Strengthening PMTCT
More infants could be born free from HIV in South Africa. This follows the recent introduction of the National Plan for Acceleration of the Prevention of Mother to Child HIV Transmission programme, or PMTCT A-Plan.
Women’s Health
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High maternal & child deaths ‘not acceptable’ Living with AIDS # 404
About 60 000 children under five die in South Africa every year. Many women die from pregnancy or child-birth related complications, often exacerbated by HIV. The Health Department wants to change the pattern.
Protecting mothers, sisters & partners from HIV
Non-governmental organisations have raised concern over the lack of female condoms claiming that it undermines efforts to curb new infections.
Minister vows to address maternal and child deaths
Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi declared war on maternal and child deaths at a summit held recently in Johannesburg.
Health Minister shares insights on H1N1
Following a meeting in China and one held here in South Africa in recent weeks, Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, told the media about developments around the treatment of H1N1 flu.
‘The paradox of apparent progress yet worsening health outcomes’
Despite the health of women and children being a priority for the democratically elected government, South Africa is one of only 12 countries in the world where the mortality rate for our children has got worse since 1990.
Dispelling the ‘big fat myth’
Nutritional experts say it's untrue that all dietary fats are bad. This was one of the topics of discussion at a recent conference of the International Union of Nutritional Sciences (IUNS), in Johannesburg.
Pregnant Women severely impacted by swine flu
A Lancet study has revealed that pregnant women may be more adversely affected by swine flu.
African First Ladies lead the way for cervical cancer awareness
African first ladies have vowed to raise awareness on cervical cancer, one of the leading causes of death among women on the continent.
Male circumcision does not decrease sexual satisfaction
CAPE TOWN - Nervous giggles filled a meeting room at the 5th International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention (IAS 2009) yesterday when discussions turned to the sexual satisfaction of the female partners of circumcised men and the 'cosmetic outcome' of the circumcision.
Huge surge in maternal deaths
There has been a 20 percent increase in maternal deaths between 2005 and 2007, when compared to the previous three-year period, with HIV/AIDS accounting for over 40 percent of the deaths (43.7%).
Tracking the MDGs
While South Africa has made some progress towards reaching the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), mental health and poverty remain major challenges, according to public hearings on the MDGs hosted by the SA Human Rights Commission.
Zim illegal immigrants denied access to health care – MSF
International medical and humanitarian aid organisation Medicins Sans Frontieres (MSF), has released a report detailing the extent to which illegal Zimbabwean immigrants, are denied the right to access health care in South Africa.
‘Mental health is an overlooked priority’, commission told
The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has heard that mental health is an overlooked priority. This was said at the Commission's recent public hearings focusing on Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the realisation of economic and social rights in South Africa.
Activists mobilise against Manto
Health activists are mobilizing against the appointment of former health minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang as mentor and African Union Goodwill Ambassador on maternal, infant and child health.