Articles
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
Uganda has launched HIV-free children by 2016 campaign
Uganda has joined other countries like Swaziland, Ghana, and Sierra Leone among others, and launched a new national framework to eliminate new HIV infections among children by 2016.
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Stigma affecting uptake of paediatric HIV services in Uganda
Stigma is undermining uptake of paediatric HIV prevention and AIDS treatment services in Uganda. more
Improving male involvement in eMTCT
A virtual discussion to explore how to improve male involvement in the elimination of mother to child transmission (eMTCT) has begun in Zimbabwe this week and will run until 30 April. more
US government committed to eliminate HIV in developing world
HIV/AIDS is the leading cause of death among women of reproductive age in Uganda. It is estimated that nearly 1.4 million Uganda are living with HIV and each year 98,000 pregnant women are at risk of transmitting HIV to their babies
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The Global Fund targets $15 billion to fight HIV, TB and malaria
The Global Fund targets $15 billion to effectively fight AIDS, TB and malaria more
Women Deliver
This year’s Women Deliver conference takes place in Kuala Lumpur from 28-30 May and focuses on the health and well-being of girls and women more
HIV patients in Côte d’Ivoire encouraged by faith leaders to stop treatment
In Côte d’Ivoire, some religious leaders encourage HIV patients to stop their treatment and start intensive prayer days in order to be cured. more
Uganda carries out PrEP trials
Uganda joined other countries including Kenya, South Africa, Zambia, Zanzibar, and Zimbabwe for a trial of HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP). This followed recent research which shows that anti-retroviral drugs (ARVs) Tenofovir and Truvada reduce the risk of HIV infection in … more
Uganda adopts EMTCT intervention Option B+
Uganda has adopted a new policy called Option B+ for the elimination of mother to child transmission of HIV (EMTCT). According to the Ministry Of Health the new policy guidelines focus not only on eliminating HIV transmission mother to child, … more
Organizers of the 7th IAS Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention consolidate programme
Friday, 22 March 2013 (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) – Organizers of the 7th International AIDS Society (IAS) Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention (IAS 2013) met in Kuala Lumpur to consolidate the conference programme. IAS 2013, held from 30 June … more
Self-stigma: A silent killer of people living with HIV/AIDS
“I used to pass in a short cut from my home to the hospital to seek medical treatment as if I was a thief. I was afraid of neighbors knowing that I was going to get my ARVs and whenever … more
‘Marcus’: Is it Poverty, Pleasure or Lifestyle to Engage in Sex Work?
Marcus found his way on to the streets to try and make ends meet and this is what led him into being a sex worker. more
Can the Catholic Church reform and reduce HIV infections?
While congratulating the new Pope Francis, the first in 1,300 years to be chosen from outside Europe to lead the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics, President Yoweri Museveni said “I am sure you will use your life experience to bring the … more
Call for scale up of TB services for people living with HIV and people who use drugs
Urgent attention is needed to address critical funding gaps in tuberculosis (TB) care and control, as well as knowledge gaps in treatment for multi-drug and extensively drug resistance TB and diagnostics, say the Global Network of People living with HIV (GNP+) and the International Network of People who Use Drugs (INPUD). more
Food cuts hit hard for people living with HIV
Sopheap (given name) is a 42 year-old HIV positive women currently living in Sonikum district in the province of Siem Reap, Cambodia. She has been struggling alone to provide for her family since her husband left the family home shortly … more
Hope for Ugandan as unlicensed laboratories are to be closed
Like other East Africans, Ugandans hope to soon see better health services as the government moves to regulate laboratories in the country. East African Community (EAC) partner states have their laboratories regulated, and Uganda is to take a step in … more
Traditional birth attendants determined to stay on in Uganda
Officially, traditional birth attendants (TBAs) in Uganda are not allowed to carry out deliveries. Instead, they are supposed to direct all expectant mothers to formal health facilities. The official line from the government of Uganda is that TBAs should not … more
