In 11 by-elections on 19 July, the ANC beat off the challenge of former ANC ward councillors and the EFF to retain all four Mangaung seats. In George, GOOD lost all three of its ward seats – two to the DA and one to the Patriotic Alliance. Unverified reports say the IFP won a ward off the ANC i.
Speakers lamented the fact that, despite South Africa having the world’s largest ARV treatment programme, its people are still dying, and that ‘we should be angry’.
Research suggests that people living with HIV are more likely to have mental health conditions than the general population. There seems to be consensus that HIV programmes would benefit from including better mental health screening and support services. Two new policy documents – the Mental Hea.
South Africa’s National Strategic Plan (NSP) for HIV, TB and STIs (2023-2028) was launched on Friday. Nthusang Lefafa attended the event and spoke to experts and activists about TB and HIV in the country, and the work that lies ahead with the new NSP.