Cancer vaccine registered
South African women can now, for the first time, be vaccinated against cervical cancer. This follows the recent registration by the Medicines Control Council of a vaccine to prevent the growth of this particular cancer.
Health
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‘Mandla’, the soccer doctor of Nkandla
Foreign doctor Rob Melvin believes he became a better doctor in rural KZN. He tells his story to Luke Giddy.
The case for new PMTCT Living with AIDS # 340
Over the last few weeks this feature has dwelt on the country'€™s revised prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission (PMTCT) programme. But some of us might ask: Why is the revision of the programme so significant?
MDR TB on the rise worldwide
Multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is at the highest rate ever seen in the world, according to the largest ever survey on drug resistant TB.
Slight improvement in TB Cure rate for Northern Cape
The Northern Cape has the lowest population density of all the provinces and contains just over two percent of the country'€™s population.
Mpumalanga still lagging behind
Although primary health care expenditure in Mpumalanga has doubled to R189 per person over the past four years, it is still the lowest in South Africa.
Inequity increases in the Western Cape
The Western Cape has the best socio-economic development in the country with over 98 percent of people accessing piped water. However the inequity within the province has increased over the last year.
State of the nation’€™s health
Now in its third year, the District Health Barometer compares all 52 health districts in the country to see which are the healthiest and which are just plain sick.
PMTCT making small gains in North West Province
The North West'€™s rate of immunisation of babies is the lowest in the country, and its TB cure rate has worsened slightly.
Poor outcomes for KZN
The health outcomes in KwaZulu-Natal are generally poor and probably indicative of the effects of the high rate of HIV/AIDS and poverty.
Poor health care for pregnant women in Eastern Cape
Four of the 10 poorest districts in the country are in the Eastern Cape, the bottom two being the province'€™s OR Tambo and Alfred Nzo.
Improved TB Cure rate in Gauteng but child mortality still high
Almost all residents of Johannesburg, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni have access to piped water, according to the District Health Barometer 2006/7.
Differences over new PMTCT protocol Living with AIDS # 339
Last Friday, the Department of Health released its long overdue policy revision of the prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission programme (PMTCT). But medical experts say the new policy is still inadequate.
Another blow for HIV prevention
Attempts on the HIV prevention front have been dealt yet another blow, following the failure of the Carraguard microbicide to prove effective in preventing HIV infection from males to females.
SA AIDS orphans much better’€“ UNICEF
A recent report by UNICEF says South African AIDS orphans are in a far better position than many from eastern and southern Africa.