Launch of the HIVAN/Shallcross Community Forum Series

0n the 16th October 2003, The Centre for HIV/AIDS Networking (HIVAN), in association with The Shallcross Friends of the Library, launched their HIV/AIDS Community Forum Series. The aim of this Forum is to enhance networking, collaboration and information-sharing amongst various local organisations involved in HIV/AIDS activities.

October 2003 Public Health HIV/AIDS Journal Club

The October 2003 session of the HIV/AIDS Public Health Journal Club featured presentations by two prominent academics who are colleagues of long standing:

November 2003 Public Health HIV/AIDS Journal Club

€œHIV and Nutrition€ was the topic addressed by paediatrician Dr Nigel Rollins in his presentation to the November 2003 session of the Public Health HIV/AIDS Journal Club, held at the Doris Duke Medical Research Institute, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine in Durban.

Haven of Rest

Located amid sugar-cane plantations in Tongaat, the Haven of Rest is exactly what its name describes - a haven of rest for orphans, the elderly, people undergoing drug and alcohol rehabilitation, schoolchildren, and patients requiring treatment and palliative care.

A Global Family Matter - World AIDS Day 2003

The theme for World AIDS Day 2003 is "Live and Let Live" - a concept aimed at focusing attention on the deep stigma and rampant discrimination which is fuelling the pandemic in relationships of all kinds: partnerships, families, communities and workplaces across the globe. UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan was quoted this week as saying that the world is losing the struggle against HIV/AIDS, with infection rates climbing on key continents and social decimation resulting from widespread illness and death.

When is prevention better than cure?

Benjamin Franklin once wisely observed, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." On reflection, Michael Bixby Dudley noted in 1994: Zealous reformers have obviously discarded this proverb. Several billion pounds of cure are seemingly required to ensure "health care security" for all. Forget the ounce of prevention - it is no longer sufficient.

Stigma and HIV Prevention: The Way Forward

The final session of the 2003 series of WCRP-HIVAN Fora for faith-based organisations and HIV/AIDS researchers took place on 9 December, with Rabbi Michael Standfield, Professor Suzanne Leclerc-Madlala and Dr Shakira Cassim as guest speakers. Their respective presentations centred on positive approaches to dealing with the stigma and discrimination surrounding HIV/AIDS, and communicating for "Second Generation" HIV prevention measures.

February 2004 ECI/HIVAN HIV/AIDS Journal Club

The first session of the Journal Club's 2004 series was held on 6th February at the Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, UKZN, and featured presentations by Professor Jerry Coovadia on "Alternatives to HIV RNA concentration and CD4 count to predict mortality in resource-poor settings" and Ms Uvani Bodasing on "Resistance to anti-HIV drugs created by good pill-takers - not poor pill-takers".

HIVAN coastal community HIV/AIDS Fora

The Verulam Child and Family Welfare Society was the venue for the launch of a new HIVAN HIV/AIDS Forum series for KZN€™s North Coast communities, held on the 11th March 2004.

March 2004 ECI/HIVAN HIV/AIDS Public Health Journal Club

The March 2004 ECI/HIVAN HIV/AIDS Public Health Journal Club featured the following debate: Opt-in and Opt-out Policies in High HIV-Seroprevalence Populations in Resource Constrained Settings for PMTCT, and featured three presentations and panel discussion led by Professor Ames Dhai.