HIV in Umkhanyakude: Impressive numbers, but living with HIV difficult amid socio-economic hardship

By Nomfundo Xolo, December 10, 2020

Posted in: HIV/AIDS, Kwazulu-Natal, Latest, Provinces

Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Sihle Zikhalala praised the Umkhanyakude District recently on its ‘exceptional’ figures in meeting the UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets. Yet, when Spotlight recently visited the Jozini area, we were confronted with a less rosy picture. Some people stopped their HIV treatment because they do not have food to eat, and activists now warn that the progress with the targets can be derailed if poverty, hunger and other social determinants of health are not urgently and comprehensively addressed. Nomfundo Xolo reports.

HIV in Umkhanyakude: Impressive numbers, but living with HIV difficult amid socio-economic hardship

IN PICTURES: World AIDS Day in Soweto

By Denvor De Wee, December 2, 2020

Posted in: HIV/AIDS, Latest

On Tuesday South Africa commemorated World AIDS Day in Soweto under the theme: We’re in the together, Cheka Impilo. Spotlight photographer Denvor De Wee was there to capture the event in pictures.

Tags: AIDS Treatment Department of Health Deputy President David Mabuza Dr Zweli Mkhize featured Gauteng Department of Health HIV HIV/AIDS Premier David Makhura SANAC South African National AIDS Council (SANAC)TAC Treatment Action Campaign World AIDS Day 2020

Government can do better, Deputy President says at World AIDS Day event

By Ufrieda Ho, December 2, 2020

Posted in: HIV/AIDS, Latest

A high-level government delegation led by Deputy President David Mabuza descended on Soweto during a World AIDS Day commemoration. Ufrieda Ho reports.

Tags: 90-90-90-targets Clinics COVID-19 COVID-19 pandemic Department of Health Deputy President David Mabuza Dr Zweli Mkhize featured Gauteng Department of Health Health System HIV HIV programme HIV treatment HIV/AIDS Public Health SANAC South African National AIDS Council (SANAC)Stigma TAC TB Treatment Action Campaign UNAIDS World AIDS Day 2020

Government can do better, Deputy President says at World AIDS Day event

From the frontlines: 20 years of fighting HIV in Khayelitsha

By Siyabonga Kamnqa, December 1, 2020

Posted in: Edition 12: SA’s AIDS & TB response, Edition 6: HIV & teens, Edition 8: NSP in general, Edition 9: State of HIV, HIV/AIDS, Latest

Two decades since Doctors without Borders (MSF) started its HIV programme in Khayelitsha, the organisation will start wrapping up its operations. Siyabonga Kamnqa spoke to some people living with HIV who benefitted from this programme and who now work as activists about developments over the last 20 years.

Tags: 90-90-90-targets Adherence guidelines for HIV condoms COVID-19 COVID-19 pandemic Department of Health Doctors without Borders featured HIV HIV counsellor HIV status HIV treatment HIV/AIDS MSF PMTCT PrEP safe sex Stigma TAC TB UNAIDS World AIDS Day 2020

From the frontlines: 20 years of fighting HIV in Khayelitsha

‘Welcome Back Service’ aims to help people get back on HIV treatment

By Tiyese Jeranji, December 1, 2020

Posted in: HIV/AIDS, Latest

While South Africa is doing well on some of the UNAIDS HIV targets for 2020, one target we are set to miss is ensuring that 90% of people diagnosed with HIV are on antiretroviral therapy. Partly in response to this problem, the ‘Welcome back’ campaign started by Doctors without Borders aims to make it easier for people who have stopped taking treatment to restart. Tiyese Jeranji reports.

Tags: 90-90-90-targets adherence clubs ARV treatment ARVs CCMDD programme Chronic Medicines COVID-19 COVID-19 response Department of Health featured HIV HIV response HIV testing services HIV treatment HIV/AIDS lockdown MSF SANAC Stigma TAC TB treatment adherence Welcome Back campaign World AIDS Day 2020

‘Welcome Back Service’ aims to help people get back on HIV treatment

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

By Prof Linda-Gail Bekker, December 1, 2020

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.

Tags: 90-90-90-targets ARV treatment ARVs COVID-19 criminalisation of HIV Department of Health Desmond Tutu HIV Centre featured HIV HIV epidemic HIV infections HIV response HIV transmission HIV/AIDS key populations Linda-Gail Bekker NSP 2017 – 2022 reproductive health SRHR Stigma treatment adherence UNAIDS World Aids Day World AIDS Day 20202

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

U=U: We should put people living with HIV at the centre of HIV prevention efforts

By Mandisa Dukashe, November 24, 2020

Posted in: Edition 12: SA’s AIDS & TB response, Edition 6: HIV & teens, Edition 9: State of HIV, Latest, Reproductive Health

The U=U campaign is based on a simple message – an undetectable viral load in people living with HIV equals an untransmissible virus. The U=U campaign, argues Mandisa Dukashe, has the power to motivate people living with HIV to adhere to ARVs, achieve viral suppression, and subsequently lead long and healthy lives while preventing HIV transmission to sexual partners and their babies.

