Concerns over the accuracy of South Africa’s official mortality statistics have been amplified by a recent South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) study. The study highlights the need to revisit HIV deaths in SA. This is given the potential discrepancies in reported data. The research suggests a dramatic undercounting of HIV-related deaths. These may be potentially four times higher than…
Tag: AIDS
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Sudden USAID withdrawal threatens SA HIV vaccine project
The South African Medical Research Council (MRC) has urgently appealed to African governments, philanthropists, and the private sector to address a significant funding shortage. This request follows the sudden withdrawal of US government funding for a key HIV vaccine initiative, which has jeopardised years of research advancement. Last week, the Trump administration’s choice to terminate US Agency for International Development…
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HIV programmes: The impact of funding US cuts
South Africa is on the brink of a severe health crisis, possibly more harmful than the COVID-19 pandemic, due to significant cuts in US funding for HIV programmes. The almost complete withdrawal of Pepfar (President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) funding threatens to reverse years of progress in managing the HIV epidemic, potentially causing a spike in infections and a…
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HIV prevalence: health challenges and progress
A recent study reveals that women in South Africa have a higher HIV prevalence (16.4%) compared with men (8.8%). Activists identify early sexual activity, age-disparate relationships, low condom use, and having multiple sexual partners as key factors contributing to this disparity. Data from the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) highlights that while South Africa is making progress against HIV/AIDS, women…
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Alarming trends in mother-to-child HIV transmission
The South African National AIDS Council (Sanac) has set an ambitious goal to ensure that at least 95% of children infected with HIV are tested and linked to treatment and care. This initiative comes amid ongoing concerns about rising HIV infection rates among infants, particularly in the Tshwane district. The City of Tshwane’s health department recently highlighted the persistent issue…