Health e News
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As government and the Treatment Action Campaign meet in the Constitutional Court, HIV positive mothers and AIDS experts celebrate the effect of Nevirapine in preventing mother-to-child HIV transmission.
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How should photographers depict the HIV/AIDS pandemic? In this audio report, award-winning photographer Gideon Mendel talks about his recently launched book, “A Broken Landscape – HIV/AIDS in Africa” and how his approach to taking pictures of people living with HIV/AIDS has changed over time. The book represents almost nine years work and includes photographs taken in Uganda, Tanzania and South Africa.
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Botswana has one of the highest prevalence rate of HIV/AIDS in the world – 38,5% of the country’s 2 million people are HIV positive. In the face of these potentially devastating statistics, government and business have introduced a comprehensive response to the impact of the disease. One notable example is the prevention and treatment programme offered by the Debswana diamond mining corporation. Health-e visits one of their mines.
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The long-awaited report on a comprehensive social security system for South Africa was released for public comment this week. Social Development minister Dr Zola Skweyiya acknowledges the need for a basic income grant and urgent measures to assist the orphans and those living in dire poverty. But he cautions that Government does not have the money or the resources to tackle this alone. He spoke to Health-e.
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A global initiative, formed to mobilise society in the fight against AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, has launched a campaign to force countries to drop import taxes on treated mosquito nets in an attempt to control the malaria epidemic. The initiative aims to hold governments accountable to commitments made in the Abuja Declaration signed two years ago, in which African states promised to reduce the costs of mosquito nets and insecticides. South Africa is one of several countries which has yet to make good on its promises. Anso Thom reports.
Problems of overcrowding and long queues could soon be a thing of the past with the addition of a R500 million new wing to Umtata General Hospital and 800 new posts for doctors, nurses and support staff. The complex is due to be finished in May says Mahlubandile Mageda, spokesperson for Eastern Cape Health Department.
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It will take a decade before a vaccine against malaria, described as one of the greatest causes of misery in endemic countries, is developed, according to Dr Regina Rabinovich, director of the Malaria Vaccine Initiative. With between three and five million cases per year and three deaths every minute (mostly children), the need for a malaria vaccine is as urgent as one to prevent HIV infection. ANSO THOM reports.
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This week the largest ever international medical research project into the link between the formation of deep vein thrombosis and flying will be launched by Wits University and the National Health Laboratory Service. A thousand passengers flying between London and Johannesburg will take part in the study.
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A laboratory in the basement of the medical school at the University of Cape Town serves around 90% of clinics and hospitals in the Western Cape. Although based at the University of Cape Town, the laboratory falls under the authority of the National Health Laboratory Services. In this audio report, Dr Dianna Hardie is a senior specialist in the Virology Department and explains how the Elisa test is carried out.
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Documents circulating in government circles have once again disputed the link between HIV and AIDS and questioned scientific knowledge and practice in relation to the HI virus. In this audio package, acclaimed South African scientist, Dr Carolyn Williamson, who last year received the World Technology Award for Health & Medicine in recognition of her efforts to find an AIDS vaccine, speaks about the scientific evidence.
The 2001 South African Health Review (SAHR) has made a priority in its annual report card of reflecting what South African patients, politicians and health workers have to say about health services and delivery. Produced annually by the non-governmental organisation, the Health Systems Trust, the review has dedicated significant space to the “voices” of service users, facility managers, hospital superintendent/managers, district managers, provincial managers, parliamentarians and policy makers.
The profile of hospital superintendents is changing – although white male doctors still predominate, a new picture is emerging in which more and more women are heading up hospitals. The 2001 SA Health Review notes that it is nurses and others in the health profession who increasingly are taking the helm.