The parentless generation
In green valleys in northern KwaZulu-Natal, hundreds of children are negotiating lives alone as HIV/AIDS claims their parents.
Read More »The parentless generation
Health-e News
A simple invention saves patient’s  leg from amputation
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 amputationAnte-natal HIV survey – Kwa-Zulu-Natal and Mpumalanga top the list
KwaZulu-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 listWelfare system set for an overhaul as it fails to reach the children
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 childrenHow the system failed Mthobisi
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 MthobisiJohn le Carre slams pharmaceutical profiteering
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 profiteeringSA HIV vaccine steams ahead
Scientists have completed their laboratory research on a potential HIV vaccine for South Africa and the process is underway to begin human trials later this year. Kerry Cullinan reports.
Read More »SA HIV vaccine steams aheadMeeting the drug industry’s
One person is sure to be at the forefront-  putting the view of business across - when government and the pharmaceutical industry tackle one another in  the much hyped court case. But is Mirryena Deeb  really the Cruella de Ville of the industry or is she just a woman caught up in the demands of trying to juggle a stressful job, motherhood and a sick nation calling louder and louder for medicine to ease its pain...Anso Thom from Health-e News Service spoke to her.
Read More »Meeting the drug industry’sLiving without medicine
Living with HIV for eight years without picking up an opportunistic infection, Lundi Ntikinca is worried about the day when he will need expensive medication that could save his life. An option he cannot afford.
Read More »Living without medicineThe Budget – health spending falls behind national expenditure
Health specialists have expressed concern that the budget announced by Finance Minister Trevor Manuel did not go far enough in addressing South Africa'€™s developmental health challenges. Anso Thom and Sue Valentine reports.
Read More »The Budget – health spending falls behind national expenditureThe Budget ‘€“ cautious response to AIDS allocation
Health economists have responded cautiously to Finance Minister Trevor Manuel'€™s "generous" allocations towards interventions targeting HIV/AIDS.Manuel announced a R300-million supplementary allocation for targeted HIV/AIDS interventions in 2002/03 and R313,5-million in 2003/04.
Read More »The Budget ‘€“ cautious response to AIDS allocationUN calls for leadership to stem the AIDS tide
The United Nations Secretary-General says HIV/AIDS is the biggest challenge of our time and has called for intensified and broadened political and financial commitments by nations in their response to the AIDS crisis.
Read More »UN calls for leadership to stem the AIDS tideMany grey areas in the HIV testing arena
A grandmother, whose life was made a living hell after she was wrongly diagnosed HIV-positive is claiming R2-million in damages from the laboratory that tested her blood. Now she has launched a damages action against Van Drimmelen Laboratorium, the laboratory which carried out the initial test, claiming she suffered severe emotional stress, loss of dignity and humiliation as a result of the initial Elisa test finding that she was HIV positive. Subsequent tests showed that she was in fact HIV-negative. Health-e investigated the reliability of the Elisa test and others, the protocol followed by the life insurance industry and government'€™s own investigation into HIV testing'€¦
Read More »Many grey areas in the HIV testing arenaDoctor who puts patient rights before patent rights
A few weeks ago, the generic drug, Biozole, was successfully tested and found to be a valid equivalent of the anti-fungal medication, Fluconazole. This fulfils the conditions required by the Medicines Control Council before it can grant a Section 21 exemption that will allow Biozole to be used as a valid generic for specific purposes. Provided the exemption is granted, Biozole will be imported from Thailand by the Brooklyn Medical Centre and distributed free of charge to HIV/AIDS patients. Dr Steve Andrews, is a partner at the centre and is the man who will defy the Pfizer patent to dispense the life-saving generic drug. Sue Valentine spoke to him to find out what prompted this action.
Read More »Doctor who puts patient rights before patent rightsLittle boy with a big heart
Nkosi Johnson is in a semi-coma at his home in Melville, Johannesburg. During his 11years, the soft-spoken but determined little boy who was born with the HI virus has achieved more than many do in a lifetime. He has addressed world conferences, fought and won the right to attend his local school and established a haven for HIV positive mothers and children in Johannesburg. In July last year, on the eve of the 13th International Conference on AIDS in Durban, Health-e interviewed the young boy about his life, his hopes and his dreams.
Read More »Little boy with a big heart