While HIV and AIDS is a condition that still strikes fear among many people, developments in medical, scientific and social sciences research communities over the last few years have helped to change perceptions. HIV and AIDS can be a manageable and treatable condition. That is the thrust of a new book: 'Still Everybody's Business', published by insurance group, Metropolitan.
Five to six million people infected with HIV/AIDS in the developing world need access to anti-retroviral drugs, but only about 400 000 receive this life-prolonging treatment.
Five to six million people infected with HIV/AIDS in the developing world need access to anti-retroviral drugs, but only about 400 000 receive this life-prolonging treatment.
Good nutrition and traditional or complementary medicines feature prominently in the government's HIV and AIDS treatment and care plan approved by Cabinet last week. The plan provides for the roll-out of life-prolonging antiretroviral medicines for people living with AIDS. Khopotso Bodibe of Health-e News Service spoke to members of the AIDS Treatment Task Team to find out why the emphasis on food and traditional medicines.
Behind some trees, just off the N2 highway past Richards Bay, a unique village is taking shape that aims to address the many problems faced by people with HIV/AIDS.
A group of HIV positive women from Khayelitsha in Cape Town have found a unique way to tell and preserve their life stories and to give the epidemic a face.
Few white South Africans know their HIV status or are prepared to disclose it. But one woman, who lost her granddaughter and son to AIDS because doctors failed to recognize that both were infected, is speaking out.
Southern Africa is home to about 30% of people living with HIV or AIDS worldwide, yet this region has less than 2% of the world's population.
Last month marked a turning point in the South African government's response to the AIDS epidemic as the Cabinet approved the final draft of the Operational Plan for Comprehensive HIV and AIDS Care and Treatment. As the stage is now set for the roll-out, new challenges are looming for many sectors of society. The business community is one of these.
More than a month ago Canada announced, to great applause from the developing world and tireless AIDS activists, that it was willing to change its laws and allow generic drug manufacturers to export cheaper anti-retrovirals to poorer countries. Health-e looks at how the announcement came about and when it is likely to start delivering the desperately needed drugs.
MAPUTO: Despite being one of Africa's poorest nations, Mozambique has started an ambitious HIV/AIDS treatment plan which has already been treating patients
with antiretroviral drugs for 300 days.
As Nepad's efforts to coordinate African development
creates jobs and opportunities, those who benefit may
become more vulnerable to HIV/AIDS, an AIDS conference in Maputo hears.
People living with HIV/AIDS around the country are anxiously waiting to see whether Cabinet will approve an operational plan to introduce anti-retroviral drugs into the public health sector.
Projections in the Africa Journal of AIDS Research show that HIV incidence rates in the 15 to 49 years age group have decreased from 4.2 % in 1997 to 1.7 % in 2003. Health-e spoke to researchers who believe that new sexual practices among the youth are at the core of this change.
Every district in the country will be compelled to offer anti-retroviral drugs to citizens if Cabinet approves the drug rollout plan that is expected to be presented to it in the near future.
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