Harare, Zimbabwe | AFP | Blessing Chingwaru could barely walk without support when he arrived at the specialist Rutsanana clinic in Harare complaining of chest pains and fatigue. Weighing a skeletal 37 kilogrammes (5.8 stone), the HIV-positive motor mechanic knew something was wrong. He was immediately given a number of …
Read More »Global gains in fight against HIV decline amid funding cuts
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The pace of progress in reducing new HIV infections, increasing access to treatment and ending AIDS-related deaths is slowing down according to the UNAIDS’ Global AIDS Update 2019. The report; Communities at the Centre, shows a mixed picture arising from a widening gap between …
Read More »HIV eliminated from DNA
The work is a critical step to a cure for human HIV infection Researchers have for the first time eliminated replication-competent HIV-1 DNA — the virus responsible for AIDS — from the genomes of living animals. Genomes are complete DNA sets of an organism, including genes. The study marks …
Read More »Uganda seeks more laboratories for viral load tests
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Fourteen laboratories have so far been internationally accredited to offer viral load and Early Infant Diagnosis (EID) testing for HIV. Viral load which is a test that determines the amount of the virus in the blood of an HIV positive person is one of …
Read More »Ministry of Health launches plan to prevent TB in people living with HIV
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | A new plan aimed at preventing Tuberculosis among Persons Living with HIV has been launched in Kampala. The plan will see Persons Living with HIV introduced to Isoniazid Preventive Treatment-IPT, to purposely stop the development of TB or treat any undiagnosed TB in their …
Read More »Hepatitis B in Uganda
Country leads in tackling growing health challenge Kampala, Uganda | PATRICIA AKANKWATSA | Up to 6% of people in Uganda are infected with Hepatitis B; a virus that can cause acute and chronic liver infections (cirrhosis) which is incurable. That means if you are in a place with 15 people; …
Read More »Acholi culture to fight HIV
Ancient fireside gatherings could tackle stigma | BONNIE FOURNIER | For 25 years, northern Uganda was devastated by civil war. During this time the area’s residents, many of whom belong to the Acholi people, were forced from their homes. They ended up living in internally displaced camps, relying on the …
Read More »Gov’t asked to integrate Hepatitis, HIV treatment
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Civil Society Organizations from over 25 countries have called for governments in Africa to integrate treatment and prevention programmes for Hepatitis into other health programmes like HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis that are proving to be a success. They pointed out that Prevention of Mother to Child …
Read More »Risk for heart diseases
It’s higher in people living with HIV | THE INDEPENDENT | Effective antiretroviral therapy has changed the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) from a progressive, fatal disease to a chronic, manageable condition. However, it now associated with higher rates of heart attacks, strokes, heart failure, sudden cardiac deaths, and other diseases …
Read More »Kalangala to use drones to deliver ARV drugs
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Drones will soon be used to deliver the life prolonging Anti-Retroviral-ARVs drugs to several landing sites in Kalangala District. Both the Ministry of Health and Kalangala District Local Government have approved the use of drones to deliver the ARVs so as to increase access to …
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