Health professionals at the Universities of Cape Town and the Witwatersrand have called on government to respond more effectively to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. They expressed concern that the epidemic was "out of control" in South Africa and listed several key measures, including the provision of antiretroviral drugs, that they believed government should implement to address the situation.
A handful of countries continue to achieve a downward trend while in the rest of the world, especially sub-Saharan Africa, the AIDS epidemic continues to reverse development gains, rob millions of their lives, widen the gap between rich and poor and undermine social and economic security. Health-e reports on an update released by UNAIDS.
The ANC had lashed out at comments by Democratic Allicance leader Tony Leon who claims that the Western Cape was likely to "turn into a replica of the other provinces that pandered to President Thabo Mbeki's bizarre views on AIDS". "This statement is nothing more than political chicanery and a desperate attempt by Tony Leon to muster support for a misguided political strategy to win the hearts and minds of the Western Cape populace," is the response from the ANC's health committee. ANC National Health Secretary Dr Saadiq Kariem believes that it will be irresponsible to remove the funding from MTCT sites that are already up and running.
Government has indicated that it will attempt to further address the needs of some of the Northern Province communities, whose plight was highlighted by Health-e recently. The articles told stories of people dying of hunger in the rural areas of the province, the majority of them HIV positive.
Love, compassion, acceptance and a reason to get up in the morning coupled with a diet of bananas and avocados.
"This is the best report that has come out of this organisation. You mark my words, 10 to 15 years down the line this report will be alive and many decisions will be based on it." - Professor Malegepuru William Makgoba at the release on the MRC report.
The National Treasury's Intergovernmental Fiscal Review acknowledges clearly that HIV/AIDS will impact dramatically on poverty and household vulnerability in South Africa, especially the need to care for orphans under 15 years of age who have lost their mothers due to AIDS.
The access to health services in South Africa remains severely skewed where more than 80 percent of people have no medical aid or health insurance and rely on a depleted public health service to meet their needs.
October 5-11 is National Anxiety Disorder Awareness Week. The aim of the week is to educate the public about the anxiety disorders, to help sufferers find appropriate treatment and to help destigmatise these conditions. Health-e takes a look at some of the phobias that affect some 21% of all South Africans.
It is illegal for a doctor to test anyone for HIV without their consent. In spite of this, many doctors acting on the requests of employers, test domestic workers for the virus under false pretenses. To date, no doctors have been prosecuted for such misconduct.
COSATU, the Anglican and Catholic churhes and the Treatment Campaign have joined forces, determined to pressurise Government into increasing its budget to allow for AIDS drugs. The groups also called on Government to declare a national emergency and to "get on with it", steering clear of controversy
Medical schools have welcomed a move by the health department to introduce community service for a further seven health professions, the majority by 2003.
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