Screening for HIV
Every one of us is concerned about HIV and yet most of us are unsure of our HIV status. Get all the info you need from this fact sheet.
Qwelane ruling gets the nod from Health4Men
Jon Qwelane was found guilty of hate speech by the Johannesburg Equality Court today after the former Sunday Sun columnist penned an article titled “Call me names, but gay is NOT okay”.
MSM need more than just biomedical interventions
HEALTH4MEN IN THE NEWS: An article which appeared on the Plus News and African Press International websites, features comment on research which was presented at Anova’s Top2Btm symposium in Cape Town last week. Health4Men’s Glenn de Swardt was among those quoted.
DoH recognises MSMs
The next installment of the National Strategic Plan (NSP) on HIV and AIDS is said to be more inclusive of the needs of the MSM community in South Africa. Health-e news service has highlighted these issues in a recent article posted on their website. The article takes a look at the importance of the Top2Btm Conference, held in Cape Town just over a week ago and the impact which relaying this kind of information has on the MSM community in general.
Health care sector unfriendly to gay men
The Top2Btm AIDS Priorities Conference has once again put MSM in the spotlight with an article published by Health-e journalist Khopotso Bodibe.
The article takes a look at the current and pressing issues of MSM trying to access health care and the negative effects that this has on the basic health care of such a marginalised group.
“These gays must just stop it.”
“Nothing I hate like homosexuals, the founders of AIDS!” “If they burn with sex desire why can’t they quench it with a woman?” These comments and more greeted an article posted on The Sowetan Live website. The story has attracted a considerable amount of negative comment, even though it was only jettisoned into cyberspace 45 minutes ago.
Make sexual minorities mainstream
Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi’s scheduled appearance at Anova’s Top2Btm Symposium in Cape Town caused waves last week. An article in the Mail&Guardian argues that the minister’s presence at the MSM and HIV focused symposium, while commendable, could re-stigmatise men who have sex with men.
Call for more South African research into HIV prevalence and risk among men who have sex with men
Effectively responding to the high prevalence of HIV among men who have sex with men (MSM) in South Africa requires more research.
This was the call of numerous speakers at the second day of the Top2Btm symposium where researchers, medical professionals and policy makers met to discuss treatment, prevention and care of HIV for MSM. The symposium is based in Cape Town and hosted by the Anova Health Institute with support from PEPFAR.
DOH renews commitment to address HIV prevalence among MSM
Speaking on behalf of Minister Aaron Motsoaledi at Monday evening’s opening of the Top2Btm symposium in Cape Town, Dr. Yogan Pillay, Chief Director of Strategic Planning at the National Department of Health emphasised the need for an HIV strategy that is “much more nuanced and targeted.”
The Minister was due to open the three day symposium dedicated to the sexual health of men who have sex with men (MSM), but was unable to attend and sent Pillay in his stead.
Reading the Minister’s speech, Pillay noted: “Even though the Strategic Plan mentions men who have sex with men, we certainly haven’t done enough to protect this group”.
Health-e article highlights key Issues raised at Top2Btm symposium
The Top2Btm Symposium, which is coordinated by Anova, is the subject of an article from the online health related news provider Health-e. The symposium which opened in Cape Town yesterday, focuses on various issues relating to MSM and HIV.
The article places the symposium in context through recalling the days when HIV was initially and erroneously labeled a ‘gay disease’ and consequently given the name GRID (Gay Related Immune Deficiency).