The Harriet Shezi clinic, a specialist children'€™s unit for HIV and AIDS treatment at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto, had good reason to throw a party this last weekend. The centre now has almost one thousand children on treatment.

A new study in the community of Orange Farm, south of Johannesburg is investigating whether Acyclovir, a medicine used to treat a sexually transmitted infection, Herpes Simplex Virus-2 (HSV-2) has an impact on HIV transmission rates from infected individuals to their uninfected partners.

The HIV/AIDS programme initiated by Medicins sans Frontieres in Lusikisiki is well on its way to reaching everyone in the sub-district that needs treatment.

Two HIV-positive women presented to the media in June by the Dr Rath Health Foundation as examples of how its vitamins can reverse Aids have admitted that they were on antiretroviral (ARVs) drugs all along.

Renewed calls for Government to take action against the controversial Dr Rath Health Foundation have come from a large group of health professionals working in the Western Cape'€™s internationally acclaimed antiretroviral programme.

Cosatu secretary-general Zwelinzima Vavi fired a broadside at Health Minister Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang and President Thabo Mbeki at the weekend, accusing them of failing to provide leadership in the fight against HIV. The minister's spokesperson has in turn accused Vavi of being irresponsible and ignorant. Read the full text of Vavi's speech and the minister's statement here.

Bowing to huge international pressure, major pharmaceutical companies have made significant efforts to make their patented antiretroviral drugs available in Africa while ensuring that they '€“ not generic manufacturers '€“ maintain market control in the continent.

There is much to worry about regarding the multi-vitamin supplements being marketed to South Africa'€™s HIV-positive population by the German doctor, Matthias Rath, according to the Department of Health'€™s own nutrition expert, Lynne Moeng.

While the Department of Health'€™s nutrition expert has been quick to point out concerns over Dr Matthias Rath'€™s multi-vitamin supplements, which he touts as the only effective way to '€œfight off'€ HIV, its Director-General says there is nothing wrong with the pills, nor the activities of Rath'€™s Health Foundation in South Africa.

Lack of funds is behind the decision, amid claims of "protocol violations" and counter-claims of unilateral decision-making by the funder.

Deputy health minister Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge dispenses with pomp in favour of problem solving.