Latest news with #13th
IOL News
4 days ago
- Health
- IOL News
South Africa's HIV Response: Hope, Tools, and Resolve
South Africa has the world's largest HIV treatment programme, with over 5.5 million people receiving antiretrovirals (ARVs). Yet we still see more than 100 000 new HIV infections each year. That is unacceptable — and preventable. Image: Tumi Pakkies/ Independent Newspapers Earlier this month, more than 3,600 scientists, activists, policymakers, and journalists gathered in Kigali, Rwanda, for the 13th International AIDS Society (IAS) Conference on HIV Science. It was the first time this major global event took place in an African city outside South Africa, marking a powerful recognition of the continent's critical role in the global HIV response. The conference came on the heels of deeply concerning news: in January, the US government announced sharp cuts to funding for the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a move that cast a long shadow over the global fight against HIV, particularly in Africa. The numbers are staggering: of the 40.8 million people living with HIV globally, over 26 million (65%) are in Africa. And more than half of all new infections in 2024 occurred on the continent. A Call to Stay the Course Despite fears about reduced funding, the mood in Kigali was one of resolve. Delegates affirmed their commitment to ending HIV, recognising the extraordinary progress made in Eastern and Southern Africa. Many echoed a common sentiment: "We cannot stop now. We must fight to the end", emphasising the need for sustained commitment and effort to achieve an AIDS-free future. That optimism was reinforced by encouraging developments. The pharmaceutical company Gilead announced that Lenacapavir, a new HIV prevention drug administered via two injections a year, has shown high efficacy in clinical trials. If made widely accessible, this could be a game-changer— especially for those who struggle with daily pill regimens. Further hope came when the US Congress ultimately approved continued PEPFAR funding, although uncertainties remain around the duration and scope of future support. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading What This Means for South Africa South Africa has the world's largest HIV treatment programme, with over 5.5 million people receiving antiretrovirals (ARVs). Yet we still see more than 100 000 new HIV infections each year. That is unacceptable — and preventable. To address this, the government launched the '1.1 Million Campaign' in February to close the gap between those who know their HIV status and those who are virally suppressed. But for this initiative to succeed, we need national mobilisation. Every political leader, community organiser, religious institution, and employer must actively support the campaign. Unfortunately, media coverage has been limited, and public awareness remains low. Doing More with Less With reductions in funding from the Global Fund and PEPFAR, and despite increased domestic investment, every rand in our HIV response must count. Managers and community activists in the health and social development sectors must track data rigorously: Who is being tested? Who is on treatment? Who is virally suppressed? Who is using Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) — and who should be, but isn't? We must also stand firm against stigma. There is no justification for discrimination against people living with HIV or those using preventive treatments like PrEP. They are taking responsible steps to protect themselves and others. They should be commended and supported, not shamed. The Tools Are in Our Hands We now have powerful tools to fight HIV. HIV self-test kits are available free at public clinics and affordable at private pharmacies. Oral PrEP— a once-a-day pill to prevent HIV — is also free at government health facilities. And injectable PrEP, which could significantly improve adherence, is expected to be available next year. Condoms remain a highly effective prevention method. Let's not forget—they also prevent sexually transmitted infections like syphilis and gonorrhoea and help avoid unplanned pregnancies. They are free at all public clinics. Let's also remember the link between HIV and tuberculosis (TB). People with HIV are more susceptible to TB. If you have symptoms or have been in contact with someone with TB, get tested. Early detection saves lives. Health Is Everyone's Business Building a healthier South Africa is not just about medicine—it is about national prosperity. A healthy population is more productive, more resilient, and more able to seize economic opportunity. Each of us has a role to play in protecting our health and the health of our communities. Let's work together to end HIV. The finish line is in sight—but only if we don't stop now. Prof Yogan Pillay is the Director for HIV and TB delivery at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. He was previously the Country Director of the Clinton Health Access Initiative in South Africa and senior director for universal health coverage. He has worked in various capacities at the National Department of Health. In 2021, the University of Cape Town awarded him an honorary doctorate, and in the same year, he was appointed extraordinary professor in the Division of Health Systems and Public Health, Department of Global Health, Stellenbosch University. Foster Mohale is the National Department of Health Spokesperson
