South Africa redoubles efforts against AIDS

South Africa, trying to overcome years of denial and delay in confronting its monumental AIDS crisis, is now in the midst of a feverish buildup of testing, treatment and prevention that United Nations officials say is the largest and fastest expansion of AIDS services ever attempted by any nation. Read more >>

Private sector supports HCT campaign

The government launched an ambitious HIV Counselling and Testing campaign (HCT) on 25 April 2010 with a target of 15 million South Africans to be tested by June 2011. To achieve this goal, the government has enlisted the support of the private sector to help. Read more >>

New date set for the launch of the national HIV counselling & testing campaign

The South African National AIDS Council (SANAC) and the Department of Health have announced that the national launch for the HIV Counselling and Testing (HCT) Campaign will take place on Sunday 25 April at Natalspruit Hospital in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng. Read more >>

New CEO for Heart and Stroke Foundation SA

The chairman of the Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa, Farouk Meyer, this week announced the appointment of Dr. Vash Mungal-Singh as CEO of the Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa. Dr. Vash Mungal-Singh succeeds outgoing CEO, Robert de Souza, who recently retired after almost 20 years at the helm. Read more >>

New HASA director-general appointed

The Hospital Association of South Africa (HASA), which represents over 94% of the country's private hospitals, has announced the appointment of Dr Malebona Precious Matsoso as director-general for the National Department of Health. Read more >>

New research project to make anti-malarial drugs more affordable in Third World countries

Dr Geoff Brown, from the University of Reading's Department of Chemistry, is beginning a £400 000 (about R4 million) project that could prove vital for the developing world in its ongoing fight against malaria. His research aims to make anti-malarial drugs more affordable in Third World countries where more than 1.5 million people die of the disease every year. Read more >>

World must retain focus on anti-malaria fight, says expert

[Cindy Shiner] Despite recent achievements in fighting malaria, the international community must not become complacent or distracted, says Dr. Steven Phillips, medical director of global issues and projects for ExxonMobil. Phillips, who also serves on the board of Malaria No More, spoke with allAfrica.com ahead of World Malaria Day, reflecting on progress in the fight against the disease. Read more >>

Unapproved malaria drugs may boost resistance

The growing use of unapproved, sub-standard versions of anti-malaria medicines in Africa and Asia risks spreading drug resistance, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned. Read more >>

Standard Bank becomes UAM organisation

JOHANNESBURG: As World Malaria Day on 25 April 2010 approaches, Standard Bank has committed to become a United Against Malaria (UAM) ‘malaria-safe' organisation by distributing bed nets, informational materials, and UAM bracelets to employees in 15 of its malaria-endemic countries in Africa. Read more >>

World's largest study on the safety of using mobile phones

[Candy Lashkari] Health experts have been saying that mobile phones are bad for us for a long time. Now they are getting set to prove it beyond any doubt. Read more >>

More reasons to quit smoking

[Dr Ananya Mandal, MD] Genes that predispose to smoking behaviour and lung cancer identified: More reason to quit say researchers. Read more >>

Patients complain of poor nutrition

[Frank Maponya] Patients at the Musina Hospital in Limpopo have complained that they were being served food that is not fit for sick people. Read more >>

Margarines analysed by CANSA, Blossom tops list

Dr. Carl Albrecht, head of research for CANSA says that too much omega-6 fatty acid increases systemic inflammation that is the "breeding ground" of cancer cells." It is generally accepted that omega-6 needs to be balanced against omega-3 fatty acids in order to counteract inflammation optimally.” He adds that 28 out of the 40 margarines investigated by the association contained less than one gram of omega-3 fatty acid per 100 grams of margarine. Read more >>

Five important steps to help ensure safety of children on playground

With the recent announcement of US First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move initiative to battle childhood obesity, The International Play Equipment Manufacturers Association (IPEMA) in the US is reminding parents and caregivers of the importance of providing an hour of free play outdoors in a safe play environment during National Playground Safety Week (April 26-30). The advice is equally applicable here in South Africa. Read more >>

Tanning bed usage may be addictive

WASHINGTON: Individuals who use UV tanning beds may meet the criteria for addiction and are more likely to suffer from anxiety symptoms and substance abuse, a study released Monday said. Read more >>

European flight ban delays West African polio vaccination

Fifteen million doses of a polio vaccine needed for a vaccination campaign in West Africa are stuck in German and French airports as a result of the flight disruption across Europe caused by volcanic ash. Read more >>

Save mother, save baby - The Baby Expo

According to the DoH report on maternal deaths in South Africa, obstetric haemorrhage is the third most common cause of maternal death in South Africa. Due to this a lack of blood for transfusion is becoming an increasing problem. This was the reason for 19% of maternal deaths that required blood urgently in the period 2005-2007. Read more >>