/ 6 June 2002

Estimated worldwide HIV infections: 47 100 419 at 12.19pm on Thursday June

Ready to roll: North West MEC for Health Molefi Sefularo said nevari-pine would be available at two pilot sites in the province by the end of the year. He said his department officially launched its prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV campaign and would be working hand-in-hand with the national Department of Health.

Not yet out: The Department of Health’s annual HIV survey has been delayed because the minister did not have time, according to a department spokesperson. The survey is the only source of statistics about the epidemic and the results are usually released every March. The survey is based on data collected from pregnant women at government clinics every October.

Don’t make it known! Experts warn against the African National Congress’s call to make HIV/Aids a notifiable disease. Dr Confidence Moloko, the ANC’s national health committee deputy chairperson, says this would oblige physicians to report infected people to the appropriate health authorities. However, Mark Heywood of the Treatment Action Campaign disagrees, saying the correct way to go about controlling the spread of the disease is to start a training campaign for councillors.

Source: www.redribbon.co.za and other news organisations