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Poznews Magazine Launching this October
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It is with incredible excitement that we announce the launch of the brand-new POZnews magazine! The success of the POZnews website has led to the need for another media platform, a way to reach the readers who most need the information.
As a monthly, glossy magazine, POZnews will be distributed all over Cape Town. The magazine will be available everywhere from your local doctor’s waiting room to the train station in Cape Town. High school children will take it home to their parents – after reading it themselves.
POZnews is here to actively change the future that HIV and other diseases have in South Africa. Education has always been the first step to changing the future and by supplying valuable and accurate information to our readers, we will educate and entertain our readers.
We have jam-packed our first edition with loads of valuable information. We asked around to see exactly how much you need to tell your partner in Positive Dating on page 21. We uncovered the true link between STDs and infertility in Infertility Issues on page 16. To celebrate a great man and a great leader, we give you the story behind the legendary Desmond Tutu, who is retiring from public life, in South African Icon on page 34.
If you are interested in obtaining a copy or two, send an email to info@poznews.netor simply register on the website when the subscriptions have opened. Get involved!
Managing Editor
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Malaria is an infectious disease caused by a parasite which infects red blood cells. Malaria is characterized by cycles of chills, fever, pain and sweating. Historical records suggest malaria has infected humans since the beginning of mankind.
The life cycle of the parasite is complicated and involves two hosts, humans and Anopheles mosquitoes.
 In the field of viral infection, HIV is one of the smartest viruses we know. Not only does it attack your body own defence systems, it can’t be cured.Viruses don’t have a cell structure and although they can reproduce, they can’t metabolise on their own. They require a host cell to replicate and to synthesise new products, like a parasite. But what’s so special about the HI-virus?
Breastfeeding, or lactation, has always been the most effective and successful way of feeding an infant. Not only does it ensure that their faces develop correctly, a bottle-fed baby’s IQ will be at least 8 points lower than one fed solely on breast-milk.
Years ago, anti-breastfeeding campaigns were rolled out because it was found that HIV can be spread through breast-milk. Mothers in high-risk countries were encouraged to raise their babies on formula instead.
MXit, the very popular downloadable (instant messaging) chat application that drives parents up the wall as their teens sit glued to their phones through dinner, has now launched a new application where ‘MXiters’ can seek HIV counseling and advice through the low cost network.
In South Africa, the number of cellphones largely outweighs the number of landlines, but to contact the National AIDS Helpline from a cellphone, regular cellphone rates apply whereas using a landline is free of charge. This has posed many problems for South Africans who fear being overheard from a landline or public phone or simply don’t have access to one.
 Most people put off visits to the doctor because they are suffering from unpleasant problems such as extreme body odour, or even a serious case of back acne, not to mention an STD. Continued
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Campaigners have declared that the female condom’s reputation is not what it should be, although it can be just as effective against preventing HIV transmission. Serra Sippel, president of the Centre of Health and Gender Equity in Washington, told journalists that women shouldn’t be asking to protect their own lives, they should be able to take action themselves
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Genital warts are caused by some sort of human pappiloma virus or HPV, for short. It appears on the skin on the genital area and can be anything from a small, smooth, flesh-coloured bump to a larger cauliflower-shaped growth. Out of 100 types of HPV’s, 30 can affect the genitals. More
A staggering 1.8 million people are killed by Tuberculosis (TB) each year. This can be avoided and completely averted by 2050, with better testing, drugs and vaccines, according to a major review. The review reported that from 1995 to 2008, 6 million lives were saved. More
Mutual masturbation or manual stimulation refers to sexually touching someone’s genitals by hand. In modern society, the words hand-job, oral sex and fingering seems to get the message across.More
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We are revamping our website to better serve you.
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For many years, sex workers have been discussed alongside the spread of HIV and AIDS. The media and government organisations often focus on the relation between AIDS and the sex trade. There exist several reasons for why this is becoming an issue.
In many different countries, even where AIDS prevalence is low, it has been found that the rate of infection is higher amongst people involved in the sex trade than those in the general population. Sex workers have a high number of sexual partners. Once they become infected with HIV, they are a risk to other clients.
The World AIDS forum gave a standing ovation to South African scientists on July 20th 2010, when they announced a breakthrough in the quest for a vaginal gel to protect women from HIV, who some hailed as a landmark in the 29-year war against AIDS.
If confirmed, the prototype will open up a new front in a war that has destroyed more than 25 million lives and cast a gloomy shadow over the lives of more than 33 million people infected by HIV. Continued
Chlamydia (Cla-mid-ee-ah) is a sexually transmitted disease caused by a bacterium called Chlamydia trachomatis. Both males and females are affected by this disease and symptoms differ by sex. Often symptoms go by unnoticed and are mostly non-specific; that is exactly why Chlamydia is such a dangerous disease. A variety of serious complications can arise from not diagnosing Chlamydia at an early stage. Continued
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Aids dementia complex is a condition that many HIV sufferers aren’t aware of and yet many suffer from. While they desperately try to keep two feet on the ground, their loved ones start sourcing the nearest loony bin in fear that the HI virus has finally gone to their head.
