There is substantial research to show that in addition to diet and exercise, psycho-social factors play a significant role in in the cause ' and treatment ' of heart disease. Kerry Cullinan reports.
Read More »Anger and attitude affect rate of heart disease
Smoking, domestic violence, HIV, heart attacks, depression... All societies' woes - many exacerbated by the stresses of globalisation - land up in the hands of doctors.But being a family doctor is often an isolating experience. Thus, the 16th World Congress of Family Doctors (WONCA) held last week in Durban was an opportunity for doctors to get out of their consulting rooms and in touch with new research and new ideas for treating patients. In many ways, the congress ' which attracted 2 288 delegates from 76 countries - was an assessment of the pulse rate of the world's citizens.
Read More »Window on the world of family medicine
A medical research centre to study diseases that most affect Africa is in the final stages of being established at the University of Cape Town. The new institute will concentrate on a variety of diseases including HIV/AIDS, malaria, major cancers and various genetic and metabolic disorders. It also hopes to reduce the "brain drain" by offering South African scientists a place to pursue top quality research.
Read More »Best brains to research African diseases at new UCT centre
In the wake of the collapse of the court case brought by major pharmaceutical companies against the Medicines and Related Substances Control Amendment Act, health minister Manto Tshabalala Msimang will meet some of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies in London to discuss access to drugs and the implementation of the Act.
Read More »Minister meets pharmaceutical giants in London
Infectious diseases can be controlled in the world's poorest countries. This is the message contained in a World Health Organisation (WHO) report ' "Health A Key to Prosperity". The report names Uganda, Thailand and Senegal as national success stories in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Health-e reports on some of the success stories, many from Africa...
Read More »Poor countries can control infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS and malaria – WHO report
The United Nations Secretary-General has called for the creation of a global fund to battle HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases in Africa. Speaking at the Organisation of African Unity summit on HIV/AIDS being held in Nigeria, Koffi Annan said between US$ 7 - 10 billion was needed over an extended period of time to combat the pandemic. This is a seven fold increase from the 1 billion US dollars presently being spent on HIV/AIDS in developing countries in Africa.
Read More »UN Secretary-General calls for large-scale mobilization in fight against AIDS
April 25 is Africa malaria day. South African health authorities will purchase thousands of mosquito nets as part of the campaign to protect people living in malaria areas. Research has shown that bednets are effective, well accepted by local communities and cheaper than residual spraying of houses in affected areas.
Read More »Bednets ordered as best defence against Africa’s biggest killerThe South African Students Congress in Bloemfontein made sure that HIV/AIDS was on the agenda of their annual gathering. But besides the "official line", what are students saying about the epidemic and safer sex behaviour?
Read More »Condoms, campuses & compliance
Living with AIDS programme 26Government should immediately adopt a practical plan for treating HIV positive people with drugs, challenged Judge Edwin Cameron last night at the opening of the international conference, AIDS in Context.
Read More »Judge challenges govt on HIV plan
Seeing a simple idea and "storing it because you never know when you're going to use it" is what led to University of Cape Town (UCT) lecturer Dr George Vicatos to design a device which has saved a 18 year old cancer patient's leg. A Senior Lecturer at UCT's Department of Mechanical Engineering, Vicatos and his team worked against the clock to design the endo-prosthetic replacement for part of the patient's femur and knee.
Read More »A simple invention saves patient’s leg from amputation
In green valleys in northern KwaZulu-Natal, hundreds of children are negotiating lives alone as HIV/AIDS claims their parents.
Read More »The parentless generationKwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and Gauteng have emerged as the epicentres of the HIV/AIDS epidemic raging in South Africa with the Free State following closely, according to the latest national HIV survey released yesterday(Tuesday). Based on the 16 548 blood samples tested in October 2000, it is estimated that nationally, 24,5% of the women who presented at the public health facilities (for the first time during that current pregnancy) were infected with HIV by the end of the year.
Read More »Ante-natal HIV survey – Kwa-Zulu-Natal and Mpumalanga top the list
Mthobisi Simelane (7) has been orphaned and abandoned by his family at Mosvold Hospital in Ingwavuma, rural KwaZulu-Natal. Unless he gets a birth certificate, anyone caring for him will be unable to access any grants.
Read More »How the system failed Mthobisi
South Africa's welfare system is in the midst of a massive shake-up which stakeholders are hoping could result in government paying out more money to destitute children. At a recent meeting in Cape Town, about 90 roleplayers from the children's sector and government officials, including those from a special committee charged with revising the entire social security system, grappled with how to set up an efficient "safety net" for the children of South Africa.
Read More »Welfare system set for an overhaul as it fails to reach the children
Renowned author John le Carre delves into the dark and dangerous world of drug trials and pharmaceutical profits in his latest novel, "The Constant Gardener". In the afterword to the book he says that although his novel is a work of fiction and doesn't reflect the actions of any real people, the real goings-on in the industry make his story seem like a "holiday postcard". Sue Valentine spoke to him, this is a transcript of part of their conversation.
Read More »John le Carre slams pharmaceutical profiteering
