News

While generic production has brought down the prices of most first-line anti-retrovirals from over U$10 000 (R70 000) in 2000 to as little as U$150 (R1 050) per patient per year in June this year, prices of newer ARVs and formulations for children are up to 12 times higher.

Uganda, widely hailed as a success story in reducing the prevalence of HIV among the general population, has placed almost 65 000 people on anti-retroviral treatment, well above the targets set.

The real story behind Government's antenatal survey lies in the trends which show that overall the South African HIV/AIDS epidemic continues to grow, though than at a slower pace than in the 1990s. Of great concern is the continuing increase in prevalence in younger women.

Efforts to treat three million people by the end of this year are expected to fail with South Africa, India and Nigeria already falling well short of their targets.

Deputy health minister Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge dispenses with pomp for problem solving.

South Africa's second national AIDS conference draws to a close in Durban today. Kerry Cullinan reports on the highlights at the conference which drew a record number of delegates.

Many of the babies saved by nevirapine from getting HIV from their mothers at birth are being infected with the virus later in communities where health systems are weak and there is little support for their mothers.

Gauteng has the highest number of people on antiretroviral treatment of all the provinces, with 13 670 adults and 1 822 children on the drugs by mid-May.

The Western Cape has the longest track record of ARV treatment. Health-e spoke to Dr Fareed Abdullah, one of the driving forces behind the province’s success in tackling the AIDS epidemic.

The country’s biggest antiretroviral treatment centre have been convinced that the drugs work.

While 42 000 people are on anti-retroviral drugs at government sites an estimated 650 000 people still need treatment. On the eve of the 2nd National AIDS Conference, Health-e News Service assesses the state of government’s roll-out plan.

The World Bank and International Monetary Fund, both financial organizations that aim to reduce poverty, are preventing foreign aid from reaching HIV/AIDS programs in developing countries, claims an article in this week’s issue of The Lancet.

Despite the Health Minister’s concern that many patients on anti-retrovirals (ARVs) may be experiencing side-effects, doctors report that around 10% of their patients have had drug difficulties, with only on percent being serious.

The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have condemned the vitamin selling Matthias Rath Foundation.

South Africa in particular needs to show its commitment to treating HIV positive people with anti-retrovirials if the World Health Organisation target of treating three million people by the end of the year is to be met.

Health leaders meeting in Addis Ababa have released a "Road Map" to scale up the battle against a spiraling tuberculosis epidemic.

Exclusive breastfeeding substantially reduces the transmission of HIV from mother to baby as well as infant death, compared with partial breastfeeding, a study in Zimbabwe has confirmed.

The antics of the discredited Dr Rath, and our health minister’s support for him, are dragging us back into the dark days of AIDS denialism.

Treating HIV positive people when their CD4 counts are above 200 is not only lifesaving, but also more cost effective, University of Cape Town Professor Robin Wood told a conference in Johannesburg.

More children need to be put on anti-retrovirals as the drugs are rolled out to thousands of adults across the country. University of Witwatersrand Dr Haroon Saloojee revealed that only 31 children were accessing treatment in Mpumalanga.