#People: The story of Fortunate Sithole
Fortunate Sithole has a story to tell. She shared a snippet of it with Biénne Huisman. Joyrene Kramer took the photographs.
Weight gain with new antiretrovirals: Its complicated
The ARV dolutegravir will soon become part of standard first line HIV treatment in South Africa. Two leading experts discuss what we do and do not know about dolutegravir and weight gain.
New guides to advocating in AIDS councils
Spotlight has developed two new advocacy guides for members of provincial or district AIDS councils. One focuses on TB prevention and the other on retention in care.
In-depth: The problem of stopping or not starting HIV treatment
Many people in South Africa living with HIV never start taking antiretroviral treatment, or start and then stop. Spotlight asked the experts how big a problem this is and what can be done about it.
Provinces make progress with AIDS plans
All nine of South Africa’s provinces have finalised their NSP provincial implementation plans and six out of nine provincial AIDS councils are chaired by premiers, according to the South African National AIDS Council.
Is South Africa on track to meet NSP targets?
On World AIDS Day 2018 we assess how South Africa is faring against 10 key targets set in the National Strategic Plan (NSP) on HIV, TB and STIs 2017 – 2022.
Humans in the Age of HIV
We turn the spotlight on people living or working on the margins in South Africa. Referred to some as key populations, these folk - sex workers, trans people, MSMs, injecting…
AIDS2018: Humans in the Age of HIV-Where I work now, I actually feel like a woman
By Nomatter Ndebele Thirty-seven-year-old Zelda Leonie, has been a sex worker since she was 17 years old. She decided to go into sex work when she realized that she could…
AIDS2018: Humans in the Age of HIV-Carmen is impossible to miss
By Nomatter Ndebele Carmen is impossible to miss. She comes sauntering down the road with her luscious black locks bouncing gently behind her, as she moves closer she casually drops…
New SANAC CEO responds to questions about his past
Dr Sandile Buthelezi was recently appointed as the new head (CEO) of the South African National AIDS Council. His appointment follows the suspicious non-renewal of the previous CEO’s contract Dr Fareed Abdullah and unsuccessful attempts to lure Eastern Cape head of health Dr Thobile Mbengashe to the post.
TAC congress elects new leaders, sets priorities
The Treatment Action Campaign’s (TAC) 6th National Congress held in Sterkfontein, Gauteng concluded today with the re-election of Anele Yawa as General Secretary and the election of Sibongile Tshabalala as Chairperson.
Mental health and pill-taking: Getting beyond HIV
“A few weeks ago we lost Prudence Mbele, a beloved long-time activist living openly with HIV, who died of TB. Prudence was famous for her ‘pill holidays’ – a big no-no in HIV-land, as it leads to further immune damage. The idea of someone stopping their life-saving tablets – even temporarily – boggles the minds of most health providers. Her death triggered an intense media and Facebook/Twitter reaction, filled both with criticism at her choices as well as empathy, as people shared their own hard stories about taking antiretrovirals. Professor Francois Venter writes for Spotlight about the difficulties of taking pills for the rest of your life and dealing with the mental health issues relating to illness.