Drug giant Pfizer has extended its offer of free diflucan (fluconazole) to HIV/AIDS patients in 50 of the least developed nations as well.
Read More »Free diflucan offer extended to least developed nations
When the Minister of Health delivers her budget speech in Parliament today (Tuesday, June 5th) it is expected she will give the go-ahead for provinces to administer Nevirapine, the drug that helps prevent HIV positive pregnant women from passing the virus on to their babies. However, as Kerry Cullinan reports, the announcement has been all too slow in coming.
Read More »Nevirapine programme finally gets the go-ahead
Young Nkosi Johnson'€™s long and exhausting battle against AIDS is finally over. 12 year old Nkosi, one of the most inspiring AIDS ambassadors the world will ever see, died peacefully in his sleep at 5.40am this morning (Friday, June 1). Anso Thom reports.
Read More »Nkosi’s battle finally overA few weeks before Nkosi Johnson collapsed and fell into a coma, he spent seven days on holiday in Cape Town. He stayed with his long time friends Anso Thom and Gerda Kruger and their son, Siya. Everywhere they went, from Cape Point to Camps Bay, Nkosi was recognised and greeted by people who told him of people they knew living with HIV/AIDS. As the vigil next to his bedside continues, Anso and Gerda have written a personal reflection of the impact this little boy has had on their lives.
Read More »A love letter to Nkosi
The National Council Against Smoking has fired the first salvo in the war against tobacco advertising by laying a formal complaint with the police after several shops at Johannesburg International Airport were found to be displaying logos and advertisements. Health-e reports on World No Tobacco Day...
Read More »Johannesburg Airport investigated for illegal tobacco advertising
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
Africa'€™s biggest killer disease could be stopped in its tracks if a new malaria vaccine for children proves successful in clinical trials which are due to begin soon in The Gambia.
Read More »New trial for children’€™s malaria vaccine
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
