VHEMBE. '€“ The health services here has been unable to help a pensioner who is suffering from strange illness.

The much anticipated pill-a-day HIV prevention tool has been dealt a huge blow after a large scale study '€“ mostly conducted in South Africa '€“ found that most women did not adhere and take the one antiretroviral (ARV) drug daily.

LUSIKISIKI. - The country'€™s National Strategic Plan (NSP) to reduce HIV, sexually transmitted infections and TB offers a multi-pronged approach to tackle some of the country'€™s greatest health challenges.

After several news reports by the OurHealth community journalists, the TAC and SECTION27 visited the new Village Clinic in Lusikisiki last week. "What we found is a disgrace and violation of patients and workers rights," the activists said. Read the full report here.

A massive population-based study launched in the Western Cape and Zambia yesterday is aiming to answer the critical question whether testing large populations for HIV and immediately starting those infected on effective antiretroviral treatment programmes, could close the tap on new infections.

Heterosexual couples in long-term relationships who have sexual encounters outside their established partnership (extra-couple relationships) are one of the main drivers of the HIV epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa, according to new research published in The Lancet journal.

LUSIKISIKI. '€“ Stigma and ignorance around HIV nearly cost Nozibele Mditshwa her life.

My daughter is 5-years-old. She is beautiful, intelligent and smart. Every time I look at her she reminds me of where I've been and gives me hope for the road ahead. Right now the future looks bright for us '€“ but that wasn'€™t always the case.

Vhembe '€“ Clinic staff, home-based carers and members of the community came together at the Matavhela Clinic on December 1 to celebrate World AIDS Day.

At the opening of the SA HIV Clinicians Society there was an excellent debate on the stavudine (also known as d4T) 20mg trial. Francois Venter argued for and Eric Goemaere against. Dozens of Treatment Action Campaign members demonstrated against the trial and participated in the debate.

South Africa has received global recognition for achieving a significant reduction in the number of children newly infected with HIV.

Professor Janet Hapgood of the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology at the University of Cape Town has received US$100 000 to pursue research into the best contraception for women at risk of HIV infection.