Rural doctor of the year sees ‘beautiful improvement in AIDS patients’
A doctor who gave up a thriving private practice in Gauteng to help people living with HIV in a rural backwater was named 'Rural Doctor of the Year' last week.
News
Read More » Rural doctor of the year sees ‘beautiful improvement in AIDS patients’
Super resistant XDR TB rears its head in KZN
TORONTO ' A study from KwaZulu-Natal has revealed shocking details of a super-tuberculosis strain ' XDR TB ' that is resistant to all first and second line TB drugs and has an extraordinary high death rate.South Africa does not yet have any drugs to treat people with XDR TB.
Bush accused of undermining Africa’s AIDS prevention policies
TORONTO - George Bush's millions going to abstinence-only HIV prevention programmes, many in Africa, has been slammed as insipient neo-colonialism and illegitimate by a fiery Stephen Lewis of the United Nations.
Manto promotes garlic diet at AIDS conference
TORONTO ' Health minister Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang opened South Africa's Khomanani exhibition at the World AIDS Conference with her much criticized recipe of lemon, garlic and beetroot ruffling feathers.
Combination of drugs best for TB
TORONTO - Pairing a common tuberculosis (TB) drug with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) is more effective than either therapy on its own at preventing full-blown TB disease in people with HIV.
HIV rate stable in teens but increasing among older women
Pregnant women aged between 25 and 29, living in KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and Gauteng are worst affected by HIV.
Undies for a cause Living with AIDS # 268
The 'I didn't have a condom' excuse could soon be unheard of if the marketing of an innovative underwear brand succeeds. The underwear features a unique pocket that can carry up to three condoms ' for use at opportune times.
Vaccine for vicious rotavirus
South African kids will soon be able to get vaccinated against one of the most common causes of severe diarrhoea
Can circumcision reduce HIV risk?
Living with AIDS # 264
Two weeks ago we reported on the findings of a study suggesting that circumcised men are at a reduced risk of contracting HIV. Some of our audience found the claims 'disturbing and confusing'. This week, we try to answer some of the questions.
Living with AIDS # 264
Making blood safe
Living with AIDS # 263
During winter, many people will need donated blood for medical reasons. But the needle prick involved in drawing blood scares potential donors away. At the same time, blood recipients often worry about contracting infections, including HIV, through a transfusion. But the South African National Blood Service maintains that donated blood is safe.
Living with AIDS # 263
Knocking on doors Living with AIDS # 260
Mass messages of HIV prevention are not as effective as face-to-face contact. So, the government's HIV and AIDS communication programme, Khomanani, has taken to making home visits to deliver the message. We went to Parys, in the Free State, to see Khomanani in action.
On line for the youth Living with AIDS # 256
In times of trouble some of us find it much easier to speak to a total stranger for advice. Counsellors, in the form of psychologists, social workers and others, are often the strangers we confide in. In the area of HIV and AIDS, these professionals often play an invaluable role. Nditsheni Ratshitanga is a counsellor with the youth health awareness programme, loveLife.
Refocusing on prevention
Living with AIDS # 255
National and international efforts to prevent escalating HIV infection rates have yielded very little results. This reality has spurred the African Union into declaring 2006 as the Year of Accelerating Access to HIV Prevention in Africa.
Living with AIDS # 255
The myth machine & HIV Living with AIDS # 254
They say in life situations come and go. But when myths around HIV and AIDS come, do they really go away? If they persist, what effect do they have on people and their perception of HIV risk and prevention?
Health officials promote untested uBhejane
Desperate AIDS patients buy expensive concoction, but researchers say there is no proof that it works