Yes, we have HIV too, say four clergymen

Four religious leaders yesterday spoke out openly about their HIV status.

New action plan to assist orphans and vulnerable children underway in Durban

As a growing number of children orphaned by HIV/AIDS seek assistance from the state, South Africa's social development department has begun drawing up a plan to address their needs. An estimated one million children have been orphaned and, according to the South African Medical Research Council (MRC), at least 5.7 million could lose one or both parents to HIV/AIDS by 2015.

Slow monitoring and testing procedures hamper ARV access

Access to antiretroviral (ARV) treatment in South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal province is being hampered by long delays in tests required for HIV/AIDS monitoring.Some of the province's hospitals and clinics wait up to six weeks to receive laboratory results for the CD4 count tests of patients (which measure the strength of the immune system), healthcare workers said. Results for such tests should ideally be available in a few days' time.

Babizas Story

Babiza’s Story / Indaba ka Babiza, the first in a series entitled “By Children for Children through Books?, inspired by the Convention of the Rights of the Child. Published in November 2004, this 34-page, illustrated booklet relays 10-year-old Siphelele Ndlovu’s personal account of his encounter with the epidemic.

Ban on virginity testing raises ire of Zulus

Plans by the South African government to outlaw virginity testing for girls and young women have provoked outrage by South Africa's Zulu monarch, King Goodwill Zwelithini.

Confusion over new HIV/AIDS statistics

Alarming new HIV/AIDS figures released by the South African Department of Health are likely to cause confusion over the accuracy of earlier official statistics, experts have said.

Nurses to fill the gaps

South Africa continues to lose skilled healthcare professionals as it rolls out the national treatment programme, leaving severe shortages in an already overstretched public health system.

HIVAN-WCRP Religious Leaders’ Dialogue: The Role of Religious Leaders in the ARV Roll-out Programme

In her welcoming address and introduction to the day-long dialogue on anti-retroviral treatment roll-out in KwaZulu-Natal, WCRP President Paddy Meskin reflected on the crucial role that faith leaders could play in many areas of activity related to HIV/AIDS treatment and care. These included providing accurate information and psycho-social guidance for needy patients and especially breastfeeding mothers, support for adherence to ARV drug regimens, and assisting with strengthening public health infrastructure and capacity.

Understanding and Challenging HIV/AIDS Stigma

Many people have negative attitudes towards those who have HIV/AIDS, and their families. These attitudes – which are called stigma - undermine HIV/AIDS care and prevention and cause great personal suffering and tragedy. The fight against HIV/AIDS and the fight against stigma have to go hand-in-hand: it is not possible to challenge one without challenging the other.

More than Words? Action for Orphans and Vulnerable Children in Africa - Monitoring Progress towards The UN Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS

HIV/AIDS has left millions of children neglected and vulnerable. In sub-Saharan Africa alone, a staggering 12.3 million children have been orphaned as a result of HIV/AIDS - a figure roughly equivalent to the total number of children in the UK - and millions more have been left extremely vulnerable.* The impact of HIV/AIDS on children in developing countries is immense.