Labor

The Department of Health says its policy on the treatment of Tuberculosis patients, especially those who have Multi-Drug Resistant TB (MDR-TB) and Extreme-Drug Resistant (XDR-TB), will not be changed in any way.

This is a fixed term position for an initial period of 2 years, renewable based on performance and availability of funds.

The good news on medical schemes is that the industry is turning around from huge losses. The bad news is that nobody's tracking how much medical costs consumers are carrying. On average, the industry performed pretty well, according to acting registrar of medical schemes Patrick Matshidze.

While HIV and tuberculosis are hitting the headlines daily, thousands are quietly dying of lifestyle diseases, many which can be prevented if diagnosed and treated early.

July Is Mental Health Month and I would like us to challenge ourselves as nurses to explore this significance in two ways. Firstly by reviewing our own lives, taking up the challenge to look after ourselves by paying attention to our own mental health and secondly by addressing our clients, tll0se we look after and care for with mental health difficulties.

Cervical cancer is the second most prevalent cancer (second to breast cancer) to affect women in South Africa. The most common cancer to affect black women - 31 per cent of all cancers - it is also preventable and treatable. It is associated with the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), of which the most prevalent strains are 16 and 18. Cervical cancer also appears to be an opportunistic infection among those living with HIV as it links to a weakened immune system. In South Africa a woman's risk of developing cervical cancer is one in 26. Each year 6 700 women develop cervical cancer while 3 700 die from the disease annually in South Africa.

Marion Stevens, Treatment Monitor with the Health Systems Trust, reflects all the links between women's health and HIV/Aids.

The International Association for Hospice and Palliative Care (IAHPC), the Worldwide Palliative Care Alliance (WPCA) and different organisations from around the world will issue today a Joint Declaration and Statement of Commitment calling for the recognition of Palliative Care and Pain Treatment as Human Rights.

MORE than 22 000 of the world's key HIV/AIDS scientists, academics and activists descended on Mexico City at the weekend for the start of the International AIDS Conference.