Health e News
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The health department aims to provide 53 000 people with AIDS treatment by March of 2005. At present, about 8000 people are receiving free antiretroviral therapy in the public health sector. Health-e spoke to Dennis Matwa of the Treatment Action Campaign about the Civil Society Monitoring Forum launched recently to monitor the government’€™s Comprehensive HIV and AIDS Treatment Plan.
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A lack of targeted prevention and sexual health services puts men who have sex with men at a disproportionately greater risk of contracting HIV than the rest of the population. That is according to a pilot study conducted by Wits University’s Peri-natal HIV Research Unit.
Consumers using prescription drugs are confused and it’€™s hardly surprising. The health department recently implemented a range of regulations to reduce the price of prescription medicines and to ensure transparency. Opposition from pharmacists has added to the confusion and, in some instances, a hike in drug prices.
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Uganda’€™s efforts to reduce its HIV prevalence rate from a high 18% to 6% in a population of 24 million has earned it the title of Africa’€™s success story in the fight against AIDS. But, as Health-e News Service reports, activists are concerned that Uganda’€™s success story might breed complacency.
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HIV positive children are often discriminated against in schools if their HIV status is known, but the South African Children’€™s Rights Bill stipulates that children have a right to be protected against unfair discrimination. Health-e visited a crèche that accepts only HIV positive children in Khayelitsha and compiled this report.
The most common cancers affecting women are breast and cervical cancer. A regular pap smear can help women detect cervical cancer early when effective treatment is possible.
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Last week we heard about South Africa’€™s first HIV counselling and testing service for couples ‘€“ the Tshwarisanang Centre based at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, in Soweto. This week, a couple talks about how this service has benefited them.
Parliament’€™s social cluster group, lead by health minister Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, presented a progress report in parliament last week which included updates on the national school nutrition programme, the extension of the child support grant, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.
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Education officials from around the African continent unanimously suppport abstinence messages but argue over condom distribution at schools.
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It happens in Zambia and Uganda. It’€™s also common practice among same-sex male couples in San Francisco, in the United States. Now it’€™s being introduced in South Africa. We’€™re talking about HIV counselling and testing for couples. Health-e News Service reports.
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Families and societies need to look after children orphaned because of AIDS, says Albertina Sisulu. Health-e News Service spoke to her and found out more.
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For many people being diagnosed with HIV often spells a time of isolation and loneliness. Health-e News Service reports on a pioneering organisation aimed at helping those ministers of religion in Africa, who are either infected or affected by HIV.