A 2m US dollar Project to Prolong HIV+ Mothers’ Lives
Picture: UNICEF Representative in Uganda Dr. Sharad Sapra talks during a press conference on mother to child HIV transmission at Kampala Srena Hotel. Centre is Dr. Jane Ruth Acong while extrem right is Dr Charles Lynos, the Director and CEO … more
Global Fund Congratulates Peter Piot on Winning Prize for Medical Research
Mark Dybul, Executive Director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, congratulated Peter Piot for winning the Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize for medical research. The prize was awarded to Piot by the Government of Japan on 13 … more
Global Fund Appoints Michael Borowitz as Head of Strategic Investment & Partnerships
The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has named Michael Borowitz as Head of the Strategic Investment and Partnerships Department where he will supervise portfolio optimization and technical cooperation as well as serve as the Global Fund’s Chief Economist. more
International Women’s Day: a report from Zambia
Today is International Women’s Day and various events are taking place all over the world. In Zambia, women, men, children and youth are commemorating the day under the national theme of ‘The gender agenda: gaining momentum’. more
EU unveils €13 million in support of Zimbabwe’s Health Transition Fund
The European Union has unveiled a €13 million (US$18 million) towards the revitalisation of Zimbabwe’s health sector through the Health Transition Fund. more
Fees for pregnant women, under 5s and over 65s must be eliminated in rural Zimbabwe, says health minister
A policy scrapping user fees for pregnant women, children under five and those over 65 must be enforced, particularly in rural areas, Zimbabwe’s Minister of Health and Child Welfare Dr Henry Madzorera has said. more
A new era for the Key Correspondents Programme
An independent review of the Key Correspondents Programme took place last year that made a number of recommendations which we have been working to address with the help of a core group of Key Correspondents. more
What choice do our Ugandan mothers have?
Once upon a time, there was a woman from eastern Uganda who walked all the way from Kamuda village to Soroti town 12 kilometres away only to deliver on the bare ground outside the hospital while people looked on. more
Pay attention to adolescents’ sexual health needs, Zambia’s First Lady urges policy makers
Zambia’s First Lady Dr Christine Kaseba has urged policy makers to pay attention to the reproductive health needs of sexually active adolescents. more
Human rights defenders in Africa get 1.8m Euro boost
Journalists and other human rights defenders are to get better legal, medical and family assistance under a 1.8 million Euro project launched by Pan-African Human Rights Defenders Network (PAHRD-Net). more
Communities complain of poor health services in Amuria, eastern Uganda
People from Wera sub-county, Amuria district in eastern Uganda have decried the poor standard of health services there. more
Grow your own scheme to help people living with HIV in coastal Uganda
People living with HIV in harbour landing sites of Kaberamaido district, eastern Uganda are set to benefit from an agriculture project that will enable them to grow their own food. more
Uganda: Concern over mandatory HIV testing raised by civil society groups
Civil society organisations in Teso, eastern Uganda have asked the government to go slow in its plans to commence mandatory HIV testing in public health centers across the country this year. more
German Institute sponsors talented youths in a bid to curb HIV
Ten young Kenyans are to win educational scholarships to the German Institute of Professional Studies as a way to reduce HIV incidence. more
Private healthcare in Kampala, Uganda
James Kityo speaks to two women at a private hospital in Kampala, Uganda. more
Zambia to benefit from US-led military health promotions
The American and Zambian government are running the world’s second largest programme on health promotion in the defense forces, the American ambassador to Zambia has revealed. more
Lack of access to contraception in Uganda costing thousands of lives
More than a half of all pregnancies in Uganda are unintended and nearly a third of them end in abortion a new survey has found. more
Blame and HIV: views from Soroti town, Uganda
The government should address how its own officials understand HIV. Not doing so allows blame and stigma to flourish – and this puts more people, not less, at risk argues Williams Moi. more
Suffering in silence: women resume sex early after giving birth
