Worrying new AIDS symptoms surface in KZN

The epidemic of HIV/AIDS in KwaZulu-Natal is expressing itself in ominous new forms, a local academic has discovered.

Low chance of getting HIV from transfusion

More blood transfusion patients are likely to experience complications from getting the wrong blood type than are likely to contract HIV. Given the country's high HIV prevalence rate - one in four adults - officials say it is "remarkable" that HIV-infected blood is not more of a problem.

SA teens groping in the dark about sex

Despite sex education programmes on television, radio, billboards and in newspapers, some South African youngsters are still virtually clueless about sex, sexuality and HIV/AIDS.

Medical schemes may pay for HIV drugs

The Council for Medical Schemes is proposing making various HIV/AIDS treatments minimum prescribed benefits that will have to be provided by all medical aid schemes.

HIV/AIDS threatens Swazi workforce

Swaziland's workforce has been heavily affected by HIV/AIDS and the country could face an influx of migrant workers as a result of this. Migrant workers from all over Southern Africa could soon descend on the small kingdom to replace Swazi workers dying of HIV/AIDS, the IPS news

Women and youth sidelined in HIV/AIDS agendas

The highest incidence of HIV infection and AIDS death is among young people, most specifically young women - but you would never say so looking at the average format of an AIDS conference. The agenda is still being set by those from countries of low HIV infection who are stuck in a paradigm relevant to Europe and the USA, (but hardly at all to southern Africa, as an example), of HIV infection mostly being caused by injection drug use, sex work or homosexual relationships.

WHO releases list of recommended AIDS drugs

In a move that could reduce the price of AIDS drugs for poor countries, the World Health Organisation (WHO) released its first list of safe HIV-related medicines on Wednesday. "We hope this project will help HIV positive people gain greater access to affordable HIV medicines of good quality," Dr Peter Piot, director of UNAIDS, said in a joint WHO and UNAIDS press release.

South African youth ignoring HIV/AIDS threat

Irresponsible sexual behaviour, despite the threat of HIV/AIDS, is threatening the future of South Africa's youth, a recent study found. Alarmingly, the study suggested that only a small proportion of the youth interviewed felt they were ar risk of contracting HIV, despite 31 percent admitting to having engaged in unprotected sex.

Equality for African women in AIDS prevention

Women in Africa have been the hardest hit by HIV/AIDS. Twenty years into the pandemic, very little has been done to empower them to insist on safe sex. However, a growing interest in the female condom could correct this imbalance.

Clean water a must for infant formula

Up to 16 percent of children born to HIV-infected mothers acquire HIV/AIDS through breast milk in Africa. However, a recent study has shown that the use of infant formula as a substitute has been associated with higher rates of morbidity and mortality in developing countries.