Health e News
- ///Health
The Commission for Gender Equality claims virginity testing is sexist and unconstitutional. But the testers say they are saving girls from teenage pregnancy and HIV/AIDS.
- ///Health
The old traditional practice of virginity testing has been undergoing a revival in the KwaZulu-Natal midlands in an effort to protect girls and young women from HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. Those in favour of the ritual say this is a valuable tradition that is not a “test”, but a voluntary inspection and one in which young women are eager to participate.
Skin cancer is not a disease that threatens only fair-skinned South Africans. Darker skins are at risk too and everyone should take protection against the dangers of melanoma. by Tim Dodd
- ///Health
A pilot project in Khayelitsha, Cape Town is hoping to show that it is possible to dispense antiretroviral therapy to people living in peri-urban, poor communities provided proper counselling and monitoring is in place. Matthew Damane has been taking a triple combination of drugs since June and is firmly convinced of the benefits the medication has made to his life.
- ///Health
Traditional healers and medical doctors alike are singing the praises of an immune-boosting medicinal plant, Sutherlandia, which they say offers hope to people living with HIV who cannot afford expensive drugs.
- ///Health
Sutherlandia (or unwele) has been used by traditional healers for years as a tonic. But now scientists are going to test whether it can be used as an immune booster for those with HIV.
- ///Health
Two of the country’s most powerful figures in health yesterday crossed swords at the Health Summit over whether government should investigate providing anti-retroviral drugs (ARVs) to people with HIV/AIDS.
President Thabo Mbeki says government is looking for ways in which the public and private health sectors can collaborate in “principled partnerships” that will help reduce the gap in health access between rich and poor. He told delegates at the National Health Summit in Johannesburg that “imagination and commitment” were needed to overcome some of the persistent obstacles to better health care.
In her opening address to the National Health Summit, the Minister of Health, Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang has reiterated Government’s commitment to addressing HIV/AIDS in the country. She also admitted that despite good intentions, Government had made mistakes which had hampered the achievement of improved access to health services and quality of care. However she said the challenge now was to admit the mistakes and re-direct policy where necessary.
- ///Health
JOHANNESBURG – The absence of anti-retroviral drugs in the public sector had led to the misconception that nothing was being done by government for people with HIV, Dr Nono Simelela, head of government’s HIV/AIDS Directorate told the Health Summit yesterday (Mon).
- ///Health
Soweto school children this week delivered food and clothes to AIDS orphans in rural Ingwavuma in a remarkable act of solidarity from one poor community to another
- ///Health
For South Africans living in malaria areas, DDT and bednets are among the means of combating malaria mosquitoes on a seasonal basis. For travellers to these parts, the side-effects of certain anti-malaria tablets are so severe that some are opting for sensible clothing and insect repellent as their prophylaxis of choice. by Tim Dodd