EIGHT cases of the deadly extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) have been confirmed in Namibia by international experts.

After months of suspicions, the Ministry of Health and Social Services on Thursday confirmed the country's first eight cases of extensively drug resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB), which is resistant to four TB drugs.

The number of people living with HIV/AIDS has reduced from 191,437 in 2006 to184,859 in 2007, a United Nations General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) country progress report has said.

While science battles to find an HIV vaccine, there have been real advances in the field of HIV prevention. So why isn't South Africa taking advantage of these?

The number of deaths caused by malaria reduced by 3 million in the past two years, nationwide, due to the increase of prevention measures and the introduction of the new therapy about three years ago.

THE National Health bill seeking to enact a comprehensive health policy for the nation was passed by the Senate yesterday. The bill reportedly facilitated by part of the unspent N300 million Federal Ministry of Health budget was passed in the absence of the chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello.

The Ministry of Health has finally confirmed the imminent arrival of a new AIDS drug from a Canadian company, Apotex. Health officials said Thursday that the first batch of such low-cost drug will be in the country late September this year.

Chairperson Senate committee on health, Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello will by next Monday know her fate wither to still be on the run or to come out of hiding, as an Abuja High Court will rull on her preliminary objection seeking to quash the charges.

Traditional healers have been identified as the best messengers in the prevention, care and reduction of stigmatisation in HIV/AIDS patients.

Article 25.1 of the Universal Declaration, to which Ghana is signatory states, "Everyone has a right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability "

Based on previous news reports that have warned Ghanaians to be very circumspect about some of the western drugs they are taking, we thought it appropriate to examine the issue of western medicine and traditional medicine.

THE Zimbabwe HIV and Aids Activist Union is proposing the formation of an anti-retroviral drug committee responsible for monitoring the distribution and dispensation of drugs to HIV and Aids patients.

THE Association of Health Care Funders of Zimbabwe has approved new medical fees for all council administered health institutions to a maximum of $4,5 billion with effect from May 1.

Politics and Policy

The two-day workshop was organised by the Centre Provincial Unit for Roll Back Malaria.

An evaluation meeting of members of ESTHER Cameroon took place in Yaounde yesterday.

The National Independent Trade Union of Health and Civil Service Workers (SNITSFP) will organise its second congress in January 2009, aimed at analysing its statutes and renew the mandate.

The UNAids regional director for Southern and Eastern Africa is back after two years on an official mission to assess the local situation. He will also see how he can give more support to improve the health situation.

Foot and Mouth cattle disease has broken out in Kibaale District.

THE Health Professions Council of SA (HPCSA) is investigating all cases being handled by its legal department after its legal adviser was arrested for alleged corruption.

The South-South Health Care Delivery programme last week provided the ministry of health and sanitation with 10 medical practitioners that would be working in various fields of Sierra Leone's medical sector.

Regardless of the absence of the Chairman of the Senate Committee on health, Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello, the Senate yesterday passed the National Health Bill into law.

With Abuja, the Nigerian capital set to join New York, London, Nairobi and several capital cities which have prohibited public smoking , the Federal Capital Territory Administration has said that no resident of the territory, be it government official or other highly placed individual would be exempted from the Tobacco Control Act of 1990, which would take effect from June 1, 2008.

A book on Aids and violence against Namibian women and children was launched at the Katutura Community Arts Centre on Tuesday evening.

Most people would not want to die voluntary, yet more and more people especially young people are committing suicide in Namibia.