The World Health Organisation has called on governments to include a childhood vaccine, known as Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine, which acts against pneumonia and meningitis in their national immunisation programmes. Pneumonia is the leading cause of death in children globally, and more so, in countries with a high burden of HIV.

The detention of patients with extremely drug resistant (XDR) TB should only be considered as a last resort when all other voluntary measures have failed, according to the South African health department. By Chris Makhaye & Kerry Cullinan.

Refugees, asylum seekers, economic and undocumented or illegal migrants all flock to South Africa for particular reasons. Often, locals believe that these are to steal away what belongs to South Africans, such as health care. Two refugees who benefit from the South African health care system explain that when they fled their countries of origin, it wasn'€™t to seek antiretroviral therapy.

As with every citizen, refugees have rights, including the right to health care. In line with that the Southern African HIV Clinicians'€™ Society and the United Nations'€™ High Commission for Refugees recently launched a policy to guide health workers in the region on providing antiretrovirals to refugees.

From April 1st, insurance companies belonging to the Life Offices'€™ Association, will no longer deny policy holders life, disability or funeral cover benefits should they become infected with HIV.