A Helping Hand for HIV-positive Mothers And Babies in Zimbabwe

The high cost of maternity and health care, the lack of a proper follow-up system, and a limited ability to diagnose HIV infection early in babies means many Zimbabwean children are not being caught by the safety net that the prevention of mother-to-child...

Rice is ‘becoming a Luxury’ in Madagascar

The price of rice, the staple food in Madagascar, has doubled in the past two years, forcing residents in the capital, Antananarivo, to halve their consumption. “At almost 2,000 ariary (US$1) a kilogram, rice has become a luxury item,” Tiana...

Lessons in HIV Prevention

African countries struggling to contain HIV epidemics can learn a thing or two about HIV prevention from Zimbabwe, say the authors of a new study which found that a reduction in sexual partners drove a decrease in new HIV infections there.

Compensation Not Enough, Say Discharged Ex-Maoist Soldiers

More than one year has passed since thousands of ex-Maoist combatants were released from the Maoist army, yet many remain in need. “We feel abandoned by all those responsible for our rehabilitation and reintegration,” Sita Acharya, a 19-year-old ex-...

Manica Province in Mozambique Lashed By Rain

Five of the 23 districts in Manica Province in central Mozambique have been “severely affected” by heavy rains. Raul Conde, president of the municipal council of Chimoio, the provincial capital, told IRIN that 80 dwellings had collapsed as...

Floods Highlight Lack of Disaster Preparedness

South Africa was ill-prepared for the heavy summer rains that have caused flooding in eight of the country’s nine provinces since mid-December, according to disaster management experts and officials, who argue that much of the damage and loss of life...

Climate of Fear Around “Republic of Golf”

More than a month after clashes between forces loyal to Côte d’Ivoire’s rival claimants to the presidency, the sound of gunfire still echoes loudly in the memories of those living around the Golf Hotel, where Alassane Ouattara, the internationally...

Better Pediatric HIV Services in Malawi Reduce Infections

More mothers and pregnant women in Malawi are attending antenatal clinics since the increased training of health workers in pediatric HIV care improved services to prevent mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV, and pediatric HIV testing and treatment.

From Sri Lankan Pipe Dreams to Piped Water

Widespread flooding in Sri Lanka has grabbed the headlines, but in the north of the country a more long-term problem is the absence of pipe-borne water for tens of thousands of civilians returning to the former conflict zone, known locally as the Vanni.