Health e News

Tobacco control – talks underway

Negotiations for a world treaty on tobacco control begin here today (Monday) among members of the World Health Assembly under the auspices of the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Tobacco talks slowly swing into action

Intergovernmental negotiations that will lead to a Framework Convention on Tobacco Control governing the sale and marketing of tobacco are set to begin in earnest today (Tuesday).

Try this for size

You don’€™t like condoms? Try this for size: 45% of South African adults will be infected by HIV within the next ten years. Jo Stein reports.

Overwhelming call for global tobacco control

The overwhelming bulk of evidence presented on the second day of World Health Organisation’s hearings into the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control called on the international health body to impose tough restrictions on the sale and marketing of tobacco.

World grapples with tobacco control

The first ever hearings by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to adopt a convention to control tobacco products worldwide began in Geneva yesterday (Thursday). SUE VALENTINE reports.

Tobacco companies declare: smoking causes cancer

Tobacco giants Philip Morris and British American Tobacco both stated explicitly yesterday that nicotine is addictive and that smoking causes a variety of diseases. SUE VALENTINE reports.

Keeping healthcare on track

Phelophepa, Transnet’€™s mobile health train that has bought primary health care to thousands of rural South Africans, is managing to reach almost 5 000 individuals every week. Within four years the train has managed to reach a total of 67 855 patients, who receive quality and in most cases, free health care. ANSO THOM reports.

Daring to dream

Every afternoon at about 5pm a red van stops next to an open piece of land in Masoyi near the Kruger Park. A woman gets out and looks around, sometimes staring at the piece of land, other days “shoo-ing people who have erected shacks overnight”. Behind this piece of land lies a dream. “I must dream, I must’€¦,” Lucy Ngobeni whispers.

Community caregivers refuse to give up

“Never give up. No, never give up. Never, never, never give up. No, never give up.” Swaying and clapping in unison, the women of Mzinoni outside Bethal seem to draw strength from singing before dispersing to visit their patients.

Mpumalanga women go to ‘war’

Mpumalanga women in Bethal have banded together to visit bars and shebeens on a daily basis to arm their community against the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Anso Thom joined them during one of their campaign visits.

Angel of Mercy

After Mercy Makhalemele disclosed that she was HIV positive, she lost almost everything. But she fought back and is now presenter of a TV series that offers practical advice to people living with HIV/AIDS. Kerry Cullinan reports.

Breaking the cycle of violence

What can be done in societies with a legacy of violence and division to help heal children to enable them to develop to their full potential and break the cycle of violence and poverty? Sue Valentine attended a meeting of the Northern Ireland-South African colloquium for a day of realistic and inspiring discussion of what interventions can make a difference.

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