Every death counts
Every day in South Africa, 260 mothers, babies and children below the age of five die. These are signs of an ailing health system, says report.
Women’s Health
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Over 40 000 deaths could be prevented by better health services
Gaps in healthcare system causes unnecessary deaths of mothers and babies, according to the report "Every death counts".
The case for new PMTCT Living with AIDS # 340
Over the last few weeks this feature has dwelt on the country'€™s revised prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission (PMTCT) programme. But some of us might ask: Why is the revision of the programme so significant?
Differences over new PMTCT protocol Living with AIDS # 339
Last Friday, the Department of Health released its long overdue policy revision of the prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission programme (PMTCT). But medical experts say the new policy is still inadequate.
Another blow for HIV prevention
Attempts on the HIV prevention front have been dealt yet another blow, following the failure of the Carraguard microbicide to prove effective in preventing HIV infection from males to females.
Another prevention method fails
There'€™s a further upset in microbicides research as results of Carraguard, the only microbicide candidate to complete all three stages of research, show that the compound does not prevent HIV infection.
Govt further delays PMTCT protocol Living with AIDS # 338
On the 25th of January, the Department of Health announced that it would publish new guidelines for the prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission allowing doctors to give both Nevirapine and AZT to pregnant women with HIV. But once again, it seems to be dragging its feet on the matter.
Revised PMTCT guidelines Living with AIDS # 336
After years of debate, the national Department of Health has changed its protocol for the prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission. Last week, the National Health Council'€™s policy committee adopted new guidelines for PMTCT.
Govt finally introduces AZT for HIV+ mothers
After years of stalling and much criticism from the HIV/AIDS sector, the Policy Committee of the National Health Council on Friday finally adopted new guidelines for the prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT).
Enough delays on PMTCT – Doctors
The Southern African HIV Clinicians Society has added its voice to the growing criticism of the health department's failure to get its house in order on the prevention of mother to children transmission (PMTCT) programme.
Saving the world’s children
Simple, affordable life-saving measures, such as exclusive breastfeeding, immunization, insecticide-treated bed nets and vitamin A supplementation, have helped to reduce child deaths in recent years, according to UNICEF'€™s The State of the World'€™s Children 2008 report.
‘Tail’ regimen for PMTCT the way to go
A single dose of two antiretrovirals given to mothers shortly after giving birth has shown to reduce the chances of the women developing later resistance, a new study from Zambia has shown.
Living and dying in SA
The health indicators, which provide a snapshot of our nation'€™s health, still paint a picture of a violent, racially divided country where women bear the brunt of disease.
New PMTCT protocol in two weeks
Government has committed itself to announcing a new protocol for the prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) programme within the next two weeks.
Microbicide hope Living with AIDS # 331
Results from the first ever microbocide trial to go through all phases of research are due to be released early next year. A microbicide is a substance that can be inserted vaginally or anally with the aim of protecting its users from HIV infection.