Tags: 90-90-90-targets antiretrovirals ART CCMDD programme featured HIV HIV estimates HIV incidence HIV prevention programme HIV response HIV status HIV/AIDS Mother to Child transmission PMTCT PrEP sexually transmitted diseases South African Department of Health Thembisa model U=U campaign UNAIDS viral loads virally suppressed VMMC voluntary medical male circumcision WHO World Aids Day

U=U: We should put people living with HIV at the centre of HIV prevention efforts

IN-DEPTH: The slow motion race for a TB vaccine

By Amy Green, October 19, 2020

Posted in: Latest, TB

In recent months, the world has seen unprecedented investment in new vaccines. Yet, while a COVID-19 vaccine proven to be safe and effective may be less than a year away, a new tuberculosis vaccine might only be ready to be rolled out in a decade, despite a massive head start over COVID-19. Amy Green takes a closer look at the race for a new vaccine for the world’s top infectious disease killer.

Tags: BCG vaccine childhood vaccines clinical trials COVID-19 COVID-19 vaccine featured GeneXpert HIV HIV/AIDS lung disease Sanofi South African health department stockouts TAG TB TB bacterium TB deaths TB infection TB vaccines The International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease Treatment Action Group tuberculosis World Health Organization

IN-DEPTH: The slow motion race for a TB vaccine

Interview: Dr Thembisile Xulu – the new CEO of SANAC

By Biénne Huisman, October 12, 2020

Posted in: HIV/AIDS, Latest

Dr Thembisile Xulu was recently appointed as the new CEO of the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC). On her second day in office, Bienne Huisman spoke to Xulu about her new role, her love of medicine, and growing up in a family of strong women.

Tags: Department of Health featured Global Fund Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM)HIV HIV/AIDS National Department of Health NSP Right to Care SANAC Sandile Buthelezi South African National AIDS Council (SANAC)STi's Thembisile Xulu

Interview: Dr Thembisile Xulu – the new CEO of SANAC

Stronger governance is at the heart of addressing the health workforce crisis

By Manya van Ryneveld, Uta Lehmann and Helen Schneider, September 7, 2020

Posted in: Healthcare system, Healthcare Workers, Latest

Plans like South Africa’s new Human Resources for Health Strategy 2030 must be backed by political support and appropriate, capacitated institutional structures to bring about meaningful change, argue Manya van Ryneveld, Uta Lehmann and Helen Schneider.

Tags: 2030 Human Resources for Health (HRH) Strategy COVID-19 Department of Health featured frontline staff health governance Health Policy health professionals Health Professions Council of South Africa health workforce HIV/AIDS HPCSA maternal health National Health Insurance Universal Health Coverage NHI nurses occupation specific dispensation UHC

Stronger governance is at the heart of addressing the health workforce crisis

IN-DEPTH: Vaginal ring ushers in new era in HIV prevention

By Amy Green, August 6, 2020

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

A recent announcement about a vaginal ring to prevent HIV has AIDS activists and women’s sexual and reproductive health advocates excited. But where would this ring fit in South Africa’s HIV prevention programme? Amy Green investigates.

Tags: 90-90-90-targets ART programme ARV ARVs Aspire Trial cabotegravir condoms COVID-19 Dapivirine dapivirine vaginal ring Department of Health European Medicines Agency featured HIV HIV Prevention HIV/AIDS International Partnership for Microbicides microbicide Pre-exposure prophylaxis PrEP SAHPRA South African Health Products Authority TB Thembisa model Treatment Action Campaign Truvada tuberculosis UNAIDS vaginal gel Vaginal ring WHO women's health

IN-DEPTH: Vaginal ring ushers in new era in HIV prevention

Being young and living with HIV in the time of COVID-19

By Nomfundo Xolo, July 14, 2020

Posted in: Edition 6: HIV & teens, HIV/AIDS, Kwazulu-Natal, Latest, LGBTI, Men's Health, Provinces, Reproductive Health, Sex Work, SRHR

Stigma and discrimination makes accessing healthcare services hard for many young people living with HIV. Has it become even harder during the COVID-19 pandemic? Nomfundo Xolo spoke to young people and activists in KwaZulu-Natal.

Tags: ARVs COVID-19 COVID-19 infections health facilities HIV treatment HIV/AIDS KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health Public Healthcare Sexual and reproductive health rights SRHR Stigma TAC TB TB Treatment TB/HIV