BeatIt.co.za News

World AIDS Day 2009 - Jacob Zuma

Tue, 08 Dec 2009 13:49:03 +0200

The 2009 World AIDS Day events in South Africa showed government committing to treating HIV/AIDS and preventing further infections. Civil society organisations applauded President Jacob Zuma's commitment to start ARV treatment for all HIV positive people with TB when their CD4 count dropped under 350, treat all pregnant HIV positive women with a CD4 count of 350 or lower and to start all pregnant women on PMTCT by 14 weeks.

PrEP

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 11:12:30 +0200

A potential new means of preventing HIV infection called Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) is being trialled in the Western Cape. We speak to some of those involved in the trials.

Early Treatment

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 11:12:09 +0200

A case study of accidental infection by needle prick highlights the importance of early treatment when someone has potentially been exposed to the virus. At Sebokeng clinic we learn what Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) involves.

PMTCT

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 11:11:33 +0200

HIV positive parents talk to us about how ARVs prevented their baby becoming infected with HIV. Dr Nopasika Pinzi explains to us the how the chances of PMTCT improve dramatically with dual and triple therapy.

Episode 9 - ARVs and Prevention

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 11:10:53 +0200

Antiretroviral (ARV) Treatment or ART can play a big role in preventing HIV infection. Maybe bigger than we imagine. Rape survivors can take a combination of three drugs, Combivir (3TC and d4T) and AZT for 28 days to prevent HIV infection. Doctors and nurses have been doing the same thing if they accidently prick themselves with a needle that’s been used on a patient who is HIV positive. In both of these situations it’s been shown that the ART is effective. Finding out your HIV status after a sexual assault may prove to be a traumatic experience, but it is essential that rape survivors do test so that counselling and treatment can begin as soon as possible. Based on evidence from mother to child transmission studies PEP could be up to 99% effective at preventing infection.