Renitha Rampersad

Does south Africa need a HIV-AIDs Regulatory Framework as a Public Management tool for HIV-AIDs Programmes?

South Africa bears the brunt of HIV-AIDS with the highest incidence and disease prevalence in the world. UNAIDS estimates that, of the 36.7 million individuals infected with HIV-AIDS globally, 19.1 million reside in South Africa7. In addition, approximately 2.1 million new HIV infections occurred in 2015 with almost 960 000 of those occurring in South Africa signalling that the rates of infections are not dropping as expected6. Given the unrelenting nature of this disease burden, even greater efforts are now required to turn the tide on HIV-AIDS globally, but more so in South Africa. These efforts entail more effective HIV-AIDS service delivery with combination prevention modalities, access to HIV-AIDS treatment and care, harm reduction of HIV-AIDS stigma and discrimination together with HIV-AIDS education, awareness and advocacy. This has led to the development of many global and local Non-Governmental Organisations, Non Profit Organisations, Private and public organisations that have embarked upon the development of HIV-AIDS management and treatment programmes. However, these programmes currently exist in an unregulated environment but have the potential to run as cost effective, efficacious and successful programme aimed at attaining the optimal health for their patients should a standard exist. No current global or local standard or regulation exists to date governing HIV-AIDS Management Programmes in South Arica. The aim of this paper is to review the HIV-AIDS landscape to assess if any regulatory frameworks exist and to propose the development of a standard for HIV-AIDS management programmes with guidance for use in the multisector response to curb HIV-AIDS globally and locally.

Application of the Batho Pele Principles as a Quality Management tool in HIV-AIDS Healthcare in south Africa

HIV-AIDS continues to bear a high disease burden in many developing countries including South Africa which has the greatest disease prevalence. The only way to counteract the devastating effects of this disease is to ensure adequate point of care HIV diagnosis and referral to timely care through HIV-AIDS programmes. The South African state HIV-AIDS programme is currently the largest programme in the world as it provides HIV-AIDS services to almost 7 million South Africans. Quality management systems in healthcare is therefore a pre requisite to ensure safe and efficacious HIV-AIDS care is provided to those affected and infected by HIV-AIDS. One such quality management tool proposed is, the application of the Batho Pele principles as a quality management tool in HIV-AIDS healthcare. The Batho Pele initiative aims to enhance the quality and accessibility of government services by improving efficiency and accountability to the recipients of public goods and services. The Batho Pele (“People First”) principles are aligned to the South African constitution. All government officials must follow the “Batho Pele” principles which require public servants to be polite, open and transparent and to deliver good service to the public. Batho Pele requires that nine service delivery principles be implemented regarding consulting, service standards, courtesy, information delivery transparency and value for money. This is a an exploratory article which reviews the literature available to assess the alignment of the Batho Pele principles as a quality management tool in HIV-AIDS healthcare towards building good leadership and clinical strategic direction in South Africa.

Lack of communication kills: Botched circumcisions in the Eastern Cape

Xhosa ritual male circumcision in Eastern Cape Province (ECP) has become a matter of significant concern, following the numerous deaths and injuries resulting from botched circumcisions that occur in this cultural practice. Preventing these adverse events is a priority of the Department of Local Government and Traditional Affairs of the Eastern Cape (DLGTA:ECP).