Scoop
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Lachie Hayes Drops Video For New Single ‘Subsatellite'
Press Release – Black Out Music Southland-born, Catlins-based musician LACHIE HAYES unveils his new video for 'Subsatellite', the title track of his splendid new album SUBSATELLITE. The single 'Subsatellite' is accompanied by a uniquely clever video from the top tier creatives at Invercargill based production house Second Beer, a budding community of artists and storytellers also based in the deep south. Of working with Lachie, the guys had this to say: 'It was a pleasure to dive back into the rich symbolism of Lachie Hayes—a gifted bard and a fine actor to boot.' – Second Beer WATCH THE VIDEO FOR 'SUBSATELLITE' HERE | LISTEN TO SUBSATELLITE HERE | DOWNLOAD RADIO + MEDIA FILES HERE The album SUBSATELLITE is an eleven-track musical commentary that takes you through a myriad journey of colourful losers, drunken brawlers and romantic crooners, featuring the well-received roll-out singles that kicked off this absorbing musical voyage – the haunting and melancholic vibe of ' This River ', the richly evocative story-telling of ' S.O.B.', and the warm, rockabilly-swamp blues of title-track ' Subsatellite '. The album continues to deliver with stand-out tracks such as ' Fire In My Heart ' FEAT. Kayla Mahon, ' Easy To Fall For You' FEAT. Oscar Ladell, ' Woman That Tamed The Devil' and many more. '…it's clear from the first track that the alt-country-blues troubadour has levelled up: in storytelling, in sound, and in soul.' – 13th Floor Hayes recorded his new album at MASSAV Studios, Invercargill, under the keen guidance of BLAIR SAVORY, deftly recorded by TAHNE BROWN, and with revered music luminary DELANEY DAVIDSON at the helm producing. On hearing these recordings, Southland label MASSAV Records was launched to sign Hayes as the first artist on their roster, marking an exciting achievement for this award-winning songwriter. With SUBSATELLITE, Hayes explores and ponders on the wider landscape of the local and international music world, and how your placement on that global map does not signify the value or importance of creative output. Lachie Hayes: 'A subsatellite is an undiscovered, yet theoretically possible, celestial object, a small world that orbits a moon instead of a sun or a planet. It's not at the centre of the solar system, it's not a big, shining body close to a superstar, and it's not even a satellite of a main player. It exists on the fringes of the fringes, far from the brightest and the biggest. But that doesn't mean it's insignificant. Sometimes, here in the deep south of New Zealand, I find myself in a similar position. We're not big players like in Hollywood, New York, or London. We're not the smaller planets of Australia, or even a well-known satellite like Auckland. We're the outskirts of the outskirts, frequently underestimated and easily labelled. It's simple to look at a small, distant world and say there's nothing there, that it's a barren place with nothing to offer. But we know better. We may be far from the bright lights, a small spot on the map, but it's filled with character, creativity, and a unique soul. This whole album, came from that feeling. I am a subsatellite, but I have wheels within wheels, I am more than meets the eye. This album tells the story of how small towns are more than barren worlds. We're alive, we're ambitious, and we're ready to prove it.' 'In Lachie Hayes, we find a storyteller who merges grit and grace, a musician grounded in place yet pushing the boundaries of genre. With Subsatellite, he not only defines a new sound but helps chart a new musical frontier for the deep south.' – 13th Floor
Scroll.in
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Scroll.in
Why climbing a fence in Kashmir might not be enough for Omar Abdullah to keep his promises
