Almost ten years ago a 22-year-old woman was told that she was HIV-positive, news that would change her life forever. Today, she runs one of the most successful civil society activist groups, widely credited for many advances in the lives of people living with HIV.
Read More » TAC: The next step
When a tall and scrawny Bongani Masalaza (37) of Khayelitsha was diagnosed with HIV in 1997 there was no antiretroviral (ARV) treatment available and he would battle to survive for 11 long years before he finally accessed the life prolonging drugs.
Read More » ARVs gave me my life back
JOHANNESBURG: PlusNews) - Recent studies have shown that antiretroviral [ARV] drugs can reduce the risk of HIV-infection but for researchers and governments - the research raises more questions than answers about its implementation.
Read More » HIV prevention drugs raise more questions than answers
When all is said and done, the ultimate tool needed to control the most devastating infectious disease in the world's history, is an HIV vaccine.
Read More » Vaccine remains elusive, but some progressOn Tuesday morning last week, news was shared with the world from the New England Journal of Medicine which caused the United States President of the United States to say from the White House: 'I am encouraged by this announcement of groundbreaking research on HIV prevention. While more work is needed, these kinds of studies could mark the beginning of a new era in HIV prevention. As this research continues, the importance of using proven HIV prevention methods cannot be overstated.'
Read More » A light at the end of the prevention tunnel’¦
Huge strides are being made in HIV prevention, but despite the good news there remains an urgent need for an intervention that addresses the higher infection rates among women and current hopes are pinned on a microbicide.
Read More » A microbicide critical
The South African National AIDS Council (SANAC) has become a 'talkshop' that is failing to lead the country's fight against AIDS because it is poorly resourced, lacks leadership and there is confusion over its role.
Read More » Untangling SANAC
South Africa has broken barriers to fight HIV/AIDS and the stigma attached to it, yet but the battle is not yet over. As World AIDS Day is observed almost 30 years on, Ayanda Yeni of Health-e News Service spoke to South Africans and asked them if they thought HIV was still a stigma.
Read More » Fighting HIV stigma’¦ are we there yet?
The media is full of reports of teenagers indiscriminately having sex and even going as far as filming it. This has led to a public outcry. But what makes young people to engage in risky behaviour? Ayanda Yeni of Health-e News Service visited a school in Brits, in the North West province, where teen pregnancy is rife.
Read More » Festive fever’ for teens could have bad implications
As the government seeks to make HIV testing the norm, some in the health field are suggesting that HIV home testing kits should be promoted as part of the strategy. But should HIV testing be left to individuals - under little or no supervision? Ayanda Yeni, of Health-e News Service, takes up the story.
Read More » HIV home testing – should we or shouldn’t we?
The mortality rate in South Africa is decreasing. But more men than women continue to die due to natural causes, with Tuberculosis and pneumonia being the two leading causes of death. This is according to Statistics South Africa, which recently released its report on mortality and causes of death.
Read More » How South Africans dieThe Zulu King has invited the almost 18,000 men who have been circumsized in KwaZulu-Natal this year to form a special regiment to fight HIV and women and child abuse.
Read More » Regiment for circumcised menDepression over his HIV status and the constant taunting of an abusive relative led Lebo Kabanyane to the brink of suicide.
Read More » ‘Let me kill myself’After learning that she was HIV positive while pregnant, Veronica Dira withdrew from the world ' physically and psychologically.
Read More » Veronica decides to dieA cadre of about 65 000 men and women work in the public health sector under various titles. Commonly known as community health workers, they are often the foot soldiers and the eyes and ears of the health department at grass-roots level. But there are concerns that this cadre of health workers is not appropriately recognised ' both in terms of payment and the development of further career prospects.
Read More » The plight of community health workers Living with AIDS # 459