News

The first two official AIDS deaths in South Africa were recorded in 1982. This timeline tracks the course of the epidemic in South Africa from then until now.

HIV is one of the most closely studied viruses in history and yet it continues to outwit scientists in their efforts to find a cure or prevent the onset of AIDS.

Four pioneering doctors who encountered the first cases of HIV and Aids in South Africa look back on the epidemic.

The frontrunner for the position of Director General of Health, Dr Victor Litlhakanyane, has withdrawn, apparently frustrated by the long delays in the finalisation of the post.

With the US presidential race too close to call, both candidates are trying to woo black voters, who are the poorest and most disadvantaged sector of American society with the highest burden of disease.

The Western Cape celebrated the arrival of the first chunk of the R430-m from the Global Fund to fight Aids, TB and Malaria. Health-e was there when the champagne corks popped.

Despite the overall low levels of HIV prevalence in the Western Cape, some urban areas within the province have HIV prevalence rates of almost 30 percent.

Government’s long-awaited antenatal survey, a measure of the maturity of the country’s HIV epidemic, was released this week. Although there was no statistically significant increase, the rates remain high.

For the past 18 months since he was 14, Zwe has been parenting his two younger brothers. Parliament is discussing the Children’s Bill at present, and grappling with how to deal with child-headed households

Education officials from around the African continent unanimously suppport abstinence messages but argue over condom distribution at schools.

Parliament’s social cluster group, lead by health minister Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, presented a progress report in parliament last week which included updates on the national school nutrition programme, the extension of the child support grant, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.

An assessment of the Department of Health's delivery over the past decade earns it a mixed report. This article was first published in the South African Health Review in July 2004.

A consultative workshop involving the national health minister, her provincial counterparts, scientists, researchers and other experts has agreed that nevirapine will remain as therapy to prevent the transmission of HIV from a pregnant women to her child. A decision on alternative therapy will be taken once further research has been conducted.

Rushed in as a last minute substitute speaker for the Minister of Health, the head of the national health department's HIV/AIDS cluster, Dr Rose Mulumba, has told students that prohibitive costs were the reason for the long delay in providing antiretroviral treatment in the public health sector.

The South African furore over nevirapine drowned out some of the other important issues highlighted at the International AIDS conference. Health-e takes a look at some of the global challenges.

The Bush Administration's approach to the global fight against HIV/AIDS is increasingly taking on the domineering, "go-it-alone" trademarks of US foreign policy.

The male condom is the most effective intervention to prevent HIV transmission, but further studies could show that male circumcision decreases the risk even further, a South African scientist has told delegates at the Bangkok AIDS Conference.

Activists, scientists, religious leaders, the youth and civil society organisations spoke of their experiences over the last few days during the final session of the 15th International AIDS Conference in Bangkok, Thailand. Senator Mechai Viravaidhaya, fondly known as the “Condom King” in Thailand spoke of economically empowering those infected and affected.

South African scientists attending the AIDS conference in Bangkok have presented evidence showing that resistance to Nevirapine is reduced dramatically six months after the mother has taken the drug. Further evidence suggested that combination therapy was the way forward.

Despite the diversion created by the unfortunate and ill timed Nevirapine statements from the South Africa government, the Bangkok AIDS conference has managed to place the urgent need for millions to access lifesaving anti-retroviral therapy on the world agenda. Health-e captures the critical messages from the Thailand conference.