In an earlier report, patients on antiretroviral therapy explained how crucially important counselling is when taking such medication. In the third part of this series focusing on the complexities of this treatment for HIV/AIDS, we look at the issue of side-effects experienced by some patients taking the drugs. Like all medidcation, anti-retroviral therapy has certain side effects. Elaine Maane, who withdrew from therapy trials run by the Somerset Hospital HIV/AIDS research unit, told Khopotso Bodibe of her adverse reaction to the drugs.

In this final audio report on the divergent experiences of two women taking anti-retroviral therapy under trials run by Somerset Hospital, in Cape Town, we hear about the social issues related to the provision of therapy.

As government and the Treatment Action Campaign meet in the Constitutional Court, HIV positive mothers and AIDS experts celebrate the effect of Nevirapine in preventing mother-to-child HIV transmission.

Taking anti-retrovirals as part of a drug trial requires much more than the desire to recover one's health. It requires commitment to a drug regimen that involves rigorous adherence to swallowing a number of pills. Without the necessary counselling - and psychological and emotional support - it is very difficult to stay on the programme successfully and complete the treatment. In this audio report two women who have been on ARV therapy in a drug trial programme run by Somerset Hospital in Cape Town tell of their experiences. One of them, Elaine Maane, opted to pull out from the research.

South Africa's battle against HIV/AIDS has been given a massive $165-million (about R1,8-billion) boost from the Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria - almost double the national HIV/AIDS budget of R1-billion for this year.

The cost of antiretroviral drugs means that many poor people are unable to access such treatment. One way in which some doctors assist their patients is to offer them access to antiretroviral drug trials. At Somerset Hospital in Cape Town some people in Stage 3 of AIDS are offered a combination of registered medicines as well as drugs that are still going through the final stages of development before registration. In this audio report, Khopotso Bodibe talks to two women - one is still participating in the trials and another who has withdrawn due to problems that arose during treatment.

Ground-breaking research aimed at using short courses of anti-retroviral drugs to boost the long-term immunity of babies with HIV is due to begin within weeks at St Mary's Hospital in Marianhill, outside Durban.

President Thabo Mbeki himself spurred Cabinet to decide that anti-retroviral drugs should be given to rape survivors, according to a Cabinet source who spoke exclusively to Health-e News Service. Kerry Cullinan reports.