Despite government efforts to improve the living conditions of children, particularly through social grants, almost two-thirds of all South African children live in poverty.

ISTANBUL, Turkey '€“ Only 5.4% of the world's population was covered by comprehensive smoke-free laws in 2008, up from 3.1% in 2007, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported today in its second report on the global tobacco epidemic.

Over 4000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year in South Africa and more than half of them die. According to the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) these numbers could be reduced if more men were screened.

A global initiative, formed to mobilise society in the fight against AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, has launched a campaign to force countries to drop import taxes on treated mosquito nets in an attempt to control the malaria epidemic. The initiative aims to hold governments accountable to commitments made in the Abuja Declaration signed two years ago, in which African states promised to reduce the costs of mosquito nets and insecticides. South Africa is one of several countries which has yet to make good on its promises. Anso Thom reports.

Drug giant Pfizer has extended its offer of free diflucan (fluconazole) to HIV/AIDS patients in 50 of the least developed nations as well.