It has emerged that women are suffering silently as many are resuming sex too early after giving birth. more
The blame game that is taking Uganda back to ABC
President Museveni has continuously blamed increasing HIV prevalence in Uganda on non-governmental organisations’ promotion of condom use, sex work and circumcision. “There are so many conflicting messages” observes Mr. Museveni. more
HIV risk perceptions: the story of the pestering man
In my work with persons living with HIV I come across many stories. But there are some stories which move me a lot and echo the difference in human beings, writes James Kityo. more
HIV and AIDS in Mozambique
I am visiting Maputo in Mozambique and I’m happy to write that the health system in the capital Maputo is quite impressive. more
Drugs, facilities and solar power – but no midwife
The story of a rural Ugandan health centre. more
African Union must tackle conflict related rape say campaigners
International campaigners are calling on the African Union to tackle conflict-related rape when it meets for its 20th Summit today. more
HIV testing at Kisoro hospital, Uganda receives a US $56K boost
Kisoro hospital in western Uganda has opened a new laboratory worth sh150million (US$56,000) that will greatly improve HIV testing in the area. more
Second Kenyan AIDS survey to roll on despite tensions
The government has assured Kenyans that the 2012/13 Kenya AIDS Indicator Survey (KAIS) will go ahead as scheduled despite conflict emerging in parts of the country. Reports indicate that many civic activities have stalled following the declaration by the separatist … more
Charlize Theron honoured by World Economic Forum for HIV work
Academy award winning actress and HIV and AIDS campaigner Charlize Theron has been awarded the World Economic Forum’s Crystal Award for her commitment to improving the lives of African youth, in particular those suffering from HIV and AIDS. more
‘The need to produce children is there’
Luwero, Uganda: A group of people living with HIV is organising a series of community events to encourage men to understand the importance of testing for HIV and using services to prevent parent to child transmission. James Kityo went along to hear the discussions. more
Lord Norman Fowler commends the work of people living with HIV
Lord Norman Fowler, a leading British politician known for his work on the global HIV response, has commended the work being carried out by people living with HIV in their communities. more
A tale of two grounded ambulances in Luwero, Uganda
For over two years, two ambulances have now been
grounded at Luwero Health Centre IV, Kasana after failure to maintain and
repair them. more
Female condoms film contest launches
A female condom film contest has been launched that will see winners walking away with huge cash prizes. more
Zimbabwe’s humanitarian situation improves
Zimbabwe’s humanitarian situation is reported to be improving, resulting in the United Nation’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs appealing for approximately half of the resources originally requested in 2012. more
Women living with HIV face stigma in health centers, report finds
“When I was about to deliver my baby, I told the health worker I was HIV positive. She just left the room and never came to look after me again. I suffered so much and without any assistance I lost my baby,” says Yvonne, a woman living with HIV in Cote d’Ivoire. more
Uganda: Infant health threatened as district faces vaccine deficit
Kabarole district, western Uganda is facing a shortage of vaccines due to an ongoing stockout by the National Medical Stores (NMS), an official has said. more
Zimbabwe to conduct TB national prevalence survey
Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Health and Child Welfare (MHCW) is to conduct its first national tuberculosis prevalency survey. more
Growing old in Oyam, Uganda: Mary Joyce’s story
In Apedi Adek village, in Oyam district, northern Uganda a centenarian great grandmother lives on. Williams Moi tells her story. more
Uganda: People living with HIV make progress in implementing PMTCT
Groups of people living with HIV in the districts of Luwero and Nakaseke in Uganda have made significant progress in implementing preventing mother to child transmission (PMTCT) activities. more
How hunger is fuelling domestic violence in rural Zimbabwe
In rural Buhera, about 300 kilometres southeast of Zimbabwe’s capital Harare, many women face domestic violence and say that hunger is fuelling the situation. more
Men the world over must change their mindset, says Indian ambassador to Zimbabwe
The Indian ambassador to Zimbabwe has said there is a need to change the mindset of men the world over so as to stop violence and rape against women. more
