NOKHWEZI HOBOYI

Siyayinqoba Beat It! 2006 Episode 8 - Children on ARVs

It was estimated that in 2006 about 230 000 children under the age of 15 in our country were infected with HIV. But only 10 000 of those were on antiretroviral treatment. The rest of them were in desperate need of medication to fight this disease. In this episode of Siyayinqoba Beat It! the team looked at the challenges faced in administering antiretroviral treatment to children and made the point that PMTCT programmes should be scaled up to ensure that no kids are born with HIV in South Africa to start off with.

Siyayinqoba Beat It! 2006 Episode 12 - Tertiary Institutions

In South Africa, many of us finish grades 12 between the ages of 18 and 20, then we go on to study at a technikon or university, and many of us stay in hostels there. The number of people infected by HIV also increases in the 16 to 20 year age group. In this episode of Siyayinqoba the support group spoke about tertiary institutions and HIV. They were joined by Azola Goqwana who is a peer educator at the Cape Peninsula University to discuss this topic.

Siyayinqoba Beat It! 2006 Episode 14 - Circumcision

In this episode of Siyayinqoba Beat It! the team looked at the findings of the Orange Farm study that found that male circumcision substantially reduces the risk of HIV infection for the circumcised male. What implications should these results have on prevention strategies in South Africa? How can the benefits of circumcision be introduced to men without compromising or undermining other prevention strategies? The support group discussed these questions and also discussed what other benefits can and should be derived from traditional Xhosa circumcision.

Siyayinqoba Beat It! 2006 Episode 15 - Cervical cancer and HIV

In this weeks episode of Siyayinqoba Beat It! 2006 we learnt about cervical cancer and HIV. About half a million women are diagnosed with this disease every year. It's the most common cancer amongst black and coloured South African women. This is an important topic for all women, but it is especially important for those living with HIV to know about cervical cancer, because they have higher chances of getting the disease. The good news is that cervical cancer is preventable if diagnosed early. We were joined by Dr Nomonde Mbatani a gynaecologist from Groote Schuur Hospital and Prof. Lynette Denny who talks to us about cervical cancer.

Siyayinqoba Beat It! 2006 Episode 16 - Faith-based communities

In this episode of Siyayinqoba Beat It! 2006 we look at faith based communities and HIV. Some churches, such as the JL Zwane Church, are doing a great deal to support and care for members of their congregation who are living with HIV, we also look at churches, like the Universal Church, who are promoting the idea that HIV can be cured through prayer.

Siyayinqoba Beat It! 2006 Episode 17 - HIV communication strategies

In this weeks episode of Siyayinqoba Beat It! 2006 we took a look at South Africa's current response to HIV prevention; ABC. ABC stands for Abstain, be faithful and condomise. There is a need to re-think this approach because South Africa's HIV infection rate is still on the increase despite our prevention efforts. The latest antenatal survey showed that over 30% of pregnant women are testing HIV positive and six million people are now living with HIV. Clearly, ABC is not working. We hear what Mrs. Mnguni, a guidance teacher from Daveyton and her pupils have to say about HIV prevention strategies. We also headed to International Microbicides Conference to hear the thinking there.

Siyayinqoba Beat It! 2006 Episode 20 - ARV Side Effects

Siyayinqoba Beat It! 2006 Episode 21 - Curative claims

Siyayinqoba Beat It! 2006 this week looks at the debate around ARV treatment vs. positive living and curative claims. We look at the Manto diet of garlic, lemons and olive oil, we visit Zeblon Kholwa Gwala and look at his untested ‘miracle' Ubhejane cure, and we speak to Justice Edwin Cameron about living positively on ARVs. We are joined by Nozizwe Mandla-Routledge and Dr Trevor Majoro in studio to discuss the importance of tested medicines.

Siyayinqoba Beat It! 2006 Episode 23 - ARV resistance and new regimens

This episode was about understanding drug classes and how ARVs work. Dr Majoro, an HIV clinician and traditional healer joins our support group and helps us to better understand our drug regimens and the importance of adherence. We head out to Khayelitsha where Médecins Sans Frontières help Monwabisi Bikwana make a special application for an antiretroviral which is not yet registered in South Africa.

Siyayinqoba Beat It! 2006 Episode 24 - Pregnancy and HIV

This week we were looking at pregnancy and HIV on Siyayinqoba. We talk about the safest ways for HIV positive couples to have children or if you or your partner is HIV positive. What you can do if you are HIV positive and your partner is negative. We visit the Cape Fertility Clinic and talk to Dr Linda Gail-Bekker about the risks of having a child if you are HIV positive and safe ways to conceive. In studio the support group are joined by Dr Nombuso Mthethwa to discuss pregnancy and HIV.