Like many young South Africans his future was confined by financial constraints. But even so, after matriculating, young Raphakisa Botha could have chosen a number of other paths but instead he became a gender activist.
Only 5% of babies born to HIV positive mothers at a small, dedicated hospital get the virus.
The tendency by most men to avoid or refuse professional medical help often puts the lives and well-being of their partners at risk.
Despite her HIV status and the depression it sometimes brings her, Pinky Tiro remains committed to helping others with HIV, even at the expense of her family and even when she feels her education work makes little impact.
The message 'it pays to know your HIV status' hasn't caught on very well with most South African men, according to a study published recently.
While generic production has brought down the prices of most first-line anti-retrovirals from over U$10 000 (R70 000) in 2000 to as little as U$150 (R1 050) per patient per year in June this year, prices of newer ARVs and formulations for children are up to 12 times higher.
Uganda, widely hailed as a success story in reducing the prevalence of HIV among the general population, has placed almost 65 000 people on anti-retroviral treatment, well above the targets set.
Around 30 nurses and managers shared their insights, experiences and coping mechanisms amid the Aids epidemic. They were interviewed by Uta Lehman and Jabu Zulu of the School of Public Health at the University of the Western Cape, in the latest issue of Critical Health Perspectives.
The real story behind Government's antenatal survey lies in the trends which show that overall the South African HIV/AIDS epidemic continues to grow, though than at a slower pace than in the 1990s. Of great concern is the continuing increase in prevalence in younger women.
What does being a man mean? Violent, abusive, uncaring, arrogant are some of the adjectives that are used to describe men. But a steadily growing number of South African men are slowly changing the male identity.
Government this weekend placed the long-awaited National HIV and Syphilis Antenatal Sero-prevalence survey on its website without the usual fanfare and media releases. The survey, which is accepted as one of the best available estimates of HIV infection, reveals that almost 4 800 of the 16 000 women tested at local Government clinics in 2004 were HIV positive. Over 6-million South Africans were estimated to be living with HIV or AIDS.
Newly crowned Miss Universe Natalie Glebova went on a whirlwind tour through South Africa and Swaziland in an attempt to personally see the devastation caused by the AIDS epidemic. She talks frankly about her ignorance around the epidemic having grown up in the protected surroundings of Canada.
Dating can be a risky affair when HIV is added to the mix. The potential of meeting an HIV-positive partner is a reality. But should this possibility discourage anyone from dating? A young couple shares their story.
Efforts to treat three million people by the end of this year are expected to fail with South Africa, India and Nigeria already falling well short of their targets.
I don't want to be perceived as violent, was 25-year old Pumlani Mzangwa's simple explanation for why he took part in a men's rally and march in Soweto last week, to lament the abuse of women and children.
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