In preparation for the testing of an AIDS vaccine early next year, medical workers find that the real test they have to deal with now is the recruitment of people to participate in the trials for the vaccine initiative. One hospital encountering this challenge is the Chris Hani-Baragwanath Hospital, in Soweto. Keletso Mmoledi, a Research Nurse and Co-ordinator of the hospital's Vaccine Research Unit, talks about efforts to encourage people to register as participants for the trial programme. This report is in Sesotho.

How does a child begin to understand that her mother is going to die because of AIDS? This is the story of the Letsoalo children, who live in the village of Segoreya, Mentz, outside Pietersburg in the Northern Province. The head of this family is a young, unemployed, widowed HIV-positive mother. She lives with her five children in a one-roomed corrugated iron house. Like many other families in South Africa who have someone who is HIV-positive, the Letsoalo's experience rejection in their community. And it is the children who suffer the most. This audio report is in Sesotho.

A frequently asked question by those who might consider volunteeting to be part of the Phase One trials to test for an AIDS vaccine in South Africa is, "how will this benefit me?" Keletso Mmoledi, a Research Nurse and Co-ordinator of the Aids Vaccine Research Unit at the Chris Hani-Baragwanath Hospital, talks about some of these benefits. This report is in Sesotho.

In 1998 the Department of Education started a sex education pilot programme in public schools to teach young people about the dangers of unprotected sex and the need for responsible sexual behaviour. In South Africa, statistics show that the prevalence of HIV/AIDS is more rife among the youth from age 15 to 25. Last year, the Department of Education formally introduced the Sex Education Programme, as part of the Life Skills Project in schools. Harry Gwala High School, in the Western Cape is one of the few schools that is implementing the project. This audio report in Sesotho and English.

Medical practitioners and researchers are working against time to find a vaccine against AIDS in South Africa. The first Phase One human trials are scheduled for early next year at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto. Other sites around the country will also conduct trials as soon as they are ready. Keletso Mmoledi, is a Research Nurse and Co-ordinator of the hospital's Vaccine Research Unit. Here she tells us where they are with the process. This audio report is in Sesotho.