Much has been achieved in just over a decade of democracy in South Africa by facilitating access of the poor to health and other services. However much more needs to be done if the constitutional rights of citizens to dignity is to become universal. Under the strain of an HIV onslaught the health systems serving the poor are being incredibly strained. Women in poor communities are having to fill the gap through self-devised homedbased care as the public health care system that most South Africans rely on is unable to cope.
Equity and HIV/AIDS
Essential services: HIV, health services and gender in South Africa
Motala M, Noel T: Oxfam International, 1 September 2006
Africa to get free technical ability to manufacture HIV generic medicine
Kuwait News Agency, 22 September 2006
The Swiss-based Basel giant pharmmaceutical company, Roche, said that it would supply free-of-charge three companies in Africa, with the technical ability to manufacture generic medicine for HIV, the virus that leads to AIDS. In an announcement on 22 September, Roche added that Aspen Pharmacare in South Africa and Cosmos Limited and Universal Corporation Limited in Kenya will receive the necessary technical expertise. The Basel based firm said another 25 companies from 14 countries, including Ghana, Zimbabwe and Nigeria were interested in the initiative. The agreements are the first in a series of planned technology transfers for sub-Saharan Africa and the world's Least Developed Countries, which were announced in January 2006.
After the political declaration - Where to from here? Views of an activist living with HIV/AIDS
Mthati S: The Sixteenth International AIDS Conference, August 2006
This video clip from the Sixteenth International AIDS Conference held in Toronto in August 2006 shows an AIDS activist living with HIV presenting her views on the UNGASS political declaration. The video clip is found among others presented at that conference session.
Fighting AIDS with ingenuity
Goar C: The Toronto Star, 16 August 2006
What happens when there aren't enough doctors to administer treatments? What happens when patients sell their medications to buy food? What happens when people are afraid to get tested for a disease? The International Development Research Centre (IDRC) working with South African researchers are developing techniques to manage AIDS in resource constrained settings.
HIV rates no longer falling in Uganda: Evidence from rural population cohort 1989-2005 and ANC surveillance
Shafer LA, Biraro S, Kamali A, et al: The Sixteenth International AIDS Conference, August 2006
Throughout the 1990s, Uganda has successfully controlled its HIV epidemic, with falling prevalence and incidence rates. Recent evidence, however, indicates that this decline may not be continuing. Factors influencing recent epidemiological trends are still unclear, but may include increased risk behaviour, the natural epidemiologic cycle and others. To solidify Uganda’s success, the ongoing efforts in HIV prevention need to be re-emphasised.
Improving HIV surveillance and prevention among armed forces in Central Africa
Alberga J, Ubald T, Mpoudi E, et al: The Sixteenth International AIDS Conference, August 2006
The prevention of HIV/AIDS in the Armed Forces is a critical task in Central Africa. Since 2002 the US Department of Defense HIV/AIDS Prevention Program has been providing support through the Johns Hopkins Cameroon Program to assist these countries to improve surveillance and prevention of HIV/AIDS in Cameroon, Chad, Congo Brazzaville, Congo Kinshasa, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and Sao Tome. The study describes interventions whose innovative effort in the Armed Forces in Central Africa is the first integrated HIV/AIDS prevention program in this region and will allow effective implementation of long-term strategies to fight the disease in this population.
Kenya: Better care could be taken of AIDS orphans
IRIN Plusnews, 21 September 2006
Being an orphan is tough enough at the best of times, but in the working class district of Dagoretti Corner in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, it often means going without food as well as love. Felista Kibe tries to make sure that doesn't happen. She and a handful of volunteers have been providing food and comfort to children orphaned by AIDS in Dagoretti since 1996. Eighty kids depend on her for a daily meal, 30 of whom are HIV positive, but when word gets out that a donation has been received as many as 200 children can show up.
Mozambique: Recognising the reality of HIV/AIDS in prisons saves lives
IRIN Plusnews, 21 September 2006
In Mozambique's Machava Central Prison, the largest jail in the country, sex between prisoners is an unavoidable reality, but little is being done to prevent it, according to inmates and medical staff. Overcrowding, violence and high-risk behaviour, such as sharing drug-use equipment and unprotected sex increase risk of HIV transmission in prisons. Lack of information on HIV and AIDS and inadequate health facilities also contribute to the spread of the disease. This article explores the limits to prevention activities such as condom distribution given the taboo on homosexuality in Mozambique.
Situation analysis report on the plight of orphans and vulnerable children in Palapye and Letlhakeng, Botswana
Tsheko GN, Segwabe M, Odirile LW, Tlou SD: Social Aspects of HIV/AIDs Research Alliance (SAHARA), 5 August 2006
The traditional role of care giving and support provided to orphans by paternal and maternal grandparents, uncles and aunts is slowly being eroded. More and more households are becoming nuclear family centred. Challenges facing Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) include serious shortages of housing and exposure to abuse (including ill-treatment and sexual abuse). This study collected information on conditions of OVC in Kweneng West and Serowe/Palapye districts, Botswana, and the services in place that cater for OVC needs.
South Africa: Alarming AIDS figures reported in new study
IRINnews, 19 September 2006
HIV/AIDS is sweeping through parts of South Africa's east-coast province of KwaZulu-Natal, where researchers are finding alarming HIV prevalence levels among women. 'The study might be considered somewhat biased, as only women were tested, but the figures do suggest a worrying upward trend which could be part of a bigger problem,' Medical Research Council (MRC) researcher Professor Gita Ramjee told PlusNews.