On Monday morning, followed by cameras, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah scaled the iron fence of a shrine in Srinagar's old city. In defiance of the Lieutenant Governor's orders, Abdullah made his way to the Khwaja Naqshband Sahib shrine to pray at the graves of 22 Kashmiri Muslim protesters shot dead on July 13, 1931, by the forces of Dogra ruler Maharaja Hari Singh. Just a day before, the Lieutenant Governor had put the entire Kashmiri mainstream leadership, including its legislators, under house arrest to prevent them going to the shrine to mark the anniversary of the July 13 'martyrdom'. As videos of a policeman grabbing Abdullah and trying to stop him from reaching the graves spread across social media, Opposition politicians across the country reacted sharply. 'Is this how an elected Chief Minister should be treated?' Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu M K Stalin said in a post on social media platform X. 'This is not just about one state or one leader. From Tamil Nadu to Kashmir, the Union BJP Government is systematically stripping away the rights of elected State Governments.' Abdullah's act struck a rare note of defiance and dissent against the Centre in a political set-up where the New Delhi-appointed Lieutenant Governor enjoys an overwhelming control on the administration. It underlined to the wider Indian public the powerlessness of a sitting chief minister in Jammu and Kashmir. 'The kind of traction and media interest it generated was significant,' Sheikh Showkat Hussain, a former professor of law at Kashmir University said. 'From Akhilesh Yadav to the Tamil Nadu chief minister, many opposition leaders in India sympathised and showed their support to Abdullah.' But in Kashmir, the symbolism might not be enough, observers told Scroll. They pointed out a growing apprehension that the chief minister has not done enough to challenge the writ of the Lieutenant Governor administration – whether on Jammu and Kashmir's reservation policy or the question of political prisoners languishing in jails outside the union territory. 'Leave aside the basic issue of reversing the August 5, 2019 decisions, the Omar Abdullah government has avoided addressing critical issues like release of political prisoners, the arbitrary detention of youth, dismissal of employees from government services by the LG administration…' a political science scholar in Srinagar, who declined to be identified, said. Paid my respects & offered Fatiha at the graves of the martyrs of 13th July 1931. The unelected government tried to block my way forcing me to walk from Nawhatta chowk. They blocked the gate to Naqshband Sb shrine forcing me to scale a wall. They tried to physically grapple me… — Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) July 14, 2025 The Martyrs' Day promise A landmark event in the modern history of Jammu and Kashmir and the movement against the rule of the Dogras, July 13 was officially celebrated as 'Martyrs Day' for decades. That changed in 2019, when the Narendra Modi government scrapped Jammu and Kashmir's special status and split it into two union territories. During the 2024 assembly elections, the first after the erstwhile state was split into two union territories, the National Conference had promised to restore the gazette holiday on July 13. However, in December, a month after the National Conference government was elected, the Lieutenant Governor administration excluded the day from the official list of holidays. The National Conference formally wrote to the Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha about restoring July 13 as a public holiday, but the latter has shown no urgency to heed to the request. 'He should represent Kashmiri interests' In the nine months it has been in power, the Omar Abdullah government has taken few substantive decisions that could push into a path of confrontation with New Delhi. It has changed the academic calendar in schools, relaxed the upper age limit for open merit candidates appearing for combined competitive examinations of the union territory and announced free travel for women on government buses. That pales in comparison to the promises made by the party manifesto, from the restoration of special status and statehood, jobs and scrapping the Union territory's stringent preventive detention law. Few Kashmiris doubt the powerlessness of the chief minister in a union territory set-up, but it's Abdullah's attitude towards the Centre that has antagonised the public, critics pointed out. In January, during a tunnel inauguration event in Kashmir, Abdullah had showered praises on Prime Minister Narendra Modi for delivering on his promise of holding Assembly elections in the union territory. 'My heart believes that you will make this happen', a gushing Abdullah had told Modi about the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. To many in Kashmir Valley, Abdullah's behaviour had come as a shock. 