AIDS 2016 Conference
Decline in new infections among adults stalled - UNAIDS
July 20th, 2016 A UNAIDS report reveals concerning trends, with the decline in new HIV infections among adults stalled. The Prevention Gap report shows that while significant progress is being made in stopping new HIV infections among children (new HIV...Not enough investment in TB drug research
Research into desperately needed new TB drugs is flagging because governments and pharmaceutical companies are not investing enough in the field. Business Day reports that scientists warned on the eve of the 21st International AIDS...Rare success story in treating rural XDR TB
Over the past decade, drug-resistant TB has been brought under control in Tugela Ferry, SA - not through any magic bullet, a combination of interventions implemented by motivated health workers and scientists. Tugela Ferry is a remote KZN...Prisoners key to controlling HIV and TB epidemics
The worldwide so-called War on Drugs, mass incarceration of drug users, and the failure to provide proven harm reduction and treatment strategies has led to high levels of HIV, tuberculosis, and hepatitis B and C infection among prisoners – far...New ARV with 'fewer side effects'
A new antiretroviral drug is set to make HIV treatment compliance easier for patients. The antiretroviral which has a chemical component known as Dolutegravir was unveiled on the second day of the 21st International Aids Conference in Durban. The...'Much work still needs to be done' - Gilead VP
The 2000 Durban International Aids Conference was the tipping point of the global HIV treatment access movement but much work still needs to be done, says Gregg Alton, executive vice president of Gilead Sciences in a Mail & Guardian...Africa needs more than political leadership to combat HIV and Aids
Political leadership was important in combating HIV and Aids but it was not sufficient, was the consensus of former African leaders and activists at Aids2016. To take control of the disease in Africa, society’s leaders, communities and religious...ATM-type machines to dispense ARVs
A SA-developed hole-in-the-wall machine that dispenses antiretroviral drugs to people with HIV was unveiled ahead of a pilot scheme that will see units installed in rural areas miles from the nearest doctor or clinic. The Guardian reports that...Break down barriers to treatment - UN secretary-general
Reaching universal health coverage by 2030 in the fight against the HIV/Aids pandemic demanded breaking down barriers to treatment and developing treatments for TB, neglected tropical diseases and other unmet needs, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon...R1.2bn grant for KZN research giants
Two KwaZulu-Natal research giants have combined forces to form a ground-breaking new interdisciplinary institute to fight tuberculosis (TB), HIV/Aids and related diseases, after receiving a R1.2 billion grant, writes Nicola Jenvey for...CAPRISA explains high HIV infection rates in young women
Three studies released by the Durban-based Centre of the Aids Programme of Research in South Africa (Caprisa) provided new evidence on the factors contributing to the high rates among this population sector, prompting director Salim S Abdool Karim...Africa's homophobia hinders access to prevention and Tx
Africa was a place of phobia for men who have sex with men thanks to the homophobia that was imported from the Commonwealth, according to Constitutional Court Judge Edwin Cameron. IoL reports he was speaking at a panel discussion at the 21st...More must be done about mother-to-child infection
SA has made massive gains in preventing mother-to-child HIV and Aids infections‚ but a lot more needs to be done, says Anthony Lake‚ UN Children's Fund executive director. The Times reports that Lake‚ was speaking at the 21st...