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

In-depth: The court ruling that gives qualifying pharmacists the green light to provide HIV and TB meds without a script

Posted in: HIV/AIDS, Latest

Specially trained and accredited pharmacists in South Africa will now be allowed to dispense medicines to prevent HIV and TB and to treat uncomplicated HIV without a doctor’s script. This is because the North Gauteng High Court this week ruled against an application by a private doctors’ association attempting to block the initiative. Catherine Tomlinson unpacks the judgment and rounds up some responses.

In-depth: The court ruling that gives qualifying pharmacists the green light to provide HIV and TB meds without a script

Over 4.7m people in SA placed on new HIV med in four years

Posted in: HIV/AIDS, Latest

In what is likely one of the largest treatment rollouts in South African history, well over four million people living with HIV have started taking the antiretroviral dolutegravir since its introduction around four years ago. Now, according to a recent study published in the Lancet medical journal, use of dolutegravir in South Africa is associated with more people staying on treatment and higher rates of viral suppression. Elri Voigt unpacks the study findings and assesses progress in the country’s switch to dolutegravir-based HIV treatment.

Over 4.7m people in SA placed on new HIV med in four years

OPINION: With the right interventions we can help many more men start and stay on HIV treatment

Posted in: Healthcare system, HIV/AIDS, Latest, Men's Health

June is Men’s Health Month and while the focus is on men’s attitudes about their health, we have also been reflecting on the health sector’s attitudes about men. Men are not indifferent about their health and they are not inherently poor health-seekers. If many of them are avoiding healthcare services, let’s consider that it may be because they are not getting what they need from the healthcare system, writes Shawn Malone.

OPINION: With the right interventions we can help many more men start and stay on HIV treatment

HIV in graphs: Latest figures confirm declining rates, but areas of concern remain

Posted in: Data, HIV/AIDS, Latest

According to recently published estimates from Thembisa, the leading mathematical model of HIV in South Africa, around 7.8 million people, or 13.2% of the population, were living with HIV in South Africa in 2022. Marcus Low looked at the numbers and what they tell us about the state of HIV in South Africa.

HIV in graphs: Latest figures confirm declining rates, but areas of concern remain

New policies aim to integrate mental health support into HIV services

Posted in: Healthcare system, Healthcare Workers, HIV/AIDS, Latest

Research suggests that people living with HIV are more likely to have mental health conditions than the general population. There seems to be consensus that HIV programmes would benefit from including better mental health screening and support services. Two new policy documents – the Mental Health Policy Framework and the National Strategic Plan for HIV, TB, and STIs – have a lot to say about providing such integrated services, but will they result in actual changes on the ground? Thabo Molelekwa reports.

New policies aim to integrate mental health support into HIV services

Courts to decide whether pharmacists can start HIV medicines without a doctor’s script

Posted in: Healthcare system, HIV/AIDS, Latest

In August 2021, the South African Pharmacy Council published legislation in the Government Gazette to enable pharmacists to prescribe and dispense antiretroviral medicines for the treatment and prevention of HIV. A legal challenge then put the brakes on the initiative and the courts are now set to decide whether it can continue. Catherine Tomlinson reports.

Courts to decide whether pharmacists can start HIV medicines without a doctor’s script

Can digital adherence technologies help with adherence to HIV medicines?

Posted in: HIV/AIDS, Latest

Around 7.8 million people were living with HIV in South Africa in 2022, of which 5.7 million were taking antiretroviral treatment. Currently, HIV treatment is life-long, something that makes treatment adherence challenging for some. Tiyese Jeranji explores what role Digital Adherence Technologies can play in helping people stay on treatment.

Can digital adherence technologies help with adherence to HIV medicines?

Difficult conversations: How do you tell your child they have HIV?

Posted in: Child health, Healthcare system, HIV/AIDS, Latest, SRHR

Telling a child that he or she is living with HIV is not easy. Biénne Huisman spoke to a father and some doctors on how one approaches the issue.

Difficult conversations: How do you tell your child they have HIV?

Analysis: What is behind the Western Cape’s low PrEP numbers?

Posted in: Healthcare system, HIV/AIDS, Latest

It is estimated that in 2021, around 0.3% of sexually active people in the Western Cape were taking antiretroviral medicines to prevent HIV infection. This is substantially lower than the national estimate of 1%. Elsabé Brits asks why uptake in the Western Cape is lagging behind most other provinces.

Analysis: What is behind the Western Cape’s low PrEP numbers?

Women in Health: “I don’t like seeing anybody treated unfairly” – new leader of HIV Clinicians Society

Posted in: Edition 9: State of HIV, Healthcare system, Healthcare Workers, HIV/AIDS, Latest

Juliet Houghton was recently appointed as the CEO of the Southern African HIV Clinician’s Society (SAHCS). As part of Spotlight’s Women in Health series, Bienne Huisman spoke to her about her life working in HIV, her new role at the SAHCS, the importance of being able to laugh, and the Shakespearian origins of her name.

Over 3million people on new HIV drug, but not all smooth sailing

Posted in: Healthcare system, HIV/AIDS, Latest

In 2019, the Department of Health started providing the antiretroviral drug dolutegravir as part of HIV treatment in the public sector. Three years later, close to 3.2 million people in South Africa are taking dolutegravir every day. Even so, the rollout of dolutegravir hasn’t all been smooth sailing. Elri Voigt investigates how the massive undertaking of switching millions of people to a new drug has gone.