HIV and care
Key Correspondents report issues relating to how the care of people living with HIV and AIDS affects individuals, families and communities.
Stories about the challenges, successes and short comings around community and home-based care are also documented as are people’s ability to access essential health services.
Communities and families neglected in HIV programmes
In Zimbabwe, many orphans living with HIV are cared for by extended families, particularly grandparents, yet very little of HIV programme funding goes direct to these carers. more
Uganda: women and girls bear burden of HIV caregiving
James Odong explores how the burden of caregiving falls heavily on girls, affecting their quality of life and education opportunities, as well as bringing added vulnerabilities. more
Funding woes strangle Malawi’s HIV and mental health services
Malawi’s mental health services are critically underfunded, denying patients who are also HIV-positive the specific care they need. more
Investigations underway into missing HIV test kits in Uganda
Officials in Uganda’s National Medical Stores are in a panic after security organizations started investigating the disappearance of HIV testing kits. more
Ugandan government falls short on sanitation and hygiene
A visit to a number of Uganda’s public hospitals will reveal shocking sanitation and hygiene facilities, which are putting people’s health at risk. more
Uganda requires new strategies to fight HIV
Uganda requires new strategies if the country is to change the course of HIV transmission according to an official from the Ministry of Health. more
Lack of HIV test kits in Uganda put unborn babies at risk
In Uganda health facilities are facing an ongoing crisis with a shortage of supplies which are putting unborn babies at risk of HIV and other infections. more
Increasing cost of HIV services putting lives at risk in Zambia
In Zambia, new bottlenecks and increasing costs are impeding smooth delivery of services in private sector HIV treatment clinics and putting lives at risk. more
How HIV, poverty and drugs intertwine in Cambodia
A mother of two children, Hem Sreylyn was diagnosed with HIV at the age of 26 after she gave birth to her last child. more
Zimbabwe hospital network to launch psychosocial support radio station
Volunteer hospital network Hospinet is setting up radio stations for patients to discuss issues such as HIV and sexual health. more
Zambian beauty queen donates food to mothers and children living with HIV
A 20 year-old model is urging people to unite to change society following a donation of K2 million (USD 500) worth of food to mothers and children living with HIV in Zambia. 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
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
Stigma affecting uptake of paediatric HIV services in Uganda
Stigma is undermining uptake of paediatric HIV prevention and AIDS treatment services in Uganda. 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
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
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
Cambodia: Lack of home-based care in Ratanakiri causing problems for people living with HIV
People living with HIV in Ratanakiri province, Cambodia are unable to access home-based care in their area which is making it hard for them to stay healthy, an official has said. more
Uganda: The HIV positive group giving hope to hundreds
Of the seven Ugandans who founded Nyimbwa Multi Purpose Organization of People Living With HIV/AIDS, only three are still alive yet they are giving hope to hundreds.
Yet the three have carried on the mantle of this organization, more
Family planning in Uganda
Family planning is when or when not to have children, and the use of birth control and other techniques to implement such plans. Other aspects of family planning include prevention, sexual education, management of sexually transmitted infections, pre conception counseling … more
Potential ‘game changer’ for HIV prevention for women
A vaginal ring containing an antiretroviral drug, which could provide women with an easy-to-use alternative to vaginal microbicides to help reduce their risk of getting HIV, is being tested in Africa. more
AIDS 2012: Older women living with HIV
Achieving the goal of an AIDS free generation is not possible without reaching out to older women living with HIV. more
Uganda: Living 24 years with HIV and hopeful to live longer
Kagumba, whose name literally translates to ‘bone’, is indeed a bone that is unbreakable in the lives of the people living with HIV and AIDS within the two HIV positive organisations, OBOTH- PLHIV and Bukuma PLHIV, in which he works. more
AIDS 2012: Mapping the progress, seeing the gaps on access to treatment
Here at the 19th International AIDS Conference in Washington (AIDS 2012), Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has released an important report tracking progress on access to anti-retroviral treatment (ART) in 23 countries. more
Zambian Bishop warns against ‘faith healing’ of HIV
Bishop Joshua Banda says people living with HIV should adhere to treatment and not be blinded by the ‘faith healing’ offered by some clergymen. more
Reducing maternal and infant mortality in Zambia
Giving birth to a baby is a joy for many women but this is not the case for many in Zambia given the high number of maternal deaths. Many women in rural areas see giving birth as not only a burden but a nightmare. Women are scared of falling pregnant due to high costs and also the shortage of midwives, which leads them to give birth at home using the services of traditional birth attendants (TBAs). more
Our correspondents are writing for change on HIV issues relating to young people, as well as drug use.