Kenya is one of the leading African countries that have started AIDS vaccine trials. The Kenyan AIDS Vaccine Initiative (KAVI) was initiated in 1998 and began HIV-1 vaccine trials in 2001. All of the vaccines that were tested have been specifically designed to be used in Kenya but have also been tested in UK. Phase One testing in humans has been proven to be safe and, says Dr Omu Anzala of KAVI, second phase vaccine trials will kick off soon. These will take approximately two years and will test the body'€™s immune response to the vaccine. The trials will include volunteers from Nairobi and London. Thandeka Teyise of Health-e News Service spoke to Dr Anzala and asked him to explain KAVI'€™S second phase of the vaccine trials.

In what could be seen as a move to an out-of-court settlement, Rustenburg Platinum Mine withdrew its challenge, for the meantime, against the Chief Inspector of Mines and the Minerals and Energy Affairs Ministry.

One of the latest research studies in the ongoing search for innovative technologies and strategies to help prevent HIV infection is the development and testing of microbicides.

The Global Fund to fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria faces bankruptcy and health activists are blaming the G8 nations. They are accusing US President George Bush of attempting to block bipartisan efforts to increase American contributions to the fund while it has also been revealed that the European Development Fund is sitting on 10 billion unspent euros.

Africa has the highest rate of HIV infections in the world with an estimated 13 million children left orphaned by AIDS. In sub-Saharan Africa, around 75 precent of a population of 40 million people is infected. These are the challenges that face African scientists who are still searching for an AIDS vaccine. Since 1987, says the African Aids Vaccine Programme over 27 candidate vaccines have been tested but none have proved effective. Thandeka Teyise of Health-e News Service visited Kenya and spoke to Dr Malaki Owili of the Research Society on AIDS. She asked him about the challenges and obstacles faced by African scientists. In this audio Dr Owili sketches the background to the African AIDS Vaccine Programme and the development processes thus far.

While South African health journalists are doing a sterling job covering HIV/AIDS related issues, the focus should now shift to the provision of anti retroviral drugs and treatment. Richard Delate, of the Centre for Aids Development, Research and Education (CADRE) says while politics dominates coverage of the pandemic the focus should now be on people are affected and infected by the virus. He applauds the role and expertise of health journalists in the country who he said are committed to conveying information about the epidemic.

Today the challenge brought by Rustenburg Platinum Mine against Mavis Anne Hermanus '€“ the Chief Inspector of Mines '€“ and the Ministry of Minerals and Energy Affairs will finally be heard in the Pretoria High Court. In the following report, the spokesperson of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) explains to Khopotso Bodibe the consequences of ruling in favour of the mine.

A court case that could have a significant impact on the protection of the rights of workers living with HIV is to be heard in the Pretoria High Court on Tuesday, the 27th of May. This is a matter between Rustenburg Platinum Mines and the Chief Inspector of Mines together with the Ministry of Minerals and Energy Affairs, wherein the mine is the applicant. Khopotso Bodibe gives us more details on the case.

We follow up on the story we aired in our last Living with AIDS slot. A major court challenge against the Chief Inspector of Mines, Mavis Anne Hermanus and the Ministry of Minerals and Energy Affairs, brought by Rustenburg Platinum Mines gets underway in the Pretoria High Court tomorrow (Tue, May 27). A decision made by the Chief Inspector of Mines in January 2001, to classify the death of a HIV positive miner, Jose Mulungu Cossa, as a mine fatality and the resultant levy imposed on the mine, are at the centre of the court challenge. Khopotso Bodibe reports on this significant matter.

Wezi Khoza, Executive Manager for Corporate Health at SAA, says since the launch of its AIDS policy employees have been making use of the company'€™s clinic. Apart from providing Voluntary Counseling and Testing of HIV, staff at the clinic also manage other life limiting diseases such as diabetes and cancer. Ms Khoza said SAA was honouring the Bill of Rights and that workers who are HIV positive would not be discriminated against and that the company would attempt to create a secure, caring and confidential environment. Thandeka Teyise compiled this report.