AIDS activists have launched a contempt of court application against Mpumalanga Health MEC Sibongile Manana for failing to implement the Constitutional Court'€™s order on preventing mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV. The Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) also called on the African National Congress, Government and the health department to remove Manana. The court application was this week made to the Pretoria High Court against Manana and Health minister Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang.

After months of speculation, the first independent and nationally representative study of HIV/AIDS in South Africa released in Johannesburg today (Thursday) revealed several shock findings. Anso Thom reports.

HIV prevention messages appear to be having an impact on the sexual behaviour of South Africans who also have a very clear understanding of the key aspects of HIV/AIDS.

The provision of ARV (anti-retro-viral) therapy should be fast-tracked, generic ARV drugs should be produced in South Africa and VAT should be removed from medicines the Nelson Mandela/HSRC Study on HIV/AIDS has recommended.

South Africans have modified sexual behaviour in the face of the HIV/AIDs epidemic the Nelson Mandela/Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) study of HIV/AIDS has found. Anso Thom reports.

Almost all South Africans are in favour of implementing anti-retroviral therapy to HIV-positive pregnant mothers and those people living with HIV/AIDS, a Human Sciences Research Council survey has revealed.

While activists, big business, government and HIV/AIDS groups squabble about whether anti-retrovirals should be dispensed in the public health sector, a pilot project in Guguletu, Cape Town, has quietly gone ahead, successfully treating 150 people in a primary health care setting. Anso Thom of Health-e News Service reports.

West Africa, the poorest region in the world, is preparing to treat 400 000 HIV positive people with anti-retrovirals within the next three years. This translates into anti-retroviral access for at least one-third of the people in the region in need of treatment. Currently, some 10 000 people in West Africa have access to anti-retroviral treatment.

In a move that could be viewed as another positive step towards the roll out of anti-retroviral treatment for HIV positive adults, activists have reviewed their December 1 deadline and have agreed to give Government until the end of February to adopt a national treatment plan.

Almost every promise made by rich donors to stop the rampant devastation malaria is causing in Africa has become a piece of paper on a shelf, according to Jeffrey Sachs special advisor to United Nations Secretary General Koffi Anan.

South Africa's Medicines Control Council will have to wait until the end of the year for a report from the United States which will guide its decision on whether to review the registration of nevirapine for the prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV.

Underweight mothers and children, unsafe sex, high blood pressure, tobacco and alcohol are the leading contributors to the global burden of disease, according to the World Health Report.