Health e News
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Medical experts have cautioned against male circumcision being promoted as the only effective method to prevent HIV infection.
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A recent report by the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission has slammed African governments’ programmes on HIV/AIDS on their continued failure to address the needs of same-sex practising people in Africa.
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As the cure for HIV and AIDS remains elusive, scientists are pinning their hopes on preventative measures, including a protective vaccine. Wits University’s Soweto-based Perinatal HIV Research Unit has just started work on the largest vaccine study ever undertaken in the country.
The Departments of Correctional Services and Health as well as AIDS advocacy groups have begun urgent talks that could see the parties reaching an out-of-court settlement on the provision of anti-retrovirals to prisoners at Westville Prison in Durban.
Transport Minister Jeff Radebe has been appointed acting health minister while Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang remains in Johannesburg Hospital’s high care unit.
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A major HIV vaccine trial is underway in five sites across South Africa. As the country and medical research community alike are coming to terms with the abrupt end of a microbicide candidate vaccine trial, Dr Busi Nkala, Director of the vaccine study at the Perinatal HIV Research Unit in Soweto, says the safety of patients is a key priority throughout the trial.
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We pick up on the theme of last week’s ‘Living with AIDS’ feature. Informal studies show that about one in five couples in Africa are in a discordant relationship, meaning that one partner has HIV and the other doesn’t. The chances of one partner eventually getting infected by the other are not really known. Hence, experts recommend that couples should go for testing together.
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Senior Vice-President of the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, Dr Wayne Koff, has denied media reports that his organization is using citizens of developing countries as ‘guinea pigs’ to test ineffective vaccines that have failed elsewhere.
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Knowing your own HIV status can set your mind at ease. But knowing both your and your partner’s HIV status could even save your life. We meet a couple that clings to the belief.
The Belgian-based pharmaceutical company, Glaxo-Smith-Kline, has introduced a new vaccine to prevent six child-hood diseases. The vaccine ‘the first of its kind in South Africa – is aimed at protecting children against whoopping cough, polio, diphtheria, tetanus, hepatitis B and haemophilus influenza type B.
Old Transkei emerges as country’s poorest area, while the living is easy in the West Coast.
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‘Branded VCT’, which used a popular fashion label to get young people to test for HIV late last year, showed that brands have a unique ability to influence society.