'Frankly speaking, nobody is expecting him to fight against Delhi and sit on a hunger strike,' said Kaiser Ahmad, a resident of Ganderbal, one of the two assembly segments from which Abdullah won elections last year. 'But he should represent Kashmiri interests before Delhi, not Delhi's before Kashmiris…He should not act like a slave before Modi and Shah.' 'We feel cheated' For months now, the Omar Abdullah government has been facing the ire of youngsters for sitting on its promise of rationalising the reservation policy. In March last year, the Lieutenant Governor administration had increased reservation for Scheduled Tribes to 20% from 10%. Those who benefitted from this step included the million-strong Pahari speaking community of Jammu and Kashmir, who populate most of the Pir Panjal region of Jammu. But in changing the policy, the share of seats open to the general category was reduced to 40%. In Jammu and Kashmir, the general category accounts for 69 % of the population, according to the 2011 census. This includes those who do not fall in Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and groups classified as Other Backward Classes. The new policy drew massive protests from the general category students, who said the policy violated the Supreme Court's 50 % cap on reservation. Ahead of the 2024 assembly elections, the National Conference had promised that the new reservation policy 'will be reviewed and any injustice and imbalance will be corrected.' One of the many who had believed in that promise was 21-year-old Subiya Mehraj, a National Eligibility Entrance Test aspirant from Kashmir. 'This was the first time I voted. Not only did I vote for the National Conference, I campaigned for the party within my family and friends. I thought they were serious about undoing the injustice done to Open Merit students,' shared Mehraj. More than half a year after she cast her vote, Mehraj is livid. 'I feel cheated. First, the government said to wait for six months for the committee [on reservation] to submit its report. Once that report was submitted, they said it has been submitted to the law department and there's no time frame when they are going to send it back.' Mehraj added: 'It looks like it's just a mere slogan for them to woo voters. But they don't realise it's about the future of lakhs of youth.' Under pressure It is not only Opposition leaders or people who have criticised Abdullah's non-confrontationist form of governance. His own party colleague and Member of Parliament from Srinagar, Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, has been a vocal critic of the way his party's government has been functioning. 'At times, I feel that the promises that we made during the elections in terms of political agenda – forget local governance – we seem to be… not saying that we are… putting that on the backburner,' Ruhullah told The Indian Express in an interview recently. The growing criticism of Abdullah's government in addressing key issues that resonate with the people may have played a role in the chief minister's conduct on Monday, a second political observer told Scroll. 'There is pressure from society,' agreed Hussain, the former professor of law at Kashmir University.
Hindustan Times
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Omar scales wall to pay tribute at martyrs' graves
Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah and his National Conference colleagues on Monday dodged police curbs, sprinted on foot and scaled a wall to pay tributes to 21 Kashmiris killed by the Dogra army in 1931, a day after several political leaders were allegedly not allowed to visit the Mazar-e-Shohada (martyrs' graveyard) in Old City area of Srinagar. Omar scales wall to pay tribute at martyrs' graves 'Paid my respects & offered Fatiha (prayers) at the graves of the martyrs of 13th July 1931. The unelected government tried to block my way forcing me to walk from Nawhatta chowk. They blocked the gate to Naqshband Sahib shrine forcing me to scale a wall. They tried to physically grapple me but I was not going to be stopped today,' Omar posted on X. Health and education minister Sakina Ittoo also reached the graveyard on a scooty, allegedly without any official protocol. NC president Farooq Abdullah also offered prayers at the cemetery. Omar also criticised lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha and the police for allegedly trying to stop him and his entourage from entering the martyrs' graveyard. 'It is sad that on the instructions of the people who claim that their responsibility is the security and law and order, we were not allowed to offer Fatiha here. We were kept in house arrest (on Sunday)...' Omar told reporters after paying tributes at the graveyard. 