Sent home to die
Caring for the terminally ill with AIDS is emotionally taxing. Kerry Cullinan visits some carers in Daveyton
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Paediatricians demand life-saving drugs
Living with AIDS – part 11
On World AIDS Day, December 1, paediatricians around the country will hand in petitions to their respective MECs for Health. Their call is for government to provide the affordable, anti-retroviral drug Nevirapine to help prevent the transmission of HIV from mothers to their babies. This action is in response to the growing frustration and despondency among doctors who are left virtually helpless in the face of the epidemic and can offer little more than palliative care to their patients. Health-e spoke to a paediatrician who works at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital.
Living with AIDS – part 11
Accent on the positive
Today is World AIDS day. A key figure leading the government's programme to combat the disease is the Chief Director of the national HIV/AIDS Directorate, Dr Nono Simelela. In an exclusive interview with Health-e News Service she looked back at what has and hasn't been accomplished and what areas government is prioritising for the future.
Why children need to hear about sex
How did you learn about sex? From your parents, your friends, books or magazines? South Africans of all cultural backgrounds share a common awkwardness and reluctance to talk about sex. We might all say that sex is normal and natural, but we don't always behave that way. Sex is something that is whispered about, or worse still, never discussed at all. But when a sexually transmitted virus has the potential to decimate our society - it's time the conversation began. In this series of four articles, we speak to parents, a school guidance councillor and a clinic nurse who talk about the difficulty - but the necessity - of talking to children about sex and sexuality.
More than 4-million living with HIV/AIDS in SA
For the first time there are signs that HIV incidence may have stabilised in parts of sub-Saharan Africa. But with 4,2-million infected people, South Africa has the largest number of people living with HIV/AIDS in the world. Anso Thom reports on the latest UNAIDS/WHO report
Gauteng builds its armoury against HIV/AIDS
For once, it's good news. Gauteng is getting it right in its fight against HIV/AIDS.
Living positively
Mercy Makhalemele has been thrown out of home, fired from her job, rejected and beaten, all because people discovered she was HIV positive. She is now open and outspoken about her life and the virus she lives with. Listen to her talk about living with AIDS.
Pre-election focus on AIDS outweighs other health issues
If party political promises would translate into improved basic health care, the lives of many underprivileged South African would be transformed - and yet when it come to health issues most parties are only interested in beating the HIV/AIDS drum to woo voters. By Anso Thom
‘Don’t overdo it’
Suzanne believes in not telling children more than they ask when it comes to sex. 'Don't overload them,' says the mother of Cape Town teenager Catherine (14).
Parents must know: AIDS is real
Preventing pregnancy is uppermost in many parents and teenagers' minds, says clinic nurse Noxolo Ntenetya. But HIV/AIDS seems to be far less of a concern.
Living with AIDS – Programme 10
In the past ten years, conservative estimates show that the HIV infection rate has risen from 0,2% in 1990 to 22,4% in 1999. Clearly the prevention message has not been heard. In this week's feature, health workers in the Western Cape speak out about what they think should be said and done.
We can’t hide from sex
Mavis Mtandeki is utterly convinced of the importance of talking to her children about sex. 'We can't hide just because our parents didn't want to talk about sex.' Mavis and another parent, sex educator and clinic nurse share their thoughts on talking to children about sex.
Honest answers to classroom questions
It can be uncomfortable talking about sex and sexuality because it's such a private thing, acknowledges psychologist and guidance counsellor, Ingrid Owens, but she has no doubt that children want to talk.
Balancing traditional medicine’s demands and conservation
An initiative, aimed at striking a balance between the need to sustain and conserve the natural medicinal plant resources and the growing demand for products from traditional healers, will be launched in Mpumalanga at the end of this month. ANSO THOM reports.
Living with AIDS Programme 9
In this programme, we spend a few minutes in the company of satirist Pieter Dirk Uys as he does his one-man AIDS awareness show for school pupils at Simonstown School. In the audience at this performance is the health minister, Manto Tshabalala-Msimang. Sue Valentine reports.