The truth is, once CD4+ counts fall below 200 cells/micro liter, the HIV sufferer has a very real chance of lapsing into the AIDS dementia complex, otherwise known as HIV associated dementia or HIV/AIDS encephalopathy.
Get Optimal Protection for Mom and Baby Pregnancy offers no protection for you or your baby from sexually transmitted diseases. In fact, the consequences can be a lot more serious and life-threatening if an expecting mother is infected with gonorrhea.
HIV and Syphilis are transmitted to the fetus by crossing the placenta. While gonorrhea isn’t able to do that, the bacteria can cause significant problems in a pregnancy.
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HIV is a shattering fact of everyday life for an infected person and it poses challenges for everyone involved. It isn’t just the individual infected who faces a scary situation, but also the person’s friends and family.
When someone is robbed of a healthy and carefree life, their fears and suffering are also shared by the people closest to them.
When someone you know is diagnosed with HIV, you may feel helpless and inadequate. To comfort your friend, you put on a tender smile and say “just call if you need anything”. Yet the minute those words have slipped from your mouth, you immediately fear that call, should it come.Continued
 Pelvic Inflammatory Disease,or PID for short, is a serious infection in the upper genital tract of a woman. The infection can be settle in anywhere in the uterus, fallopian tubes or ovaries and if left untreated, it can lead to infertility or life-threatening complications.
PID can occur naturally, but it is most often a result of an untreated sexually transmitted disease, such as gonorrhoea or chlamydia. Using an intrauterine device (IUD) for birth control can also cause PID, as can germs and douching. Women who douche once or twice a month are more likely to develop PID than those who douche less frequently. Because douching might reproduce the symptoms temporarily,the practice could be to blame for delaying effective treatment of the infection.Sufferers experience dull pain or tenderness in the lower abdomen burning or pain during urination.Continued
Can you get HIV by having oral sex? 
Fellatio, more commonly known as a blow job, and cunnilingus - oral sex given to a woman - involves a risk of contracting HIV. The risk is much smaller than that of contracting HIV through vaginal or anal intercourse, but this does not necessarily mean that oral sex is safe.
Sexually transmitted diseases still pose a threat during oral sex. The most common disease is Herpes. There are two variations of this disease – Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) type 1 and HSV type 2. The first causes cold sores on and in the mouth, and the latter is responsible for sores, spots and warts on the genital area. Other STDs transmitted through oral sex include chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis and hepatitis.
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MTV, an American based network, was originally launched to play music videos. Today, they have a huge moral influence on young people. Recently, programmes have been launched that deal with the controversial issue of HIV and AIDS. It has received a magnificent response and changed the attitudes of a multitude of young people.More
Anyone can be infected by genital herpes, especially if they fail to act in a sexual manner without acting like a porcupine, i.e. very very carefully. Over 500 000 people are diagnosed with genital herpes each year. Ancient myths, perhaps generated from the seductive love god Zeus’ time, still surround this infectious virus and are spread amongst society, but here we lay them to rest .More
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Research has shown that the ‘innocent’ tattoo may have a little secret hiding inside, other than its personal representation to the person.
Having a tattoo done has recently been proven to be the number one distributor of Hepatitis, Tetanus, Syphilis, Tuberculosis and alarmingly, even HIV. You are more likely to contract hepatitis specifically from a tattoo shop than from injecting yourself with drugs.Continued
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With the day and age we live in, the reality of contracting HIV, even accidentally is a serious and real thing. Fortunately though, there are means of protecting yourself, once you understand that you may have come into contact with the virus and could have been infected.More
A new global survey has revealed that health care practitioners are not having the correct conversations with their HIV positive patients and vice versa to ensure they get the best treatment possible. More
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Flavoured, textured or coloured... using a condom is still the most effective method of protecting yourself against dreaded diseases, including HIV and STDs, such as chlamydia, herpes, gonorrhoea and syphilis. The main reason for condom failure is incorrect usage and not faulty condoms, as some might claim. Many may say that condoms reduce the pleasure and intimacy during sexual intercourse, More
HIV is becoming more and more of a  problem in prisons because it spreads so swiftly, but there are many methods to stop the spread of this disease, as the World AIDS Conference heard.Continued
How to cope with being diagnosed with HIV when it feels like there’s no hope?Scream, shout, break down, get angry, cry or even run away and hide! The reaction to finding out that you are HIV positive is different for everyone,Continued
The relationship between male circumcision and AIDS
Male circumcision involves removing the foreskin, a loose fold of skin that covers the head of the penis. More
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