AIDS

Thousands of people living with HIV in the Eastern Cape are in catastrophic danger of developing fatal drug resistance due to ongoing interruptions in their antiretroviral (ARV) drug supplies, with activists calling on the national health minster to intervene.

The grave warning was released yesterday  in an updated report compiled by a number of activist organisations that are working on the ground in the province.

Five months ago the Rural Health Advocacy Project, Doctors without Borders (MSF), the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) and SECTION27 released a report detailing the crisis at the Mthatha medical depot, which was unable to cope with ARV orders from clinics and hospitals. It now appears as if the dire situation is unchanged.

More than 12 African heads of state and other global leaders met today and reviewed progress toward implementing transformative reforms in the AIDS, Tuberculosis (TB) and malaria responses and pledged to accelerate the pace of change (increase annual domestic funding for health care, particularly AIDS, TB and malaria services).  AIDS Watch Africa (AWA), an advocacy platform for African Heads of State on AIDS, TB and Malaria convened the meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on the side-lines of the African Union summit celebrating 50 years of African Unity.

THE government’s plans for a state-owned pharmaceutical company that will manufacture key ingredients for AIDS drugs have been set back after its Swiss investor, Lonza, pulled out, it emerged on Thursday.

The Department of Science and Technology’s director-general, Phil Mjwara, acknowledged that Lonza’s withdrawal as an investor would delay the Ketlaphela project, but said it presented opportunities for local firms. "We have a lot of South African companies that are interested."

Dr Mjwara said Lonza’s withdrawal as an investor "was not a big blow" and would likely lead to a delay of between "only six to eight months".

Honourable Speaker
My colleague the Deputy Minister of Health
MECs for Health present
The Chairperson and members of the Health Portfolio Committee
Honourable Members of Parliament
Invited Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen

Honourable Speaker, it is now well documented and generally understood that South Africa faces a quadruple burden of disease. Many other countries are faced only with a double burden.

These four are:

Health Systems Trust is a dynamic, not-for-profit organisation that supports the development of an equitable and comprehensive health system for the provision of quality health care in South and Southern Africa.

PURPOSE:

Health Systems Trust wishes to appoint a full-time Provincial Coordinator for the CDC District Support (SA SURE) Project to strengthen local capacity in the provision of sustainable HIV-related care and treatment in OR Tambo District in the Eastern Cape. The post is a contract position linked to the duration of the project.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Health Systems Trust is a dynamic, not-for-profit organisation that supports the development of an equitable and comprehensive health system for the provision of quality health care in South and Southern Africa.

PURPOSE:
Health Systems Trust wishes to appoint three full-time Deputy Provincial Coordinators for the CDC District Support (SA SURE) Project to strengthen local capacity in the provision of sustainable HIV-related care and treatment in Kwa Zulu Natal and the Free State. Two posts are currently available in Kwa Zulu Natal and one in the Free State.The post is a contract position linked to the duration of the project.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Health Systems Trust is a dynamic, not-for-profit organisation that supports the development of an equitable and comprehensive health system for the provision of quality health care in South and Southern Africa.

PURPOSE:

Health Systems Trust wishes to appoint a full-time Monitoring and Evaluation Coordinator for the CDC District Support (SA SURE) Project to lead the design and implementation of a monitoring and evaluation system for the SA SURE Project. With the aim to strengthen local capacity in the provision of sustainable HIV and TB related care and treatment in five provinces (Eastern Cape, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Northern Cape. The post is a contract position linked to the duration of the project.

Health Systems Trust is a dynamic, not-for-profit organisation that supports the development of an equitable and comprehensive health system for the provision of quality health care in South and Southern Africa.

Health Systems Trust wishes to appoint a Clinical Mentor to support the clinical services in the Frances Baard District in the Northern Cape supported by the South Africa Sustainable Response to HIV and AIDS (SA SURE) project. SA SURE aims to strengthen local capacity to provide sustainable HIV and TB-related care and treatment services. This is a contract position linked to the duration of the project.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
 

MEDIA RELEASE: Professor Quarraisha Abdool Karim, Associate Scientific Director of CAPRISA (Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa) was bestowed with the Order of Mapungubwe: Bronze by the South African State President on Freedom Day (27 April 2013) in recognition of her “outstanding work in the field of HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis research and health policy development.” The Order of Mapungubwe is South Africa’s highest honour.