'Barriers were raised, but so was our resolve. Today, we stood firm at the Mazar-e-Shohada, offering Fatiha, laying flowers, and honouring the valour of 1931,' he said, adding '...Attempts were made to stop us. We aren't slaves of anybody but slave of our own people.' Videos of the CM and his party colleagues scaling the wall of the cemetery were shared widely on social media. Omar said: '...I was doing nothing unlawful or illegal. In fact these 'protectors of the law' need to explain under what law they were trying to stop us from offering Fatiha.' A political row erupted after the incident. While BJP accused the CM and the NC of reviving the 'politics of graves to remain politically relevant', West Bengal chief minister termed the alleged action by the security forces to prevent Omar and others from visiting the grave 'shocking' and shameful'. J&K BJP spokesman Altaf Thakur said, 'Omar Abdullah is shamelessly indulging in the politics of graves just to remain politically relevant. By glorifying the events of 1931, he is whitewashing a day soaked in the blood of innocent Kashmiri Pandits. This is not a tribute, it's a calculated provocation.' Meanwhile, Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said Omar should shift his focus on upholding the dignity and fundamental rights of the people now that he has 'tasted the bitter medicine of authoritarian high-handedness'. 'Power teaches little, Powerlessness teaches more! Today the CM sahab @omarabdullah tasted the bitter medicine of authoritarian high handedness and subsequent helplessness that common Kashmiri's face everyday in different forms, as all agency and space is denied to them,' the Mirwaiz said in a post on X. 'Hoping this experience shifts his focus to what is the first priority of every people- upholding their dignity, and their fundamental rights, and work sincerely towards its restoration,' Mirwaiz added. July 13 was observed as Martyrs' Day by mainstream politicians and separatists in the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir in memory of the 21 Kashmiris who were killed by the army of Dogra ruler Maharaja Hari Singh during an uprising in 1931 when the region was a princely state.
United News of India
14-07-2025
- Health
- United News of India
Int'l AIDS forum kicks off in Rwanda's capital
Kigali, July 14 (UNI) The 13th International AIDS Society (IAS) Conference on HIV Science officially opened Monday in the Rwandan capital of Kigali, with a strong call to accelerate access to long-acting HIV prevention and treatment innovations amid growing global funding challenges. The event, themed "Breakthroughs amid Crisis: the Future of HIV Innovation," has convened about 4,000 participants, including global leaders, researchers, scientists, and civil society members. Speaking at the conference, Rwandan Minister of Health Sabin Nsanzimana said that Rwanda's experience in the HIV response over the past few decades demonstrates what is possible when countries prioritize people-centered approaches and invest in strategic partnerships. "We have better tools for prevention and treatment. We have better ways to engage our communities to fight stigma and discrimination, and better integration within our systems. This means we can not only achieve HIV control, but we also need to strengthen our health systems," he added. IAS President Beatriz Grinsztein underlined new World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, groundbreaking licensing agreements, and promising research as signs that long-acting HIV prevention and treatment options are becoming more feasible for widespread use. "Our next challenge is clear: leaders must commit the funding and resources needed to integrate these scientific advances into health systems quickly and equitably so that people everywhere can benefit from these life-changing options," Grinsztejn emphasized. At the event, the WHO issued a statement announcing new guidelines that recommend using injectable lenacapavir twice a year as an additional pre-exposure prophylaxis option for HIV prevention -- a landmark policy action that could help reshape the global HIV response. "While an HIV vaccine remains elusive, lenacapavir is the next best thing: a long-acting antiretroviral shown in trials to prevent almost all HIV infections among those at risk," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus is quoted as saying in the statement. The IAS Conference on HIV Science is recognized as the world's most influential meeting on HIV research and its applications. Its 2025 edition, which runs until Thursday, features hundreds of sessions and presentations focused on translating scientific breakthroughs into real-world impact, with a particular emphasis on solutions for regions and populations most affected by HIV. UNI XINHUA GNK
