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South Africa

South Africa

International Activity Report, 2009 In 2009 the new South African government completely reversed its stance on one of the country’s biggest health challenges, and is now addressing HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis (TB) as major health priorities. On World AIDS Day, President Jacob Zuma announced a number of long-awaited changes to strategies on HIV/AIDS treatment, including the use of higher-quality drugs for initial treatment, and a new model of care to address the deadly HIV/TB co-infection directly. Treatment will also be available for pregnant women and more nurses will be trained, which will give patients greater access to care. MSF has been continuing to provide HIV/AIDS and TB care to those in Khayelitsha and healthcare to...
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Inner City Gazette: Expo on plight of migrants

10 May 2012
Solidarity for Survival, migrants, refugees, expo, Somalia, Zimbabwe, Congo, MSF
Suitcase display at MSF's Solidarity for Survival exhibition. Photo: MSF
Exhibition inspires action to aid vulnerable migrants.  Medecins Sans Frontieres / Doctors Without Borders (MSF) South Africa opened a dynamic and thought provoking exhibition titled Solidarity for Survival. In a press statement MSF says the exhibition brings attention on the plight of thousands of people who survive displacement and migration; and come to South Africa in the face of discrimination and healthcare exclusion... Read full article below.
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Platinum Weekly: MSF raising awareness in Rustenburg

18 May 2012
MSF, face to face, fundraising, doctors without borders, Rustenburg, awareness
The team for MSF face-to-face fundraisering in Rustenburg. Photo: MSF
A team of MSF face-to-face fundraisers from Doctors without Borders visited the Waterfall Mall from 15-19 may 2012 to specifically raise awareness regarding the humanitarian work they do all over the world. ...“The support in Rustenburg has been overwhelming; people showed an interest in our projects, especially those in Khayelitsha and Musina”, Brett Sandler said.   Read full article below
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Sandton Magazine: Heal the world

01 April 2012
MSF, Dr Prinitha Pillay, humanitarian, doctors without borders, Soth Africa
Dr Prinitha Pillay in South Sudan. Photo:Jens Windahl Pedersen
lt's true that dynamite comes in small packages. Dr Prinitha Pillar is a petite woman with a big heart, travelling to places like Sudan, Libya, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, India and Sierra Ieone to all those in need or medical care. She can spend a year at a time without hot water or a proper toilet, but it's a dedication she has made as a doctor and a South African, determined to LISC her voice to catalyse change in a big way too... ... Dr Prinitha Pillay says "Being a doctor, seeing patients with I IIV who are willing to stand up for what they need and what they want and to use that kind of civic agency, willing to make their own contribution instead of waiting for help, is what makes me proudly South African." Read full...
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The Times: Book about hope keeps TB sufferer going

02 May 2012
Phumeza, Tisile, XDR-TB, Khayelitsha, MSF, extreme drug resistant tuberculosis
Phumeza is 21 years old and is currently confined to a bed in a tuberculosis (TB) care centre in Khayelitsha near Cape Town, South Africa. Photo: Samantha Reinders
PHUMEZA Tisile's favourite book, Redeeming Love, is about hope because that is what helps her get out of bed each day. The 21-year-old Khayelitsha resident has extremely drug-resistant TB, known as XDR-TB, and none of the medicines she has taken since her diagnosis in 2010 has been effective...   Read full article below
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The Times: Life-saving drug on hold

30 April 2012
XDR-TB, extreme drug resistant TB, MSF, MCC, TMC 207, turberculosis
XDR-TB survivor and peer counselor, Xoliswa Hermanus, helps a family member fit a mask to prevent TB infection during a home visit and group counseling session. Her mother, Jonas Cikizwa, is a woman infected with extremely drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB), HIV and diabetes. Photo: Jose Cendon.
Squabble over TB drug medical council prohibits use of Bedaquiline on critically ill TB patients. A drug with the potential to save the lives of drug-resistant TB suffers has been withheld until all clinical trials are completed. Despite a request by non-government organisations for the drug to be made available for compassionate use, the Medicines Control Council has refused. ...Medicins Sans Frontieres' advocacy officer, Mara Kardas-Nelson, said: "We're not trying to use Bedaquiline across the board but we want to use it for patients who have no other option."   Read full article below.
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Doctors Without Borders South Africa exhibition inspires solidarity and action to aid vulnerable migrants

02 May 2012
Solidarity for Survival
Solidarity for Survival exhibition
SOLIDARITY FOR SURVIVAL – Countries have borders – People Don’t! JOHANNESBURG – Médecins Sans Frontières / Doctors Without Borders (MSF) South Africa opens a dynamic and thought provoking exhibition, titled Solidarity for Survival, on 10 May 2012. The exhibition brings attention on the plight of thousands of people who survive displacement and migration; and come to South Africa in the face of discrimination and healthcare exclusion.    Solidarity for Survival portrays the plight of African nationals fleeing their home countries and is informed by what MSF has witnessed while providing emergency medical care. The exhibition seeks to provoke debate and to...
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Global Funding Rally

22 March 2012
fund HIV and TB
fund HIV and TB
With a US$2billion funding shortfall the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria – the world’s largest funder of  HIV and tuberculosis programmes – faces a crisis along with the nations heavily dependent on its support.   On March 22 a group of 1,000 health activists marched on the US Consulate in Sandton, Johannesburg, to demand that the US, the UK and Australia lead the way for an Emergency Donor Conference as an urgent response to plug the funding deficit .   The Global Fund last year had to cancel a funding grant round because its international donors did not contribute enough, despite pledges to do so. MSF has highlighted how these funding cuts will impact many southern African countries...
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Cape Times: Council asked to give TB drug the green light

01 April 2012
MSF, Etxtreme drug resistant tuberculosis, XDR TB, TMC207, South Africa
Tsilana, an MSF nurse, prepares an injected TB drug for Jonas Cikizwa, a woman infected with extremely drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB), HIV and diabetes. Photo: Jose Cendon.
A promising new drug now on trial offers the last hope for some patients with extreme drug resistant (XDR) tuberculosis. The life or death decision on whether to make it available rests with the Medicines Control Council (MCC). In a letter sent last week to the MCC and Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, Medecins sans Frontieres (MSF) arid almost 50 doctors and scientists urged the regulatory body to consider the compassionate use of TMC207, a novel drug in Phase III trials... Read full article below.
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by Dr. Radut.