We were very fortunate to have Professor Robin Wood and Dr Keren Middelkoop, both from the Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation (DTHF), update us on the tuberculosis (TB) aerobiology project. The project aims to characterise how airborne TB infects people in different spaces. South Africa is one of the six countries globally with the highest rates…
The last research meeting of April was on the subject of medical male circumcision (MMC), hosted by Nathan Beijneveld. He presented research of the acceptability and uptake of MMC in two adolescent populations in South Africa. This is a study with MACHO (Males Actively Choosing Healthy Options). The study investigated the uptake and acceptability of MMC…
The final March research presentation was hosted by Andrea Mendelsohn and Shabaana Osman. Mendelsohn presented the first portion of an ongoing research trial in Masiphumelele. They have been testing the efficacy and response of an STI (sexually transmitted infection) check in adolescents using the GeneXpert machine. So far, the results have been positive. The centre…
Why is there a March for Science this Saturday? 22 April marks Earth Day and the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement in 1970. This was the first time a voice was given to environmental consciousness and a call to action was made to support environmentally friendly and sustainable processes. In the…
At the Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation’s (DTHF) March research meeting, we had the pleasure of not one, but two presentations. The speakers were the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Ms Monika Kamkuemah and the DTHF’s Dr Emily Krogstad. HIV and Chronic Disease Ms Kamkuemah presented her PhD proposal where she intends to examine HIV in adolescents alongside…
Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation (DTHF) strongly endorses the Prevention Access Campaign (PAC) core message: Undetectable HIV is Untransmittable HIV (U=U). Their message is condensed to the simple hashtag #UequalsU. An HIV-positive person who maintains an undetectable viral load with the aid of regular, successful treatment cannot transmit HIV sexually (1). Bruce Richman, a cofounder of…
DTHF received the UBUNTU Award for Social Responsibility at a gala event in Cape Town on 17th February. The evening honoured the legacy of Oliver Tambo and those South Africans who have followed in his footsteps. It was attended by President Jacob Zuma and many notable dignitaries. Tracy-Ann Finnan (Senior Finance) and Riaan Beukes (Project…
Zimele Project: Launch This January, there was a buzz of excitement at Philippi Village as 120 new staff members arrived ready to make a difference in their community through the Zimele Project. To date, this will be the largest single project that the Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation has ever taken on, and we are now excited…
HIV Vaccine Trial to be launched in South Africa “We’ve never treated our way out of an epidemic. There’s no doubt we have to have primary prevention alongside treatment in order to get HIV control, but we are not going to get HIV eradication without a vaccine. That is very clear.” Linda-Gail Bekker, Deputy Director of…
9 Steps: HIV Prevention Revolution in Resource-Limited Settings It’s 3 decades into the war with HIV/AIDS and so far 78 million have been infected and 39 million people have died, most in an untimely way (1). Yet an important battle has been won: antiretroviral therapy (ART) brought life-saving treatment to those infected, in both the…