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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
Government has committed itself to announcing a new protocol for the prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) programme within the next two weeks.
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.
One of the biggest killers in Africa, but often overlooked in the age of AIDS, cancer will be the focus this week when experts gather for the 6th International Congress of African Organisation for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC) meeting in Cape Town.
Israeli doctors will be traveling to Swaziland for two week stints to assist in a mass circumcision campaign in the hope of curbing the spread of HIV. This and other stories are contained in the latest Centers for Disease Control HIV, Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention newsletter.
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