Finding solutions
In 2000, the United Nations member states committed themselves to an eight-point development programme to improve the lives of those most in need by 2015, and these became known as the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs).
Health
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Steady growth in chronic diseases
Although South Africa is overwhelmed by infectious diseases, there has also been a steady increase in non-communicable diseases (NCDs), often as a result of changing lifestyles.
Lethal cocktail of epidemics
A special series of the Lancet focusing on South Africa spells out in painful detail how many of our health indicators are the worst in the world. But while our health system is littered with lost opportunities, the Zuma government brings the possibility of real progress, argue the series authors. Kerry Cullinan reports.
‘€˜The paradox of apparent progress yet worsening health outcomes’€™
Despite the health of women and children being a priority for the democratically elected government, South Africa is one of only 12 countries in the world where the mortality rate for our children has got worse since 1990.
Massive twin burden of HIV and TB
Although South Africa has just a 0.7% of the world'€™s population, it has 17% of the global HIV burden. In addition, our tuberculosis epidemic is one of the worst in the world, and is further complicated by growing drug resistant strains of TB and a high level of HIV-TB coinfection.
Coping with cancer
DUBLIN - A tall, vivacious South African redhead drew one of the biggest cheers at the opening session of the LIVESTRONG Global Cancer Summit which officially kicked off in the Irish capital yesterday (SUBS MONDAY).
New effort to curb child mortality
Government has added a new vaccine to fight mortality among children under five. The Rotavirus Vaccine, aimed at preventing diarrheal diseases, is the latest addition to the country'€™s Expanded Program of Immunisation (EPI).
Cancer hits Africa hard
DUBLIN '€“ Africa will be hardest hit by cancer '€“ projected to be the biggest killer in the world by 2010 '€“ with a massive treatment gap leading to people dying painful and undignified deaths of cancers that are preventable, treatable and curable.
More swine flu deaths
Two more people have died of swine flu bringing the number of deaths to eight since the first confirmed case of the virus in June this year.
HIV-law shortcomings hit women harder
Despite a two-year-old law in Niger penalizing discrimination against people infected with HIV, seropositive women say they still receive substandard health care, are denied employment and risk losing their children because of their status.
Justice slowly meted out in Global Fund corruption trials
NAIROBI: (PlusNews) - The Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria is one of Uganda's key health partners; over the past six years it has disbursed more than US$164 million in programme grants.
Agony aunties short on advice Living with AIDS # 401
Momma'€™s Bosom, Dear Dolly and Irma on Life and Love are some of the popular print media advice columns on issues including relationships and health. But these columns fail to adequately address HIV/AIDS-related queries from readers, according to a recent analysis.
Swine flu questions answered
Basic information about swine flu in question and answer format.
Full impact of H1N1 in Africa ‘€˜yet to be seen’€™
The World Health Organisation (WHO) says the full impact of the swine flu outbreak in Africa has yet to be seen. The agency said this at a regional conference on the pandemic, earlier this week in Johannesburg.
Affirming rights Living with AIDS # 400
Can you imagine being kicked out of your home or losing your job just because you have HIV? Many people have experienced such abuse because society doesn'€™t know much about HIV. Victims of abuse also don'€™t know that they have rights. But with the re-launch of the AIDS Charter, that'€™s about to change.