European Union

AFRICAN countries need to invest more in clinical trials so that they could have a greater influence over research into diseases affecting their people, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi said on Monday.

His remarks came after a call by European research, innovation and science commissioner Máire Geoghegan-Quinn for African countries to commit funds to the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership programme, which channels European Union (EU) funding to health research in Africa.

Speaking on the sidelines of a high-level clinical trials partnership meeting, Dr Motsoaledi conceded that finding the money might prove tough in today’s tight fiscal climate. But he insisted Africa could not continue to depend on "handouts".

Global health experts came together to discuss the European Union’s role in supporting low- and middle-income countries to reach universal health coverage at the European Development Days (EDDs) conference. The topic for the two-day conference taking place in Brussels from 16-17 October is “Inclusive and Sustainable Growth for Human Development”.

A high-level panel, entitled "Building a Social Contract for Health", discussed what African countries could do to achieve universal health coverage, and how the EU and other developmental partners could support them.

PURPOSE:

Resistance to AIDS drugs, a problem that has been widely feared over the last decade, is growing in parts of Africa but should not hamper the life-saving drug rollout, researchers reported on Monday.

Tiny genetic mutations that make HIV immune to key frontline drugs have been increasing in eastern and southern Africa, something that should be a clear warning to health watchdogs, they said.

"Without continued and increased national and international efforts, rising HIV drug resistance could jeopardize a decade-long trend of decreasing HIV/AIDS-related illness and death in low- and middle-income countries," they said.

The Health Department is on a mission to improve the country's healthcare system and to get a clean audit this financial year, and it has enlisted the help of 400 interns to help it achieve this.

The unemployed graduates, who have qualifications in the fields of finance, commerce, accounting, human resources and information communication technology, will be working in the department's offices in all the provinces.

The interns, who joined the department on 2 May, come from all over the country and have been grouped into three internship programmes, including financial management, human resources and information management.

THE NATIONAL DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH HOSTS A CONFERENCE THEMED “NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE: LESSONS FOR SOUTH AFRICA”

Purpose

Mamelodi - South African primary health care (PHC) has received a multi-million rand donation from the European Union to assist the country in improving its access to public health services.

Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi and the European Union Commissioner for Development, Andris Piebalgs, have jointly launched a R1.2 billion Primary Health Care Sector Policy Support Programme, which will contribute to the government's key objectives for the South African health sector.

HIV/AIDS and other communicable diseases such as tuberculosis and malaria have dominated the headlines and received much of the world attention for several years - And rightly so.

However, another health threat will take centre stage at a United Nations (UN) High Level Meeting on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) on 19 and 20 September.

NCD’s, which includes cancer, cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes, will officially join HIV on the UN agenda as one of the biggest health threats to the world.

There is agreement that for too long, NCDs have been silent killers, the leading cause of death worldwide each year, causing 36-million deaths in 2008 and accounting for 63% of all global deaths.

The EU will contribute R1.25-billion to South Africa's fight against HIV/Aids and TB.

The money will be used to improve the country's primary healthcare system, the European Commission said yesterday.

Southern Africa is battling to gain ground in preventing HIV infections.

"[This is] one of the largest EU health programmes in the world and shows that we want to make a real difference in people's lives . reduce maternal and child mortality, and increase life expectancy," EU development commissioner Andris Piebalgs said.

About 5.4million of South Africa's 49 million people are living with HIV, according to official statistics.

HIV/AIDS and other communicable diseases such as tuberculosis and malaria have dominated the headlines and received much of the world attention for several years - And rightly so.

However, another health threat will take centre stage at a United Nations (UN) High Level Meeting on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) on 19 and 20 September.

NCD’s, which includes cancer, cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes, will officially join HIV on the UN agenda as one of the biggest health threats to the world.