Health e News

Cancer related question? Dial 0861-ASK-NOW

Accessing useful and reliable information on their condition is often one of the biggest obstacles facing people diagnosed with a life threatening illness such as cancer. The launch of a cancer call centre in Gauteng province is aiming to offer the support, information, advice and advocacy that is often lacking.

Controlling tobacco use

The Tobacco Atlas is viewed as a critical weapon against tobacco. Along with detailed tobacco statistics on nearly every country around the globe, the publication offers in-depth information on the prevalence of tobacco and health, the costs of tobacco, the tobacco trade throughout the world, how tobacco is promoted and marketed, and the tobacco control efforts already under way.

Early screening could reduce prostate cancer deaths

Over 4000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year in South Africa and more than half of them die. According to the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) these numbers could be reduced if more men were screened.

Breaking the shackles of sex work

Many women become sex workers because they are unable to find work and face a life of poverty. However, some of the women wish to leave the industry and a project in Johannesburg is helping the women to do exactly that.

Zuma delivers historic AIDS speech

In what has been described as the final death of state sponsored AIDS denialism, President Jacob Zuma has delivered a historic speech in the National Council of Provinces acknowledging that the country was not winning the war against the disease and that extraordinary measures were needed. Read his full speech here.

Linda-Gail Bekker scoops award for TB/HIV

Dr Linda-Gail Bekker of the Desmond Tutu HIV Centre at the University of Cape Town was awarded the £60,000 Royal Society Pfizer Award at a ceremony in London this week.

Saving Africa’€™s children Living with AIDS # 410

Africa has the largest number of children living with HIV. A campaign launched recently seeks to mobilize political will and financial resources to overcome the bottle-necks that hinder services for children who have HIV and to prevent HIV infection in children.

Treatment is vital in managing Bipolar Disorder

We all have our ups and downs, but if you live with bipolar disorder, these mood swings are more severe. However, if treated properly, the disorder can be well managed.

Building a health system that withstands leadership change

Former colleagues describe Dr Molefi Sefularo as a change agent and the tonic South Africa’€™s beleaguered health system needs. The former North West health MEC was last year appointed as deputy health minister and was recently handed a list of critical responsibilities not traditionally reserved for deputies. Anso Thom of Health-e News Service spoke to him in his Cape Town office.

Understanding how Thai vaccine worked is priority

PARIS ‘€“ The priority for AIDS virologists in coming months is to find out exactly how the Thailand vaccine, which gave 30 percent protection against HIV, worked.

Aids vaccine still a dream, but Paris offers some hope

PARIS ‘€“ Twenty six years after Luc Montagnier and Francoise Barré-Sinoussi identified the HI virus in this city, a thousand scientists shared their knowledge this week on how to outsmart it.

A deadly combination of HIV & alcoholism

Excessive use of alcohol is not advised in people taking AIDS medication as it may counteract the effect of the drugs. Elizabeth Xaba is proof of this.

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