The Communities of Guguletu, Langa, Nyanga and Crossroads have taken upon themselves a responsibility to fight alcohol and drug abuse in their townships. Pupils, parents and elderly societies are saying enough to drug trafficking.

For Thanduxolo Bonkolo of Nyanga, Cape Town, facing up to his addiction to drugs is the only way he can survive. Thanduxolo says his addiction to the drug Mandrax turned him into a thief and that he even stole from his parents to support his habit. But he is trying to kick the habit and turned to the Guguletu Anti-Drug Association for help. Nomfanelo Plaatjie, of the Siyasebenza Clinic in the Phillipi Informal Settlement, says drugs have a negative impact not only on the people who abuse them but on their friends and family as well.

Hopes of most developing countries of stemming the tide of AIDS, TB and Malaria have very little chance of becoming reality.

A number of hawkers sell quick '€“ and often condomless -- sex on the side to supplement their incomes, an ILO study has found.

Sexism, culture and religion can have a positive or negative impact on the young. So says Brandon Keegan, an 18-year-old first year student at UCT and a Sunday school teacher at the Rondebosch United Presbyterian Church. Brendan feels churches can become more involved in HIV/AIDS awareness among young congregants who are often the most vulnerable. Thandeka Teyise of Health-e News Service compiled this audio in English.

How do well-known South Africans deal with talking about sex to their children? To celebrate youth during the month of June, Thandeka Teyise of Health-e News speaks to two role models. The Mayor of Cape Town, NomaIndia Mfeketho, says children have the right to know more about issues that affect them and that discussing sex opens their minds, enabling them to make informed choices. Essop Pahad, Minister in the President'€™s Office feels HIV awareness messages are getting through to the youth but adds that it is still best for parents to talk to their children about their options.

April 17 is a day that could have gone down in the history of South Africa as a turning point in the manner that government views the AIDS epidemic and how it deals with it.

Twenty-seven years ago, in 1976 the youth of South Africa stood up to wage a fight against the injustices of apartheid.

Despite knowledge about HIV/AIDS, the Swazi epidemic shows no signs of abating.

A feasibility study in preparation for Phase 3 clinical trials involving microbicides is underway at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, in Soweto.

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.

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.

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.