Results of the 20th antenatal surveillance survey, which were released this week, show that South Africa's HIV epidemic is not gaining nor is it slowing down. But does this mean that the country's efforts in combating HIV are paying off?
Although the HIV prevalence rate for pregnant women has been virtually the same over the past four years at 29.2%, this was still a 'high and unacceptable' level.
Tshwane is home to over 80 000 AIDS orphans, while 30 000 residents need antiretroviral therapy. This is according to a comprehensive survey conducted in the municipality. The report also suggests that the uptake of counseling and testing services is low - even in the midst of a massive HIV Counseling and Testing (HCT) campaign that government instituted in April.
Health-e is very proud to announce that our print journalist, Lungi Langa has won first prize in the 'Stop TB' Excellence in Reporting on Tuberculosis competition (low- or middle-income-country category).
BERLIN ' Unless the money needed for tuberculosis is invested now the world will face a drug-resistant epidemic that will affect everyone in the world, warned Dr Nils Billo, Executive Director of the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union).
BERLIN ' AIDS activists are calling for the price of a machine which drastically cuts the diagnosis of drug-resistant tuberculosis to be reduced making it affordable to the regions where the epidemic is most serious, including South Africa. The development of the Gene Xpert is hailed as one of the greatest breakthroughs in TB control.
Breast cancer is the most common female cancer in South Africa, affecting approximately 1 in every 29 women. Whilst cancer cannot always be prevented, early detection does allow for a greater chance of a full recovery. In this insert Nosipho Mgoma shares her reality of breast cancer and shows that it can affect younger woman and if detected late, can have devastating consequences.
The development of children orphaned as a result of AIDS is at greater risk of health and social ills, conference is told.
The Treatment Action Campaign has published a four part series on what they call 'a massive unethical medical intervention' in Kwazulu-Natal.
The Red Cross War Memorial Children's hospital has set up a mobile library to foster a love of reading among children admitted to the hospital.
KwaZulu-Natal's health department is set to remain within its budget this year for the first time in more than a decade ' thanks to a high level turnaround plan.
We all have the occasional mood swing or wake up on the wrong side of the bed some mornings. However as this insert shows, it is not just a simple case of good or bad days when your fluctuating moods are affecting your career and your relationship with loved ones. Tshidi Khumbane shares her experience of bipolar mood disorder.
As the donor community retreats from funding AIDS programmes in developing nations, donor-aided countries are being forced to dig deeper into their own pockets to sustain care and treatment services for its citizens. South Africa is no exception.
Down syndrome is a chromosomal disorder that affects approximately 1 in every 800 children and results in mental as well as physical disability. As this insert shows, information is the key to not only accepting your child's condition, but also in being able to provide the specific care that your child needs.
The first ever public sector 'treatment' or 'sterile' room in South Africa officially opened its doors at the Steve Biko Academic Hospital in Pretoria. This will allow children battling cancer a better chance at recovery.
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