Government finally moves on male circumcision

HIV/AIDS: Feeling the pinch

JOHANNESBURG/NAIROBI, 1 December 2011 (PlusNews) - Faced with the global economic downturn and less money from donors, national HIV programmes in East and Southern Africa - the region hardest hit by HIV/AIDS - are struggling to stay afloat. IRIN/PlusNews brings you a wrap of countries feeling the biggest pinch. full report

MALAWI: The rush to rationalize

JOHANNESBURG, 1 December 2011 (PlusNews) - As international HIV funding declines, nations are bracing for a future with less money and tougher choices. In countries like donor-dependent Malawi, a new UNAIDS tool is already beginning to shape how to rationalize their HIV responses to cope with the altered circumstances. full report

HIV/AIDS: A deadly funding crisis

JOHANNESBURG, 1 December 2011 (PlusNews) - This World AIDS Day on 1 Dec should have been a much more joyous event: the global HIV/AIDS response has turned a significant corner, with record numbers of people on antiretroviral (ARV) treatment and fewer new HIV infections. But the announcement by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS Tuberculosis (TB) and Malaria, cancelling its next funding round, has cast a shadow over any celebrations and highlighted the precarious nature of HIV/AIDS funding. full report

MALAWI: ARV supply and funding woes

BLANTYRE, 9 September 2011 (PlusNews) - By 9am, the Limbe Health Centre in Malawi's second city, Blantyre, is already full. HIV-positive patients are lining up to collect their antiretrovirals, despite reports of shortages at state clinics and hospitals. full report

MALAWI: HIV-positive civil servants angry at switch from cash to food parcels

BLANTYRE, 8 August 2011 (PlusNews) - HIV-positive civil servants in Malawi are unhappy with the government's announcement that it would stop providing a cash grant to help improve their diet. full report

MALAWI: Local myths stall paediatric HIV treatment

JOHANNESBURG, 14 June 2011 (PlusNews) - Local understanding of children’s immune systems may be delaying access to paediatric HIV treatment, according to a study at a rural clinic in northern Malawi, where just 15 percent of children in need of antiretrovirals (ARVs) are receiving the drugs. full report

HIV/AIDS: ARVs as prevention must move quickly "from science to action"

NAIROBI, 13 May 2011 (PlusNews) - A landmark study showing major reductions in HIV transmission among discordant couples due to early treatment may fail to have a significant impact on HIV prevention unless governments and donors are willing to turn the science into action, HIV advocates say. full report

MALAWI: Queer Malawi lifts the gay curtain

JOHANNESBURG, 11 May 2011 (PlusNews) - Africa is generally not a safe place to have a same-sex relationship - you can be shunned by society, beaten up, thrown in jail, or worse. In Malawi you can get 14 years in prison with hard labour. full report