Health e News
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What motivates a five-year old to rape a two-year-old toddler? In Umtata and East London such incidents are becoming increasingly common. In the first six weeks of 2004, 40 cases of child rape by other children were reported at Umtata Sinawe Rape Crisis Centre. In the first of a two-part series, Health-e visits the rape crisis centres in Mdantsane and in Umtata.
A new concept is gaining momentum in South Africa. After three years of debate and discussion a Charter for Sexual Rights has been adopted enshrining the rights of women to control their sexual and reproductive health. The Charter advocates mutual respect between men and women and it is hoped that this will prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS.
Access to medicines is still a problem in some public hospitals and many clinics in the Eastern Cape. Despite the reassurance of better service for all by the Department of Health and the Batho Pele principle to put people first, this is not happening in many areas. Health-e travelled through the region and compiled this report.
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Memory box and body map outreach worker Nondumiso Hlwele talks about how the project has helped her define her past and face her future. It’€™s also unearthed her talent for drawing and depicting the world around her.
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This week we hear from people living with AIDS who readily admit they owe their lives to the support and information they receive from being part of an organisation committed to securing access to treatment.
Interviewed by the national public broadcaster the weekend after his state of the nation address, President Thabo Mbeki still seemed determined to ignore and obfuscate the impact of HIV/AIDS on the country. Health-e examines his remarks.
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In the space of five years, the Western Cape has set up prevention of mother-to-child treatment sites throughout the province as well as providing antiretroviral treatment on a limited basis. Health-e asked the head of the AIDS Programme in the Western Cape, Dr. Fareed Abdullah to share the lessons they’€™ve learned over the past 10 years.
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The national treatment plan for HIV and AIDS offers a new opportunity to dispel some of the myths about the virus and to educate people about the epidemic and how best to take care of themselves. The development of this vital communications campaign is already under way.
Government’€™s HIV and AIDS Care and Treatment Plan is not only about making antiretrovirals available in the public health sector for the first time. The programme also includes a strong focus on nutrition and traditional medicines. Health-e News Service asked Dr Nono Simelela, co-ordinator of the Plan, how the three components come together in the programme.
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In the 10 years since our first democratic election in 1994, the HIV prevalence rate among pregnant women has risen from 7.6 percent to 26.5 percent. Ignorance, fear and prejudice have defined the reponse to HIV/AIDS in many countries and South Africa has been no different. However, a key organisation that has emerged to defend the rights of people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS is the Treatment Action Campaign. Health-e looks at how activists have risen to the challenge.
A major hurdle in the path towards the implementation of a national HIV and AIDS Care and Treatment Plan has been cleared. At a parliamentary briefing on Monday, the Minister of Health, Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, announced that tenders for drug procurement in preparation for the roll-out of the Plan are to be advertised this Friday, (13/02/04).
A major hurdle in the path towards the implementation of a national HIV and AIDS Care and Treatment Plan has been cleared. At a parliamentary briefing on Monday, the Minister of Health, Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, announced that tenders for drug procurement in preparation for the roll-out of the Plan are to be advertised this Friday, (13/02/04).