Government HIV/AIDS Contact Details

National Government contact details:

Youth Day Message from KZN MEC for Health

In 1976 the youth of our country led the struggle for a democratic and free South Africa. That struggle was eventually won with the liberation of our country in 1994, when we had the first democratic elections. The youth of that time took the lead and did not wait for the leadership to show the way. Today, our youth and country are faced with a new challenge - the challenge of HIV and AIDS.

KZN Health Dept joins hands with natural health practitioners

In a first for KZN, the Department of Health demonstrated its support for complementary health therapies by attending the launch of the Glenwood Natural Health Centre on Friday 28 June 2002. KZN MEC for Health Dr Zweli Mkhize officially opened the Centre in a private ceremony earlier in the day, and his Deputy, Professor Steven Hendricks, addressed guests at an evening function. The Centre, which offers homeopathy, acupuncture, network chiropractic, reflexology and herbal remedies, is owned by leading alternative health practitioners, Doctors Colin La Grange and Cheryl Morris.

Risks and opportunities in Budget 2002 HIV/AIDS funding approach

The most significant development in Budget 2002 is that national government is increasing its reliance on provinces to direct and implement programmes and allocate funds for HIV/AIDS as they choose. National government is banking on the idea that provincial underspending - plaguing HIV/AIDS conditional grants up to now - will decrease if provinces are given more room and discretion with funds provided by national government. This is a gamble worth taking. To reduce the risk, Budget 2002 simultaneously addresses the problem of lack of provincial capacity by earmarking funds to strengthen provincial management.

A new take or a louder echo of an old policy?

Six weeks after a watershed Cabinet meeting in which government announced a turnaround in its AIDS policy, there appears to be increasing confusion in government as to whether the policy has changed or whether the government was merely restating a policy it was failing to implement.

Challenge of treatment access in Africa

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has thrown down a challenge to the international community at the AIDS 2002 conference in Barcelona this week, calling for three million people to have access to antiretroviral (ARV) therapy by 2005.

Progress made with primary health care services for HIV/AIDS in Gauteng

Gauteng has developed its primary health care infrastructure to provide comprehensive HIV/AIDS care, according to an overall AIDS Care Strategy. This AIDS Care Strategy was reviewed and endorsed by outside experts in 2001 and 2002.

Summit to shape SA government HIV/AIDS policy

Scientists and academics are meeting with government this week in a groundbreaking HIV/AIDS Summit expected to help shape state policy. The two-day Summit in Johannesburg is to be followed by another meeting to discuss plans for universal access to anti-retroviral drugs. This is the first time that all these parties have met in a dedicated forum to review scientific issues relating to HIV/AIDS in the country.

Sex education now, Asmal orders

In a desperate bid to tackle HIV and AIDS, Education Minister Kader Asmal has instructed his Department to urgently implement sex education in schools, technikons and universities.

KZN HIV/AIDS grant still in limbo

There is still no certainty over the future of the R720-million allocated to KwaZulu-Natal by an HIV/AIDS fund.