HIV/AIDS survey gets upbeat government response

The principal investigator of the Human Sciences Research Council's report on the prevalence of HIV/AIDS in South Africa has welcomed the "encouraging" response from the government to the 120-page document released at the weekend.

Tough new anti-rape laws on the cards

New laws aimed at "eradicating the pandemic of sexual offences" in South Africa, by broadening the definition of rape, criminalising male and oral rape and giving free medical treatment to victims, will be put before parliament next year.

Traditional healers urged to quash HIV/AIDS myth

Traditional healers in KwaZulu-Natal have been urged to be at the forefront of the war against the scourge of HIV/AIDS and help to quash the perception that raping virgin girls cures HIV/AIDS.

African governments urged to support women

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has urged that more attention be devoted to the plight of African women as the continent battles the twin threats of famine and AIDS. This deadly combination "is threatening the backbone of Africa - the women who keep African societies going and whose work makes up the economic foundation of rural communities", Annan wrote in an opinion piece published in the International Herald Tribune [on 30-12-02].

Nutritional care and support training course

The Institute of Food, Nutrition and Family Sciences (IFNFS) at the University of Zimbabwe, in close collaboration with the International Agricultural Centre (IAC) will be holding a regional training course on nutritional care and support for people living with HIV/AIDS from 20 - 31 January 2003 in Harare, Zimbabwe.

HIV/AIDS funding fails to make the leap

Hailed as a "quantum leap" in the fight against the HIV/AIDS pandemic, the Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has become a focal point for funding efforts to bring the epidemic to heel.

SA Port Operations funds orphans of AIDS

South African Port Operations (SAPO) advanced its "HIV/AIDS Lifestyle Management" policy recently with the donation of a large sum of money and clothing to the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Social Welfare. SAPO announced its Lifestyle Management Programme, aimed at reaching out to the community, earlier in 2002.

Having sex under false pretences seen as rape

The draft of a new bill on sexual offences states that having sex while pretending to be someone else could land lustful men and women in hot water - they could face rape charges. So could people who know that they are infected with a life-threatening sexually transmitted disease such as HIV/AIDS but who fail to disclose this to their sexual partner.

Durban conference on demographic and socio-economic impact of AIDS

Notice of a Scientific Meeting to be held from 26th to 28th March 2003 in Durban, South Africa, entitled: "Empirical Evidence for the Demographic and Socio-Economic Impact of AIDS".

Minister of Health speaks at the National STI/Condom Week Event

In many other countries, this week is only known as Condom Week. But here in South Africa, we have extended our campaign and called this a STI/Condom week.