Cosatu and the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) are to table a national HIV/AIDS treatment plan in the National Economic, Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) following the first national treatment conference which concluded in Durban yesterday (sat).
In this audio report, the health MEC for Gauteng tells Khopotso Bodibe that post exposure prophylaxis for rape survivors will be available at seven public hospitals by the end of June.
"Between April and June this year more than 300 000 children were registered to receive social grants." This is according to Dr Zola Skweyiya, the Minister of Social Development. But in this report by Khopotso Bodibe, Skweyiya says that the low number of children who are receiving foster care and care dependency grants is cause for concern. The Ministry of Social Development has earmarked two-billion rands to disburse as arrears payment to grant beneficiaries under these categories between now and August.
Stigma and discrimination are sadly all too often associated with HIV/AIDS. In this audio report two women who are open about their HIV positive status recount their experiences at the hands of neighbours. Nontsikelelo endured a prolonged beating with a sjambok, but fought off a man who attempted to rape her, claiming he wanted to "taste" what it was like to have sex with someone who has HIV. Zoleka was sworn at and had her house damaged by neighbours jealous of her life who claimed she didn't deserve to be happy as she was a "walking coffin". Mandla Majola of the Treatment Action Campaign speaks out about the need for perpetrators to be brought to book.
South African scientists have made a breakthrough in malaria research which will enable more effective drugs to be developed to treat the parasite-based infection. The breakthrough is based on identifying how the malaria parasite, transmitted to people by the Anopheles mosquito, operates in humans' red blood cells, according to Dr Giovanni Hearne of Wits University's School of Physics.
Although the Eastern Cape health department has welcomed the announcement of protocols for the use of anti-retroviral drugs in the treatment of rape survivors, the province will make no clear commitment as to when they will implement the treatment option. The Acting MEC of Health in the province, Max Mamase, says he would have liked the protocols to specify a triple combination therapy to ensure maximum efficacy. Mamase also says, because the drugs have not been proven to be completely effective, it is important that the protocols must exempt government from any litigation.
On May 29, the Minister of Health announced protocols for the use of post-exposure prophylaxis against HIV for rape survivors in public health facilities around the country. In this series of interviews, Khopotso Bodibe spoke to a number of provincial health ministers to find out what plans were in place to implement the protocols. The answers he received were mixed. First in line was the MEC of Health in Limpopo, Sello Moloto.
A nurse should be a caring and loving person with good listening and communication skills say student nurses at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in Gauteng. It also takes hard work and dedication. Thandeka Teyise joined the first year students on their rounds at Chris Hani Baragwanath and found out what motivated them in their chosen profession.
The Medical Research Council recently released a policy brief entitled, "Orphans of the HIV/AIDS Epidemic - the time to act is now". In it, the MRC predicts that if nothing is done, deaths due to AIDS will peak in 2010, while the wave of children orphaned as a result of HIV/AIDS will continue to increase, peaking in 2015 at around 1,85 million orphans. In this audio report, Sue Valentine hears from researchers in the field about what can be done.
The national ante-natal HIV prevalence survey for 2001 has glimmers of hope, but the regardless of small movements in percentage points, the big picture is that HIV/AIDS is going to have a lasting and significant impact on our society. In this audio report, statistician and public health researcher David Bourne gives his views on what we can conclude from this year's survey.
Combined TB and HIV infections are causing complications, with hospitals in KwaZulu-Natal seeing increasingly unusual presentations of TB, including TB-meningitis, mental retardation from TB and fits, according to KwaZulu-Natal Health MEC Dr Zweli Mkhize. Kerry Cullinan reports.
Could there be light at the end of the tunnel? Is the HIV/AIDS epidemic stabilising? The results of the 2001 National HIV Sero-Prevalence Survey show that there was a minimal rise of 0,3% compared to the previous year. Anso Thom reports.
Only about $41-million of an estimated $2,5-billion used on HIV/AIDS research globally, is spent on finding a vaccine for Africa. The need for more money to be injected into research in Africa as well as partnerships with African scientists were among the issues raised at the African AIDS Vaccine Programme's conference held outside Cape Town. Anso Thom was there.
Health minister Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang delivered her budget to Parliament this week. Criticised by the opposition  who  accused  her of a lack of leadership in tackling HIV/AIDS, Tshabalala-Msimang announced her priorities. These included a number of issues ranging from the measures to tackle the AIDS epidemic to the improved training of health professionals. But she also highlighted the need for the Global Fund to disburse much needed money and technical support to the least developed nations.
Despite scientists' optimism about the possibility of developing an AIDS vaccine, the world is "not ready" to make and distribute such a vaccine should it become available soon, according to Seth Berkley, president of the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI).
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