The multiple impacts of HIV/AIDS on our society requires an imaginative response. In the rural areas outside White River in Mpumalanga, the Masoyi Home Based Care project co-ordinates a variety of activities to enable the community to respond to the challenges created by HIV/AIDS and poverty.
The health department aims to provide 53 000 people with AIDS treatment by March of 2005. At present, about 8000 people are receiving free antiretroviral therapy in the public health sector. Health-e spoke to Dennis Matwa of the Treatment Action Campaign about the Civil Society Monitoring Forum launched recently to monitor the government'€™s Comprehensive HIV and AIDS Treatment Plan.
A lack of targeted prevention and sexual health services puts men who have sex with men at a disproportionately greater risk of contracting HIV than the rest of the population. That is according to a pilot study conducted by Wits University's Peri-natal HIV Research Unit.
Currently, around 3 out of 100 South African households are estimated to be child-headed, but the number is growing. How best to protect them is one of the issues Parliament must consider in finalising the provisions of the Children'€™s Bill.
For the past 18 months since he was 14, Zwe has been parenting his two younger brothers. Parliament is discussing the Children'€™s Bill at present, and grappling with how to deal with child-headed households
Consumers using prescription drugs are confused and it'€™s hardly surprising. The health department recently implemented a range of regulations to reduce the price of prescription medicines and to ensure transparency. Opposition from pharmacists has added to the confusion and, in some instances, a hike in drug prices.
HIV positive children are often discriminated against in schools if their HIV status is known, but the South African Children'€™s Rights Bill stipulates that children have a right to be protected against unfair discrimination. Health-e visited a crèche that accepts only HIV positive children in Khayelitsha and compiled this report.
The most common cancers affecting women are breast and cervical cancer. A regular pap smear can help women detect cervical cancer early when effective treatment is possible.
Uganda'€™s efforts to reduce its HIV prevalence rate from a high 18% to 6% in a population of 24 million has earned it the title of Africa'€™s success story in the fight against AIDS. But, as Health-e News Service reports, activists are concerned that Uganda'€™s success story might breed complacency.
Tlalehong ya rona ya ho qetela ya bophelo le HIV re utlwile ka projeke e ntjha Aforika Borwa ho kgothalletsa balekane ho fumana tsebo le ho nka teko mmoho ho tseba ka seemo sa bona le kokwana hloko ena. Bekeng ena re buisana le monna le mosadi ho ithuta ka moo morero ona tlasa projeke ya Tshwarisanang Centre e sepetleleng sa Chris Hani Baragwanath, motseng wa Soweto, o ba thusitseng ka teng.
Last week we heard about South Africa'€™s first HIV counselling and testing service for couples '€“ the Tshwarisanang Centre based at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, in Soweto. This week, a couple talks about how this service has benefited them.
Parliament'€™s social cluster group, lead by health minister Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, presented a progress report in parliament last week which included updates on the national school nutrition programme, the extension of the child support grant, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.
About 200 000 traditional healers serve at least 70 percent of South Africans who consult them regularly. Health-e News Service looks at new legislation that will soon regulate this industry.
Families and societies need to look after children orphaned because of AIDS, says Albertina Sisulu. Health-e News Service spoke to her and found out more.
For many people being diagnosed with HIV often spells a time of isolation and loneliness. Health-e News Service reports on a pioneering organisation aimed at helping those ministers of religion in Africa, who are either infected or affected by HIV.
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