VASU REDDY

Siyayinqoba Beat It! 2004 Episode 18 - Male to Male Sex & HIV

Have men who have sex with men been ignored in our response to HIV in Africa? Statistics say that the majority of people infected with HIV they are heterosexuals. Twenty one years ago when HIV was discovered it was mainly a homosexual disease. Has the experience of gay men in particular been almost forgotten because of these facts? This episode of Siyayinqoba Beat It! set out to find out.

Siyayinqoba Beat It! 2005 Episode 3 - Middle Class Denialism

Ronald Louw had been exemplary in almost all aspects of his life, except the fact that he did not get tested for HIV. In this episode of Siyayinqoba the team goes to Durban where Louw's memorial service took placeIn studio Treatment Action Campaign chair Zackie Achmat, Louw's close friend and comrade explained the importance of early testing and how many lives can be saved if everyone could do away denialism and get tested.

Siyayinqoba Beat It! 2006 Episode 26 - VCT or routine testing?

In South Africa we have a policy of voluntary counselling and testing. However, many people die because they test too late. Their CD4 counts are very low, giving the ARVs less time to work effectively. In the past when treatment was not available, VCT was important to protect people from stigma, but since the roll-out of ARVs, many people are questioning whether VCT and written consent is the best policy for HIV prevention and treatment. We are joined by Justice Edwin Cameron who believes that VCT slows down the response to HIV and Mark Heywood, Director of the AIDS Law Project who believes that testing must remain voluntary and pre and post test counselling must remain.