Articles
Four million Ugandan mothers tested for HIV
The Ugandan Ministry of Health reports that more than four million mothers have been tested for HIV since the virus was first diagnosed in Uganda 30 years ago. more
Spotlight on harmful cultural practices affecting children in Kenya
Songs, skits and poems filled the air in Kenya on 16 June to mark the Day of the African Child, drawing attention to the need to eliminate harmful social and cultural practices affecting children.
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Vanishing point: where is HIV at this year’s G8 summit?
As the G8 summit kicks off on 17 June, three main priorities are being discussed: trade, tax and transparency. But where are global poverty, malnutrition and health on the agenda? more
A former sex worker’s story about learning to protect her sexual health and rights
In Uganda, young people can find it difficult to access sexual and reproductive health services. A youth-friendly drop-in centre made all the difference to Rose, who started sex work aged 14. more
Female and transgender sex workers in Mumbai face barriers to sexual health services
Female sex workers are 13.5 times more likely to acquire HIV than all other women aged 15-49 years. More user-friendly health services are needed with stronger integration of HIV and sexual and reproductive health. more
Investment needed in services for drug users living with HIV
At this year’s Harm Reduction conference in Lithuania advocates are calling for the political will to address the HIV epidemic driven by injecting drug use in many parts of the world. more
Uganda: The role of communities in preventing parent to child transmission of HIV
Many groups and networks of people living with HIV are very knowledgeable about prevention of parent to child transmission and taking on active roles in enhancing service delivery. more
Civic coalition on health launches in Zimbabwe
A new organisation to address various health issues including mitigation of HIV transmission and sexual and reproductive health issues has launched in Zimbabwe. more
Are researchers making headway to make the male snip painless?
PrePex™, the latest device for performing male circumcision, promises to make the procedure bloodless and safer according to ongoing research. Latest reports indicate that the research has entered its second phase in Kenya, after previous successful trials in Rwanda and Zimbabwe. more
Uganda: Evaluating prevention of mother to child transmission services in Luwero
Luwero Forum of People Living with HIV, with support from the ViiV prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) project, has carried out spot checks on health facilities, network support agents and health workers implementing the PMTCT project in Luwero. more
Human rights and HIV activist brings landmark case to Zimbabwe’s Supreme Court
In Zimbabwe, a human rights activist denied access to antiretroviral treatment while in detention in 2011 has filed a test case to assert the rights of prisoners living with HIV. more
Uganda launches project to tackle malaria
What would happen if five buses carrying 60 passengers crashed every day killing all the people on board? Malaria may be no accident but it claims the same number of Ugandans, killing 200-300 people per day – the majority of them children. more
Invest in women for a healthier post-2015 world
As the expiry date looms for the Millennium Development Goals, advocates are demanding girls and women are prioritised in taking forward the post 2015 development agenda. more
Sex workers, drug users and transgender communities demand their human rights
Most women who are drug users, sex workers or transgender and HIV positive face a lot of stigma in the community and at health centres, and extreme human rights abuse from all corners of their lives. more
The Post 2015 Development Agenda: What can the Ugandan government do?
Based on my experience of working with persons living with HIV/AIDS in Nakaseke and Luwero in Uganda, my natural instinct as an advocate would be to put a strong emphasis on the sexual and reproductive health of women living with … more
Global leaders call for accelerated progress on family planning
World leaders have announced progress on and new commitments to expanding contraceptive access for women in developing countries. more
Have political commitments to end AIDS driven improvements in women’s sexual and reproductive health in Asia?
A major commitment to end AIDS is evident in the Association of Southeast Asia Nations’ (ASEAN) declaration with its focus on the three Zeros: getting to zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths. more
Renew your promise to end maternal mortality, Clinton tells governments
Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has called upon governments to commit funds to the health sector in order to achieve Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) four, five and six. more
New study shows little progress in meeting demand for contraception in poorest countries
A new study shows that the world has made little progress towards meeting the demand for contraceptives in the world’s poorest countries. more
Strengthen community in health services: key to stopping HIV stigma
“We are giving great care and services to our cars daily but we have failed to give the same treatment to women living with HIV/AIDS. Women deserve special attention and we must give them services.” more
Experts call for family planning gaps to be addressed ahead of 2020
Experts at Women Deliver 2013 have called for a clear set of priorities and to address gaps in research in order to realise the shortfalls in family planning as the world moves towards 2020. more
Link Up: engaging with young people at Women Deliver in Malaysia
Link Up aims to improve the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) of more than one million young people most affected by HIV and to promote the realisation of their SRH rights. more
Jacinta’s story: HIV does not discriminate
As Women Deliver delegates gather in Malaysia this week to discuss progress on women and girls’ health and wellbeing, Key Correspondent Hope Mafaranga recounts how one young woman living with HIV faces particular challenges in Uganda. more
Poor access to information prevents women from accessing skilled care during pregnancy and delivery – Maria Zulu’s story
Maria Zulu, 33, of Mutendere community in Lusaka, Zambia, is a mother of three and a widow. She came to know of her HIV status during her third pregnancy in 2009 when she was tested during her antenatal visit when she was three months pregnant. more
Uganda launches malaria prevention campaign
The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria announced on Friday, 10 May that it is supporting Uganda in the distribution of over 15.5 million long-lasting insecticide-treated nets, making it the largest malaria prevention campaign this year. An estimated … more
International AIDS Candlelight Memorial: Using digital media to celebrate fallen heroes
“I light this candle for you brother. I will miss you.” These are the words of Georges Malunga, a young Zambian man who shared the story of his brother who lost his battle to AIDS. more
Multimedia strategy to tackle gender based violence in Zimbabwe
The government of Zimbabwe is developing a national multimedia strategy to harmonise messages on preventing gender based violence, family planning, cervical cancer screening and HIV prevention. This effort is being supported by the United Nations Population Fund and civil society … more
Spectrum Uganda calls for greater HIV testing for LGBTI community amid hostility
Today is the International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia and Spectrum Uganda has been marking it with a series of activities to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS issues among sexual minorities, to challenge stigma and homophobia, and to increase support to people living with HIV to lead productive lives. more
UN and EU sign 44 million euro deal with Zambia on maternal, neonatal and child health
The United Nations and the European Union have signed a 44 million Euro agreement aimed at accelerating progress on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Zambia.
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In Uganda one group of widows living with HIV is defying the odds
How one group of widows living with HIV is defying the odds to gainfully live their lives more
Safe water reducing oppportunistic diseases among people living with HIV
Over 18,000 thousand families in Nyanza region have been provided with clean water. Access to clean safe drinking water has contributed to a decline in opportunistic diseases among people living with HIV in the Nyanza region, Kenya. This follows the … more
Kenya launches digital healthcare surveillance
Kenya has made the first notable step to deal with illegal trafficking of ARVs by recently launching digital drug surveillance technology in Nairobi. The Pharmacovigilance Electronic Reporting System (PV-ERS) is a suite of software applications with a web portal, which … more
