OPINION: A new African HIV Control Working Group to propel African voices in the global HIV response

Posted in: HIV/AIDS, Latest, TB

It is estimated that over 65% of the global HIV burden is in sub-Saharan Africa. Now, in an attempt to propel African voices and perspectives in the next phase of the HIV response in Africa, a group of Africans established an African-led HIV control working group (HCWG). They are all experts from the continent who have come together to develop consensus perspectives on the long-term sustained control of HIV and prioritise the systems and capabilities to achieve it. Drs Yogan Pillay and Izukanji Sikazwe explain the thinking behind the new working group and set out their objectives.

OPINION: A new African HIV Control Working Group to propel African voices in the global HIV response

Opinion: Ending HIV/AIDS inequalities to achieve equity and end the epidemic

Posted in: HIV/AIDS, Latest

As we look at the year ahead, urgent work remains to build on past successes and to bring the HIV epidemic sustainably under control. Amongst others, we need to address persistent stigma and discrimination, as well as the structural and social factors that put women and girls at increased risk of HIV infection, argues Rachel Toku-Appiah.

Opinion: Ending HIV/AIDS inequalities to achieve equity and end the epidemic

Opinion: Engaging communities and young people in the HIV response

Posted in: HIV/AIDS, Latest

The AIDS2022 conference held recently in Montreal, Canada highlighted yet again the need for community activism and the importance of involving young people, writes Dr Yogan Pillay. He argues that the youth and communities must be engaged in the conceptualisation and writing of South Africa’s new AIDS plan, and young people and community-based organisations must have a central role in key aspects of its implementation.

Opinion: Engaging communities and young people in the HIV response

Spotlight on HIV: Six graphs that tell the story

Posted in: COVID-19, HIV/AIDS, Latest

In 2021, HIV was successfully suppressed in the bodies of around 63% of the close to eight million people living with HIV in South Africa. This is according to recent outputs from Thembisa, the leading mathematical model of HIV in South Africa. With the help of some graphs, Spotlight editor Marcus Low unpacks this and other key model outputs.

Spotlight on HIV: Six graphs that tell the story

WORLD AIDS DAY: How stigma is impacting the 90-90-90 goals

Posted in: Edition 12: SA’s AIDS & TB response, Edition 9: State of HIV, HIV/AIDS, Latest

The HIV epidemic is far from over and we will not reach key UNAIDS targets and control HIV unless we end HIV-related stigma, argues Prof Linda-Gail Bekker.

WORLD AIDS DAY: How stigma is impacting the 90-90-90 goals

New medicines should make life easier for kids living with HIV

Posted in: Child health, Edition 6: HIV & teens, Edition 9: State of HIV, HIV/AIDS, Latest

HIV medicines for children often taste bitter, pills are large, and for many children there is a lot of medication to take. This makes it hard to take treatment as prescribed. Tiyese Jeranji looks at the challenges with currently available HIV medicines for children, what innovations are in the pipeline, and how HIV treatment is being tailored to suit the needs of children.

New medicines should make life easier for kids living with HIV

Opinion: Why fixing South Africa’s patent laws is necessary in the fight against HIV

Posted in: Access to Medicines, Edition 12: SA’s AIDS & TB response, Edition 8: NSP in general, Edition 9: State of HIV, HIV/AIDS, Latest

In 2018, Cabinet adopted a new intellectual property policy for South Africa, but as yet the policy has not led to any change in the country’s patent laws. Amending these laws as soon as possible is critical to both the COVID-19 and HIV response, argues Umunyana Rugege.