Less money for TB research
By Mike Frick – The world spent less on tuberculosis (TB) research in 2015 than it did in 2009. This decrease in spending does not track a similar decline in TB incidence or mortality.
Ten patents on two TB drugs
By Marcus Low – An online tool launched last week sheds light on what patents have been granted for which medicines in a number of developing countries.
HIV in SA: Five graphs that tell the story
By Marcus Low The recently published outputs of the Thembisa mathematical model of HIV in South Africa paint a remarkable picture of the history of HIV in this country. For…
Illegal experiment scandal rocks Free State health
By Anso Thom and Marcus Low – The Medicines Control Council (MCC) this week suspended what appears to be unlawful stem cell experimentation at Pelonomi, a state hospital in Bloemfontein.
NSP 2017-2022: Our Fifth National AIDS plan presents SA’s greatest challenge yet
Former deputy Chairperson of the SA National AIDS Council (SANAC) and long-time AIDS activist Mark Heywood’s plea to Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa as we craft our next response to the epidemic.
New HIV infections in SA declining
By Marcus Low – Last week the latest estimates from the Thembisa mathematical model of the HIV epidemic in South Africa were published by Leigh Johnson, Rob Dorrington and Haroon Moolla of the University of Cape Town.
Rape emergency in Rustenburg- MSF
By Nomatter Ndebele – One in four women surveyed in the Rustenburg area reports having been raped, according to a report released yesterday at the 1st South African National conference on Violence being held at the Birchwood Hotel in Boksbur g.
New NSP by November: SANAC responds to questions on NSP process
By Marcus Low – We recently sent the South African National AIDS Council some questions regarding the process for developing South Africa’s new National Strategic Plan on HIV, TB and STIs. Below we reproduce their responses exactly as they were sent to us.
Judgement reserved in Bophelo House 94 appeal
By Nomatter Ndebele A full bench of the Bloemfontein High Court today reserved judgement in the appeal of the so-called Bophelo House 94. In July 2014 the Bophelo House 94,…
Spotlight’s top 8 highlights of AIDS 2016
By Marcus Louw – As the dust settles in Durban and the circus moves on, we reflect on a few of the bigger moments of AIDS 2016. Below are some of the highlights we think may turn out to be significant.
Notes on our next NSP
By Marcus Low, Spotlight Editor – At the end of this year South Africa’s big plan to fight HIV and tuberculosis (TB) comes to an end. The National Strategic Plan (NSP) for HIV, TB and STIs 2012 – 2016 will be replaced by the 2017 – 2021 NSP. It is vital that the new NSP avoids the mistakes of the past and fully incorporates new scientific evidence.
Stigma and shame still shrouds HIV amongst key populations
By Ntsiki Mpulo – Key populations including sex workers, men who have sex with men and injecting drug users are still marginalised and suffer the “internal nightmare of shame and stigma” despite the strides that have been made in the response to the AIDS epidemic. This was the message delivered by Constitutional Court Judge Edwin Cameron when he delivered the Jonathan Mann Lecture at the International AIDS Conference today (Tuesday).