professionals - despite it significantly affecting population level health.

So should we remain apolitical or should we get our hands dirty and fight for these broader health determinants? Or are we better placed serving our people on the grassroots level with empathy and compassion?

Do we need more healthcare professionals in politics? 🥼 To ensure health is top of mind in all policies... Or is that a waste of a ‘Frontline Hero’? 🤔

19/09/2021

The pandemic has taught that as a society, us we need to invest more in healthcare ⚕️

And what’s the greatest asset in healthcare? The people 🥼

So it may shock you to hear about the toxic working conditions of our healthcare system’s most valuable assets. Challenging working conditions, workplace bullying and discrimination are daily hazards faced by our ‘frontline heroes’. The result is rising mental health challenges amongst healthcare professionals and reduced health service delivery to all of us.

1 year ago, I released ‘Behind the Frontline’ my debut documentary about the toxic working conditions my colleagues and I face in South Africa. To commentate, please join for an IG live on Wednesday 29 Sep at 7 PM (GMT +2)

I’m joined by two junior Drs and who will share their experiences of working in the frontline during Covid.

I’m joined too by Dr Cyan Brown, who recently released a documentary looking at the mental health of Drs titled ‘A Quiet Implosion’.

And lastly, I’m delighted to chat with who is a champion of junior Dr rights and will share the initiatives she started to address academic bullying at her institution.

If you have not seen the documentary yet, click in the link in my bio 📽

I’m looking forward to having this conversation with you!

Keep changing the world 🌎 🖤

13/09/2021

Single-s*x or co-ed?

It’s a question many parents with young kids ask sooner or later! My wife and I are definitely pro co-ed. Neither of us went to a single-s*x school. We cannot see the value in it and only see the negatives.

So I’m genuinely curious - is there still a place for single-s*x schooling in the 21st century?

If there is, please school me 👨🏾‍🎓 Teachers?Educational psychologists?

Did you attend a single-s*x school? What were the pros or cons?

Are you an LQBTIQAP+ person? I’m really interested in your unique perspectives. Do you feel heard in this debate at all? What are your experiences?

07/09/2021

Sleeves up and Jab! 💉🟢🥚
By Dr Khan

Oh that Covid Jab
That Covid Jab
I do not want
That Covid Jab

Would take it for me and you?
Would take it for others too?
I will not take it for me and you
I will not take it for others too

Will you take it for your family?
Will you take it for the elderly?
I will not take it for my family
I will not take it for the elderly

Will you take it when there’s stock?
Will you take it from you doc?
I will not take it when there’s stock
I will not take it from my doc

Will you take it at your work?
Will you take it for a perk?
I will not take it at my work
I will not take it for a perk

Will you take it in a car?
Will you take it in a bar?
I will not take it in a car
I will not take it in a bar

Will you take it for a prize?
Will you take it for a surprise?
I will not take it for a prize
I will not take it for a surprise

Do you know that’s it’s free?
Do you that’s safe for you and me?
Take it soon do not wait
Take it soon before it’s too late

There are lots of myths online
Get facts first then opine

You do not want it so you say
Read and listen and you may
Ask and learn and you may
I say

Doc! I took the jab!
Now I know we all must jab!

And we must take it for a prize
And we must take it for a surprise
And we must take it in a car
And we must take It in a bar
And we must take it at our work
And we must take it for a perk
And we must take it when there’s stock
And we must take it at the doc
And we must take it for our family
And we must take it for the elderly
And we must take it for me and you
And we must take it for others too

I do so want the Covid Jab
I do so want it, the Covid Jab

💉💉💉💉💉💉💉💉💉

11/08/2021

This we’re celebrating the advances in gender equity in recent times. But we’re also reflecting on how far we need to go to actualize a world of worthy of our women.

As I journey on a path of advocacy for healthy equity and social justice, it can be quite lonely at times. There are times when you question why you’re investing so much time and effort into something without tangible rewards. You consider just stopping because… am I even making a difference?

I’ve been searching for signs that I am on the right path. Signs that the pain and suffering we see around us will eventually come to an end. Signs that this inequitable and divided world is worth investing in.

But the signs are there. There are so many incredible interventions which are addressing global social justice challenges. We need to believe that change will come and remember that ‘with every hardship comes ease’ [Quraan 94:5]

Born 1st August, the 1st of Women’s month, our first daughter arrived in an era of gender inequity. For me, she is a sign that I need to continue advocating for social change. A sign that I need to continue the fight against toxic masculinity and gender inequity. A sign that I need to advocate for intersectional feminism.

A sign that I need to have faith that change will occur and a sign that we’ll soon have a world worthy of her.

Aayah (‘Sign’, ‘sign of God’s greatness’) may you be the sign of change in the world. The sign that God is closer than we think. The sign of love, compassion and justice.

Love you long time baby girl 🖤

08/06/2021

Lessons learned and we go again this Friday! ☺️💉
Bring your elderly folk to register at Habibia mosque. Come with your vaccine questions as well.
Side note: this is for registration only and no vaccines will be given.
Side note 2: we’re looking for people to assist! Please DM if you’re keen to volunteer. No medical training needed 👌🏽

04/06/2021

It’s true that junior doctors need much more support than a day of fanciful sock selfies.
But peeps, don’t let detractors gaslight you. Your solidarity with junior doctors this day is not insignificant 💯 Yes we need more sustained effort.
Yes we need top down solutions. Yes we need a culture shift in the profession.

But we also need the voices and stories of the affected to be heard. We also need days like these to ‘shine a light’ on an age old problem. We also need junior doctors to know they are not alone and that it’s ‘okay to not be okay’ ✊🏾

We’re all striving for the same outcomes and the destructive narrative of ‘your sock selfie solidarity is cool and all, but...’ needs to be questioned. Activism is multifaceted. Allow people to express it in a way they feel comfortable - especially if it’s coming from the marginalized themselves!

As someone who is vocal about the plight of junior drs 364 days a year, I welcome the support today. Please continue to show support. Yes, I would love continuous support which ultimately leads to a systemic shift in culture and treatment of junior doctors, but let’s not disregard allyship when it’s presented to us 🤷🏽‍♂️

Junior doctor fam, keep the energy. Keep doing you. Haters gon hate irrespective. You are enough and you are worthy ✊🏾

04/06/2021