When Nokubonga Ntzimela lost her patient's card for the local clinic, she was scared to go back, fearing that the nursing sisters would shout at her.Ntzimela's experience is perhaps unusual from other 16-year-olds in that she visited the clinic at least once. Surveys show that most adolescents avoid public clinics because they are concerned about being chastised, embarrassed or rudely treated by clinic staff.
Read More »Making clinics youth-friendlyFor many young people, resigned to a life with few opportunities and a future without promise, sex is one of life's few pleasures. But their lack of faith in the future means that many are not bothering to practice safe sex.
Read More »Safe sex undermined by pessimismThere are five key reasons why the HIV/AIDS epidemic is so rampant in South Africa, according to co-convenor of the 13th World AIDS Conference, Jerry Coovadia.
Read More »Why AIDS has hit SA so hardA new study in the latest American Journal of Epidemiology has confirmed what experts have long suspected - that HIV infection rates based on the national antenatal surveys could well be an underestimate.
Read More »HIV infection rates could be an underestimate
The fresh offer from five major pharmaceutical companies to reduce the price of anti-AIDS drugs still does not answer the vexed question of what is their best possible discounted price.
Read More »‘Cut-price’ anti-AIDS drugs may still cost more than genericsThe Legal Resources Centre (LRC) in Pretoria has taken the workers' compensation commissioner to court twice in the last year - and won. The commissioner was found guilty of unreasonable delay and received a penalty in the form of interest payments. The LRC is now considering taking the commissioner to court again, this time concerning delays in the objection process whereby rejected claims can be disputed.
Read More »Patience with the worker’s compensation commission has run out.
Sarafina, Virodene, unspent millions - in a country with one of the fastest growing AIDS epidemics in the world, it's sobering to say the least that these are the predominant associations one makes with the fight against AIDS in South Africa. The AIDS Review 2000, released by the Centre for the Study of AIDS at the University of Pretoria and written by Hein Marais, offers a fascinating overview of the South African response to HIV/AIDS since 1994.
Read More »Fighting each other – but not AIDSUntil recently, the National Association for People Living with AIDS (NAPWA) has had a policy of hiring only HIV positive employees. However, NAPWA has been re-thinking this policy on the grounds that each and every South African is affected by the disease. Some also feel that the continuing distinction between HIV-positive and HIV-negative people runs the risk of feeding into the very prejudice and stigma which organisations such as NAPWA hope to overcome.
Read More »Who should speak for people living with HIV/AIDS?Despite the recent flooding in the north of the country, South Africa is a water-scarce country. Not only do we generally have low rainfall figures, a significant amount of water is lost to alien vegetation. The Working for Water programme was started by the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry in 1996 - both as a poverty-relief programme and as a means of clearing the alien vegetation that threatens our water supply.
Read More »Providing work and waterThe air at home is dangerous to the health of more than half South Africa's population. This is because some 50 percent of households still use "dirty" fuels such as paraffin, coal and wood for heating and cooking Jo Stein reports.
Read More »Air pollution ‘ worse indoors for manyThe widespread practice of burning old tyres to retrieve and sell the wire inside them is not only a serious health hazard for neighbourhood residents, but poses a risk to air safety as well. Jo Stein reports.
Read More »Used tyres ‘ a burning issueDespite high levels of alcohol and drug abuse in Cape Town, very few public rehabilitation centres exist to provide free treatment to those without private medical aids. This is according to a recent study by the Medical Research Council. Jo Stein reports.
Read More »Alcohol and drug abuse treatment unaffordable to mostDon't rely on the workers' compensation system to provide for you if you get injured at work; the system may only add insult to injury. This is according to a submission to the Public Protector requesting a formal inquiry into the Office of the Compensation Commissioner.
Read More »Workers’ compensation system adds insult to injuryWhen it comes to sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) its seems that public health care offers patients more appropriate treatment and better medication. However, because of the sensitive nature of STDs, many patients still tend to opt for private care. JO STEIN explores the findings of a recent research report.
Read More »Public care = quality care for STDs
