It stands to reason that if something affects you, you're more likely to take an interest in understanding it. Treatment literacy - the process of understanding how a disease affects you and what medication works best - is still relatively undeveloped in South Africa. In the United States, however, AIDS activists have not been content to leave the research into AIDS drugs in the hallo wed halls of scientific institutions. The Treatment Action Group based in New York has made substantial progress in ensuring that safe and effective medicines reach the people living with HIV/AIDS as fast as possible.

Living in denial about HIV/AIDS is not good for your mental or physical health. Three people with HIV/AIDS talk about living with the disease. Linda Sambata, Pholokgolo Ramothwala and Sindiswa Godwana all say that the more they learn about the virus and how to look after themselves, the better they feel about their lives.

Steve Andrews has seen too many patients die of opportunistic infections related to HIV/AIDS that could have been prevented if the drugs were affordable. He respects the right of pharmaceutical companies to make a profit, but in the case of Fluconazole believes that it borders on the criminal not to make the medicine available. That's why he is importing the approved generic, Biozole, in defiance of Pfizer's patent on the drug in South Africa.

2000 was a year all too often fraught with confusion, anger and frustration for those people living with HIV/AIDS. But as we head into the new year, what are people who have the HI virus hoping for? Sue Valentine compiled this report.

As the vigil next to Nkosi Johnson's bedside continues and messages of support flood in from around South Africa and the world, doctors and AIDS lobbyists have applauded the contribution that this eleven year old little boy has made to challenging the ignorance and prejudice all too often associated with HIV/AIDS. Sue Valentine compiled this report and began by asking Treatment Action Campaign leader Zackie Achmat why he thought Nkosi has made such an impact on our lives.