| Rome is burning |  Some years ago the government finally agreed to implement a prevention-of-mother-to-child transmission of HIV programme - generally known as PMTCT of HIV. This was done with some fanfare, in spite of the fact that they had been forced into doing so by court cases brought by activist groupings such as the Treatment Action Campaign. At that time, various independent health NGOs undertook pilot studies to look at how effective these newly implemented programmes were. There were problems - mainly in the health systems that were supposed to carry the programmes. There were not enough counsellors and testing equipment, which meant that women were falling through the net, with the result that their babies were born HIV positive. A recent study published in an online AIDS research journal shows that nothing much has changed - women are still falling through the net because of health systems failures. A lot is written about the stigma and fear associated with HIV and AIDS. Indeed, it is the reason always given by government for not amalgamating HIV and TB services - something that South African experts desparately want to happen in order to start to contain the two epidemics. But this paper specifically states that, in the case of PMTCT, stigma and fear have little effect on the failure of the programme - it is health system failure that is responsible.
How many more such studies are going to be needed before our Department of Health stops fiddling while its people burn? People are falling sick and dying. The system is failing. We need action now.
Bridget Farham, https://www.bizcommunity.com
| | Headlines
MedicalMeasures that are needed to curb humanity's most fatal diseasesSeveral of the world's most eminent health scientists and organizations have published a landmark global consensus on the 20 foremost measures needed to curb humanity's most fatal diseases, their study featured in Nature magazine. Sitting may increase risk of diseaseMost people spend most of their day sitting with relatively idle muscles. Health professionals advise that at least 30 minutes of activity at least five days a week will counteract health concerns, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity that may result from inactivity.
Chronic diseasesCan dogs sniff out diabetesQueen's University researchers are appealing for volunteers to help investigate whether dogs can reliably detect changes in their owner's diabetic state. Non-smokers benefit most from smoking bansSmoking bans decrease heart attacks - but only in non-smokers. Cannabis compound may stop breast cancer spreadingAmerican researchers have found that a compound found in cannabis may stop breast cancer spreading throughout the body.
Ethical MedicinesSome drug studies more likely to have favourable conclusionsPrevious work has shown that, when a drug study was funded by the company that made that drug, the results might be biased in favour of that drug because the methods or analyses were manipulated.
HIV/AIDSWorld Bank gives Zambia $20m fight HIV, AIDSThe World Bank has given Zambia US$20 million to enhance the fight against HIV and AIDS in the country, says World Bank Vice-President for Human and Development Network, Joy Phumaphi.
Hospital GroupsA year characterised by significant investment for Netcare - Martina Nicholson Associates (MNA)It was a busy and productive financial year for Network Healthcare Holdings Limited (Netcare), South Africa's foremost private hospital and healthcare services group. With the acquisitions of General Healthcare Group (GHG) in the United Kingdom (UK) and Prime Cure now fully absorbed, a very different, more mature company has emerged. Netcare immunisation clinic at Your Baby show - The Lime EnvelopeYour Baby Show 2007 will be offering visitors to Your Baby Show Cape Town expo (held at the CTICC from 30 November – 1 December) another first – the Netcare Stork's Nest baby immunization clinic.
Infectious diseasesUSAID assists Djibouti in cholera outbreakThe USA, through USAID, is providing emergency funding to prevent further spread of diarrhoea in Djibouti. Brits battle to contain bird flu as another 68,000 birds are culledAnother 68,000 birds have been culled in England in efforts to contain an outbreak of the deadly bird flu, 56,000 ducks, 9,000 turkeys and 3,000 geese. Zimbabwe: First diarrhoea, now possibly plagueBulawayo, Zimbabwe's second city, already reeling from a diarrhoea outbreak as a result of water shortages, has been told by its fuel-strapped city council that it can only collect refuse once a month. DRC Government announces end of Ebola outbreak Health officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) said an outbreak of Ebola haemorrhagic fever, which claimed the lives of 21 of the 26 people infected in the Kasai Occidental province, is now over. Yemen: Top official issues bird flu warningThe General Department for Animal Resources (GDAR) at Yemen's Ministry of Agriculture says it is worried about the potential for an outbreak of bird flu, but has at the same time warned that its resources and capacity are limited.
Medical AidIndustry news: ProSano Medical Scheme increases brand footprint - by Global Interface ProSano Medical Scheme has undergone a facelift. The newly branded medical scheme is now more in line with the organisation's future focus of becoming a leading medical aid provider in South Africa.
Medical ResearchScientist who created Dolly says stem cells from skin fragments now the way to goThe scientist who created Dolly the sheep says he is abandoning the cloning of human embryos in stem cell research. Rushing to remove a child's tonsils not such a great ideaDutch researchers say rushing to have a child's tonsils removed because of mild or moderate throat infections may not be such a good idea. World Medical Association to revise Helsinki Declaration - Magda NaudeProposals for changes to the World Medical Association's Declaration of Helsinki on medical research have been put forward at the start of a process to revise the document for the first time for seven years.
Medical TechnologyNew microscope peers into secret lives of cells"See those white sparks?" asks Kirk Czymmek, as he points to the video on his computer screen of a highly magnified heart cell in action. Tiny fireworks flash across the screen with every pulsation of the cell.
Pharmaceutical companiesIndustry news: Aspen and Strides enter broad strategic partnership - Shauneen Beukes CommunicationsAspen Pharmacare has entered into a series of transactions with Bangalore-based Strides Arcolab Limited (Strides).
TuberculosisIndustry news: Innovative lab tests give quick, accurate TB tests - Health DiRxionsTuberculosis (TB) is a chronic and contagious disease spread by breathing in air-borne bacteria from people with active TB.
World AIDS DayIndia to provide 2nd-line AIDS treatment to 5,000 patientsBowing to an increasing need for more effective AIDS treatments in India and recent high-profile public advocacy from a broad coalition of AIDS activists, India's National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) and Health Minister A. Ramadoss will announce the rollout of lifesaving second-line antiretroviral treatment (ART) in India in a ceremony on World AIDS Day, Saturday December, 1. Poor health services lead pregnant women to miss opportunities for HIV preventionA study in South Africa suggests that pregnant women miss out on prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, not because of stigma or ignorance, but because of health system failures. |
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