AFRICA: IRIN PlusNews Weekly Issue 281, 28 April 2006
JOHANNESBURG, 28 April 2006 (PlusNews) - NEWS:
LESOTHO: Lack of healthcare workers a drain on new HIV/AIDS plan
TANZANIA: Law reforms to take account of HIV/AIDS
AFRICA: Finding effective microbicide just the first step
UGANDA: Integrating traditional medicine in the fight against HIV/AIDS
AFRICA: Frustration over pace of microbicide development
LINKS:
1. AIDSinAfrica.net
2. The Kidzpositive Family Fund
JOBS:
LESOTHO: Lack of healthcare workers a drain on new HIV/AIDS plan
As the Lesotho government prepares to launch a 'Know your HIV status' campaign, a shortage of qualified healthcare workers threatens to derail plans to increase access to AIDS treatment in the mountain kingdom.
According a nurse [who wanted to remain anonymous] at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, the country's main referral hospital, 70 nurses tend to around 3,400 patients – an average of close to 50 patients per nurse.
"There is a lot of work and given a chance I would leave the country for greener pastures," she said.
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TANZANIA: Law reforms to take account of HIV/AIDS
The government of Tanzania is to overhaul its legal framework to take account of the challenges of HIV/AIDS.
"There is need for a comprehensive law on HIV/AIDS issues - a legal framework that ... takes into account the interests of those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. It should be understood that HIV/AIDS is no longer only a health challenge, but economic, social and political as well," said Sam Komba, legal officer with the Tanzania Commission for AIDS (TACAIDS).
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AFRICA: Finding effective microbicide just the first step
An effective microbicide could be ready in six years if current trials are successful, but it would take longer before hitting the shelves in developing countries, delegates attending an international microbicides conference heard on Tuesday.
Microbicides include a range of products - such as gels, films and sponges - that could help prevent the transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.
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UGANDA: Integrating traditional medicine in the fight against HIV/AIDS
Musawo Musa Takomalirawo, a traditional Ugandan healer, never had any formal schooling, but for the past 40 years he has treated patients for malaria, chronic diarrhoea and nightmares.
"I would treat patients for HIV-related ailments like skin rashes, weak immune system and weight loss, but when they kept returning to me in an even worse condition, I assumed it must be witchcraft," he said. Unlike many healers, he has never claimed to have a cure for a condition he knew so little about.
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AFRICA: Frustration over pace of microbicide development
Progress in developing an effective anti-HIV microbicide was far too slow, delegates attending the international microbicide conference in Cape Town, South Africa, heard this week.
Sunday's colourful opening ceremony had been billed as a "celebration of women", but as speaker after speaker rose to stress women's urgent need for a female-controlled prevention method such as a microbicide, it became apparent that the celebrations were premature.
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LINKS:
1. AIDSinAfrica.net
This is an online resource for current information on HIV/AIDS in Africa.
The website uses visual models, such as animated maps and diagrams, to make the statistics behind the pandemic in Africa more engaging and easy to understand. It is also home to the in-progress documentary "5 Heroes of AIDS in Africa."
Access the site: www.aidsinafrica.net
2. The Kidzpositive Family Fund
This is the website for 'The Kidzpositive Family Fund', and organisation dedicated to improving the health of HIV-positive children in Southern Africa.
Their goal is to generate funds for the grassroots support of mothers and children affected by the pandemic, while also becoming a regional source of financial support for organisations providing the recommended providing care.
Access the site: www.kidzpositive.org
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Theme(s): (IRIN) Other
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