A rebellion against government policy on the treatment of HIV/AIDS is taking place in South Africa, with four provinical governments openly defying national policy and announcing the provision of nevirapine to all pregnant women in the public sector.
Equity in Health
South Africa: De-Registration of Nevirapine Unlikely: TAC
The Treatment Action Campaign had no reason to believe that the Medicines Control Council would withdraw the registration of the anti-retroviral drug nevirapine, the Pretoria High Court has heard.
South Africa: Jimmy Carter and William Gates accompany Madiba to Soweto clinic
Former President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, went to Zola Clinic to inspect the Bill and Melinda Gates supported programme, where he announced that he would defend the Gauteng Premier's decision to provide pregnant mothers with nevirapine. Madiba was accompanied by Former US President Jimmy Carter and William Gates senior along with their wives.
South Africa: Makgoba Squares Up to ANC On HIV/Aids
SCIENTISTS and health professionals are squaring up to do battle with government and the African National Congress (ANC) on HIV/AIDS policy. This follows the release last week by the ANC's national executive committee (NEC) of a 10page document setting out its views on HIV/AIDS and signalling a retreat from what was seen as a tentative move towards liberalising policy on antiretroviral drugs.
South African government undecided about Nevirapine order
The South African government has not yet decided whether to comply with the courts order to supply nevirapine to HIV positive pregnant mothers or to
appeal the order.
The importance of an African Union for HIV/AIDS
A report by a correspondent of Af-Aids Forum from the third African Development Forum in Addis Ababa, Maaaarch 3-8, 2002
"The HIV/AIDS pandemic is a survival issue not just for tens of millions of Africans, but also for some of our nations themselves... The HIV/AIDS pandemic will test those survival skills to the limit, but I have no doubt that Africa will overcome this pandemic, hopefully sooner rather than later." - Abdul Mohammed, Keynote Presentation.
Further details: /newsletter/id/29088
Zambia: Breakdown in Health Services Worsens Impact of TB - WHO
THE breakdown in health services, the spread of the HIV/AIDS and multi-drug resistance have worsened the impact of TB, World Health Organisation (WHO) has noted.
Zambia: Traditional Healers Worry THAZ Over HIV/Aids
THE Traditional Healers Association of Zambia (THAZ) should find ways of punishing its members who are misleading their patients that they can be cured of HIV/AIDS by having sex with children, the Child Care and Adoption Society of Zambia has demanded.
DOTS -Availability and Implementation
Nearly 2 billion people, one-third of the world's population, is infected with the tuberculosis bacillus and at risk of developing active disease. Of the 8.4 million people who develop active TB every year 2 million die from it. There are two types of problems associated with DOTS. One is the non-availability of the treatment program and the other, the less than satisfactory implementation of it. Despite the proven potency DOTS (directly-observed treatment short-course) strategy and widespread agreement on its efficacy, many developing countries have failed proper implementation and expansion of the DOTS program.
Activists in South Africa welcome increase in AIDS budget
AIDS activists welcomed the increased expenditure on HIV/AIDS in the South African 2002-2003 budget released last week, but expressed concern that the funds could be misused at provinical level.