Abraham Kriel commemorates World AIDS Day

Abraham Kriel Childcare commemorated World AIDS Day on 1 December 2010, together with the rest of the world, to create awareness around the infection and to remember those who have lost their lives. The event was held at the New Hope Community Church in the Soweto community of Zola, where the Abraham Kriel Home-based Care Programme's offices are also located. Read more >>

African leaders speak out about HIV/AIDS, culture

JOHANNESBURG: The Soul City Institute's regional campaign in partnership with the Champions for an HIV-free Generation have produced a series of one minute 'conversations' with three African leaders: Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Dr Speciosa Wandira and Dr Kenneth Kaunda. The conversations are currently being broadcast across nine Southern African countries. Read more >>

India pushes compulsory yoga in schools

NEW DELHI: An MP in India is lobbying for a law that will make yoga compulsory in the country's junior schools, where he says it will help with discipline, fitness and dealing with "computer-related stress". Read more >>

Trafficking in human organs, distressing - HASA

[Dr Nkaki Matlala] The Hospital Association of South Africa - a voluntary association comprising more than 90% of private hospitals in the country - was deeply distressed to learn that one of its members, that being Netcare Kwazulu Natal, was charged with the unlawful act of trafficking in human organs. Read more >>

SA private hospitals awarded for service

Private hospitals that went the extra mile during the public sector strike were recently awarded the Hospital Association of South Africa's (HASA) Awards of Excellence. The awards were presented on 29 November 2010, by Minister of Health Aaron Motsoaledi and HASA CEO Kurt Worrall-Clare as part of the annual ministerial Excellence in Healthcare Awards. Read more >>

Trimega CEO wins 2010 Business Leader Award

Trimega Laboratories CEO, Avi Lasarow, has won the the 2010 Business Leader of the Year award at the inaugural SA Business Awards in London. Run by the SA Business Club, the awards seek to celebrate and reward South Africans doing business in the UK who, in the words of SA Business Club director, Mary-Anne Anderson "...are accomplishing remarkable things." Read more >>

Stellenbosch University, Novartis offer study grant

In partnership with Stellenbosch University, Novartis is offering study grants to postgraduate medical students throughout Africa, over a period of three years, to complete a Master's Degree in Clinical Epidemiology at Stellenbosch University. Read more >>

DST supports Southern African Human Genome Initiative

The Southern African Human Genome Programme (SAHGP) has recently been successful in securing seed-funding from the Department of Science and Technology (DST) to kick-start the work of the national initiative. It will involve collaboration between scientists at education institutions, science councils, government and industry. Read more >>

Alzheimer's Disease plasma proteomics data available

BETHESDA: The Foundation for the National Institutes of Health's Biomarkers Consortium announced on Tuesday, 7 December 2010, that the results of a proteomics study performed utilising plasma samples from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) are ready to be shared with scientists worldwide for further analysis. Read more >>

More than half of European adults overweight

BRUSSELS: More than half of European adults are now overweight and too many children smoke or are obese, raising the risk of cancer or heart attacks, a European health report showed Tuesday (7 December 2010). Read more >>

Video games get kids to eat more veg, fruit

WASHINGTON: After being fingered as a key cause of the rising rate of US childhood obesity, video games got a reprieve on Tuesday (7 December 2010) as a new study showed they can be used to encourage kids to eat healthier foods. Read more >>

Litha Healthcare to acquire balance of shares

The Litha Healthcare Group, a JSE-listed company with operations in the pharmaceutical, medical devices and biotechnology sectors of the healthcare industry, on Monday, 6 December 2010 announced the group's acquisition of the remaining 49 % of shares not held in Litha Healthcare Holdings. Read more >>

New fat pill is back

Fat pills are poised for a comeback after falling from favour because of their poor success rate, danger to general health and unpleasant side-effects. With obesity rates soaring around the world - 24.5% of British adults are threatening their health by being overweight - the first new anti-obesity drug in a decade could be approved for general use within months. Read more >>

'Herbal' libido meds illegal

Four "herbal" medicines to treat low libido contain illegal and potentially dangerous ingredients, Beeld reported on Monday (6 December 2010). The drugs, Bang Bang Strongman, Maximor, Panalt and Staminafit, all contain the active ingredients of the prescription medicines, Viagra, Cialis and Levitra. Read more >>

GAVI Alliance signs contract with APO

The Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI Alliance) has signed a contract with the African Press Organisation (APO) which encompasses the distribution of press releases, the production of interactive webcast as well as the production and distribution of copyright free dispatches. Read more >>

Water quality crisis a concern for food producers

The deteriorating quality of South Africa's raw water supplies, coupled with the growing threat of waterborne diseases, could have a devastating effect on food safety if local producers and retailers do not introduce additional measures to safeguard the quality of their water and improve usage practices. Read more >>

WHO approves new rapid TB test

PRETORIA: The South African Medical Research Council (MRC) has welcomed the new rapid test for tuberculosis (TB), which can provide an accurate diagnosis in less than two hours. Read more >>