Health

A call to action for orphansLiving with AIDS – Programme 81

Health

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.

Health-e News
June 20, 2002

Survey’s signs of the times
Living with AIDS – programme 80

Health

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.

Ndivhuwo Mukwevho
June 14, 2002

HIV causes unusual TB complications

Health

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.

Health-e News
June 12, 2002

Antenatal survey: ‘No growth in HIV epidemic’

Health

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.

Anso Thom
June 10, 2002

Mozambique’s uphill battle
Living with AIDS – Programme79

Health

t's nearly a decade since the 12-year long civil war in Mozambique ended. Athough the country is re-building, the challenges are immense. Not least is an official HIV prevalence rate of 13% which in the large cities like Maputo and Beira is thought to be closer to 30%. One of the biggest battles is how to find the resources - human and financial - to respond to the many needs facing the country. When it comes to HIV/AIDS specifically, entrenched cultural attitudes further complicate the equation. In this audio report, the executive secretary of the National AIDS Council Janet Mondlane outlines what they're up against.

Bibi-Aisha Wadvalla
June 7, 2002

More funds needed for African AIDS vaccine

Health

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-e News
June 7, 2002

World not ready for AIDS vaccine, WEF told

Health

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).

Health-e News
June 7, 2002

Least developed countries need support if Global Fund to succeed

Health

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.

Anso Thom
June 7, 2002

Tracing the destructive impact of HIV

Health

Researchers from different parts of the country agree, households affected by AIDS tend to be much poorer than those which are "unaffected". However, the silence about the disease has made it extremely difficult for researchers to document the extent of this damage and therefore to highlight the steps government needs to take to prevent these households from slipping ever deeper into poverty. Kathryn Strachan reports.

Health-e News
June 4, 2002

Ballooning the message

Health

Philipp Krebs, a Swiss-born artist who has lived in Cape Town for the past five years, creates unusual and extraordinary public works of art using balloons. In a project called Umbono, a Xhosa word that means vision, Krebs uses larger than life balloons to create awareness and educate people about safe sex and HIV/AIDS. Khopotso Bodibe went to view the Umbono exhibition, and filed this report.

Health-e News
June 3, 2002

Government outlines rape protocols

Health

Rape survivors will be offered two anti-retroviral drugs, AZT and 3TC, by public health facilities in a bid to prevent HIV infection from the sexual assault. The drugs will also be available in syrup form for child rape survivors.

Kerry Cullinan
May 30, 2002

Provinces prevent hospitals from getting nevirapine

Health

Provincial health officials in Mpumalanga and Limpopo may be in contempt of court after refusing to provide the anti-AIDS drug nevirapine to certain hospitals that want to offer it to HIV positive mothers and their newborn babies.

Kerry Cullinan
May 27, 2002

Messages of hope for mothers-to-be

Health

"From Mothers To Mothers To Be". This is the name of a programme operating out of the maternity section of Groote Schuur Hospital every Thursday. Each week, a group of pregnant women with HIV meet for education and counselling to help them deal positively with their status. Facilitating the programme are other women: happy mothers who want to share their skills and experiences of what they learned through the programme while they themselves were pregnant and newly diagnosed with HIV. The end goal of "From Mothers To Mothers To Be" is to prepare women for an opportunity to be put on a drug programme to prevent them from transmitting HIV to their babies. Khopotso Bodibe of Health-e News Service went along to find out more about this special service.

Khopotso Bodibe
May 27, 2002

Painting hope and memories Living with AIDS programme 78

Health

The Children's Team from the South Coast Hospice in Port Shepstone have some 200 children on their books - children who have either been orphaned because of AIDS or who need support because their parents are HIV positive. In this audio report, we visit the home of a family of three on the lower south coast of Kwa-Zulu Natal who live in a tiny, one-roomed shack. When the caregivers give the 13-year old boy a memory box to decorate, he paints his dream - a colourful, five-roomed house for his mother, his sister and him.

Health-e News
May 27, 2002

Care givers need support too
Living with AIDS Programme 77

Health

Care givers who form the backbone of home-based care programmes for people sick with HIV/AIDS need support and encouragement as well. In this audio report, experiences from a Soweto AIDS care and counselling group are shared with care givers working in Nyanga, Cape Town. Ideas are exchanged on the responsibilities that people attending the support groups can assume so that the staff don't burn out.

Health-e News
May 17, 2002

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