COVID-19 may lead to spike in AIDS deaths, warns UNAIDS
Six months more of pandemic-related disruptions could result in a spike of an additional 500 000 AIDS-related deaths in sub-Saharan Africa alone by the end of next year, warns UNAIDS.
Lockdown impacts HIV prevention programme for adolescent girls and young women
Strict COVID-19 measures have had a negative impact on a programme aimed at providing HIV prevention medicine and gender based violence counselling services for vulnerable girls and young women. Adele Baleta reports.
COVID-19: Lockdown, hunger and staying on HIV treatment in Hammonds Farm
Concerns are mounting over people stopping or not starting tuberculosis and HIV treatment during South Africa’s COVID-19 lockdown. Nomfundo Xolo spoke to activists and people living with HIV and TB in Hammonds Farm in Verulam in KwaZulu-Natal about the challenges they face.
COVID-19: The danger of criminalisation
To single out a disease through specific laws or existing prosecution mechanisms places an unreasonable burden on the criminal justice system to address people’s behaviour. Our experience with HIV points to a better approach, argues Mbalenhle Baduza.
Opinion: HIV and TB are losing out in the drive to stop COVID-19
It seems HIV and TB are falling by the wayside in the drive to stop the spread of COVID-19. Where we can we must minimise the harm to the HIV and TB response, and we need to see the opportunity to address all three diseases together, writes Erica Penfold.
COVID-19: Concerns mount over COVID-19 stigma in KZN
As the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in KwaZulu-Natal increases, provincial health authorities, health practitioners and public health activists urge residents to avoid the spread of misinformation fuelling stigma around COVID-19. Nomfundo Xolo investigates.
COVID-19: Learn lessons from AIDS response, says head of UNAIDS
How to fight COVID-19? Look to HIV, says UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima.
COVID-19: Patent victories from HIV fight are now more relevant than ever
Around the turn of the century developing countries fought for and won safeguards to promote access to medicines in international trade law. These safeguards are now being heralded by lawmakers around the world as critical legal mechanisms that nations can and must use in the fight against COVID-19, writes Catherine Tomlinson.
Special investigation: Claims of 90-90-90 success in KZN districts were premature
Last year KwaZulu-Natal celebrated three districts’ achievement of the UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets. But celebrations may have been premature, as new data shows that no district in KZN in fact met the targets. Spotlight visited one of the districts to investigate.
London patient still HIV-free 30 months after bone marrow transplant
The so-called “London patient” is still HIV-free, 30 months after receiving a bone marrow transplant to treat blood cancer, according to a study published on Tuesday in the Lancet HIV journal.
Nuances in SA’s HIV Epidemic: Seven Graphs that Tell the Story
Over the last decade there have been significant decreases in the rates of new HIV infections, HIV-related deaths, and mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) in South Africa. Yet, there are still staggering gaps between different subsets of the population.
Government plans massive PrEP rollout
The Department of Health aims to make a pill to prevent HIV infection available at all community health centres and primary healthcare clinics in South Africa by end September this year.