In one of the biggest advances in HIV prevention in decades, a vaginal gel containing an antiretroviral drug has been proven to protect almost four out of 10 women from HIV.

In Vulindlela, the winter grass is yellow and an icy wind blows off the white-coated Drakensberg. But in the small collection of park homes that make up the local clinic and research site, there is warmth in people'€™s faces and voices.

HIV doctors and activists have slammed a male circumcision clamp that is being aggressively marketed in South Africa and the rest of the continent with a small study showing that it is much more painful that the surgical route and has more adverse events.

Dr Mitch Besser, founder and medical director of the Cape Town based programme, mothers2mothers, (m2m) has received the 2010 Award for Best Practices in Global Health for initiatives to reduce mother-to-child transmission of HIV and provide care to women living with HIV.

HIV activists have accused the United States and European governments of betraying their commitments to assist poorer nations fund treatment for those needing HIV treatment.

Researchers have started testing the safety a vaginal ring containing an antiretroviral drug in South Africa in the hope that it has the potential to prevent HIV infection in women.

Free State health activists will march in Bloemfontein today calling the provincial government reach the National Strategic Plan targets.

'€œAntiretroviral microbicides for prevention '€“ such promise needs urgent research. How can I stand idly by and not take up this challenge?'€ asks Professor Salim '€œSlim'€ Abdool Karim. He is heading a trial that is testing the effectiveness of a tenofovir-based microbicide. Lungi Langa spoke to Karim at the recent Microbicide conference in Pittsburgh.

The idea of using antiretroviral treatment as a potential prevention intervention is being hailed as an exciting idea although implementation could be a hurdle. Data strongly suggests that people on successful antiretrovirals do not transmit the virus sexually or any other way. The Lancet has released information revealing that ART reduces HIV transmission risk by 92% in heterosexual couples.