The National Treasury's Intergovernmental Fiscal Review acknowledges clearly that HIV/AIDS will impact dramatically on poverty and household vulnerability in South Africa, especially the need to care for orphans under 15 years of age who have lost their mothers due to AIDS.
One in four deaths last year can be attributed to AIDS with 194 892 South Africans projected to die from the an AIDS related disease this year alone. This is according to the Medical Research Council's long-awaited report, "The impact of HIV/AIDS on adult mortality in South Africa".
Volunteers are the backbone of care and support for people with HIV/AIDS. At the Red Cross Home Based Care centre in Nyanga, Cape Town a small team of dedicated workers has been caring for people with HIV/AIDS across the Cape Flats since 1993. Unemployment, poverty and hunger wittle away people's resistance and make those infected with HIV even more vulnerable to the course of the disease. In this audio package, home-based care workers describe the impact of HIV/AIDS and explain their commitment to helping those who are ill.
It is illegal for a doctor to test anyone for HIV without their consent. In spite of this, many doctors acting on the requests of employers, test domestic workers for the virus under false pretenses. To date, no doctors have been prosecuted for such misconduct.
In this audio report, another look at the female condom. Researchers speak about the pros and cons of the femidom and how acceptable it is to women - and to men.
Women are more at risk of contracting HIV than are men. In this audio report on the female condom, researchers speak about the extent to which it enables women to protect themselves from sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancy.
COSATU, the Anglican and Catholic churhes and the Treatment Campaign have joined forces, determined to pressurise Government into increasing its budget to allow for AIDS drugs. The groups also called on Government to declare a national emergency and to "get on with it", steering clear of controversy
South African health minister Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang has recommitted herself to fighting TB and Malaria. She has ordered a forensic audit of the SA National TB Association and expanded the use of DDT to control Malaria in Mpumalanga and the Northern Province.
South Africa's Health minister Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang has made it clear that her budget does not allow for anti-retroviral treatment, but she has recommitted herself to treating opportunistic infections, boosting people's immune systems and addressing nutrition as a matter or urgency. She also refuted reports that Government was de-emphasising spend on HIV/AIDS.
The death of parents due to HIV/AIDS is leaving a growing number of children vulnerable and in need of care. The more fortunate are taken in by grandparents or other relatives, but this does not protect them from the a life of poverty where food and clothing is scarce and often they are turned away unconstitutionally from schools because they can't afford school fees. In this audio report we hear from amongst others, a young girl from the Northern Province.
South African scientists are reluctant to comment on and engage with President Thabo Mbeki'€™s interpretation of cause of death statistics and whether AIDS is the biggest killer in the country or not.
In what promises to be a bruising court battle, the Health Minister and nine health MECs indicated yesterday, (Wednesday 12th) that they would contest the Treatment Action Campaign's demand for the anti-AIDS drug Nevirapine to be freely available to pregnant HIV positive women.
The impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic is exacerbated by the fact that many of the children affected and infected are desperately poor. Despite their right to free education and state support, they are frequently consigned to the margins of society by unsympathetic teachers and principals. In previous audio packages these children have spoken out about their needs. In this feature, the education department explains its commitment to support these children.
The Health Minister has until today, (Wednesday 12th) to respond to court papers demanding that she offers the anti-AIDS drug Nevirapine to all pregnant HIV positive women.
A step-by-step explanation of how the government'€™s programme to prevent mother to child transmission of HIV works, from ante-natal HIV testing to birth and beyond.
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