Kom óns maak SKOON - Platinum Weekly Newspaper

p 12
26 February 2016,
PLATINUM WEEKLY,
50 Marais Street,
Taung Hospital reaches 100
patients cured of MDR-TB
Taung – The North West Department of
Health MEC, Dr Magome Masike, recently
congratulated the Taung District Hospital’s
MDR-TB unit for reaching 100 cured MDR-TB
patients.
The Taung Hospital’s Multi Drug Resistance
(MDR) TB Unit was officially opened in March
2013. Neck to neck with the Klerksdorp-Tshepong Hospital MDR-TB unit, the Taung unit
has in a very short amount of time become
one of the leading MDR-TB curing units in the
country.
“I am happy with the progress that we are
making in the fight against TB in the province.
Our track record speaks for itself. Remember
also that the North West Province is the first
to cure an XDR TB patient,” MEC Dr Magome
Masike said.
Tel: 014 592 9686,
Responding to this milestone, the TB Manager at Taung District Hospital, Dr Ndiviwe
Mphothulo said, “We could not have done it
without a competent and diligent team.”
The fight against TB in the province continues
to record positive outcomes.
Tebogo Lekgethwane, department spokesperson, reported that the province’s overall
TB treatment outcome has improved from
40.3% to 69.8% (i.e. over 20% cure rate) with
patients defaulting treatments also showing
a decrease from 10,8% to 7.8% in the past
three years. “The MDR cure rate in the province currently stands at 65% while XDR is
standing at 16.1%. However, there is still a
need to urge those who are receiving treatment to complete the course as prescribed by
health professionals.”
R100k fines for noncompliance
NW – The Department of Economy and
Enterprise Development has over the
past couple of years rolled out massive
liquor awareness campaigns and inspections in partnership with the Police.
According to Ms Dumisa Seshabela, departmental spokesperson, “More than
half of ± 6 500 registered licence outlets
ranging from taverns, restaurants, bottle
stores, accommodation and brewers licences were inspected, compliance notices were issued and fines to the value
of more than R100 000.00 were issued
to non-compliant licence holders in all the
districts in the province.”
According to the Chief Director in the
Business Regulations Directorate, Onnicah Sithole, the department is still facing
a major challenge in terms of compliance
with regards to the responsible sale and
consumption of alcohol, adherence to
trading hours and age restrictions.
“We are not undermining the economic
opportunities available to those engaged
in the industry, but the message we want
to put across is for licence holders to act
more responsibly and familiarise themselves with the legislative requirements
and trading conditions of the licences, so
that they can act responsibly and make
informed decisions when selling alcohol
to patrons,” Sithole said.
In addition, the Department is pleading
with traders to reduce the level of noise
and further urges them to regularly inform the neighbours about the upcoming events in order to be prepared for the
noise.
Subsequent to the liquor compliance
findings, the department sees it fitting to
embark on another massive awareness
campaign to caution traders and communities about the socio-economic ills associated with excessive consumption of
alcohol and which is caused by, amongst
others, unlimited access and availability
of liquor as a result of rampant non-compliance with trading conditions.
PUBLIC NOTICE
INTENTION TO INTRODUCE (CONDUCT TRIAL RELEASE) OF A GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISM
The Division of AIDS (DAIDS), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes
of Health (NIH), in a cooperative agreement with the HIV Vaccine Clinical Trials Network (HVTN), has, through
Triclinium Clinical Development (Pty) Ltd, situated at 4th Floor, 135 West Street, Sandown, as the sponsor’s
representative, applied to South Africa’s Medicines Control Council (MCC), Ministry of Agriculture Directorate of
Biosafety, and to the Ethics and Institutional Biosafety Committees for permission to conduct a pivotal phase 2b/3
multi-site, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of ALVAC-HIV
(vCP2438) and Bivalent Subtype C gp120/MF59 in preventing HIV-1 infection in adults in South Africa (HVTN 702).
Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the virus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). With
approximately 6.8 million people living with HIV as of 2014, South Africa’s epidemic remains the largest in the world,
and the vast majority of newly acquired infections occur during unprotected heterosexual intercourse. There is
currently no licensed vaccine available, and effective methods for the prevention of acquiring HIV and the reduction
of transmission of the infection are urgently needed. The modest results of the RV144 trial conducted in Thailand with
the ALVAC-HIV (vCP1521) and AIDSVAX B/E vaccine regimen have provided the first indications that a prophylactic
vaccine can reduce HIV acquisition risk. The vaccine components to be used in HVTN 702 are similar to those used
in RV144 and have been optimized to more closely match the HIV subtype circulating in sub-Saharan Africa (clade
C).
The trigger to initiate enrollment of HVTN 702 will be based on the safety and immunogenicity data from HVTN 100,
a phase 1-2 trial of the same clade C vaccine regimen. HVTN 100 data demonstrating that the vaccine regimen with
2 primes and 2 boosts, regardless of the 3rd boost, is safe and produces key immune responses comparable or
superior to those induced by the RV144 vaccine regimen, will be the impetus for evaluating the preventive efficacy
of the regimen.
The prime in this proposed trial consists of clade C ALVAC-HIV (vCP2438), which is a preparation of live, attenuated
recombinant canarypox-derived virus that contains copies of a few specific genes from HIV. This vaccine component
induces the body’s immune system to make immune responses that may be important in subsequently preventing
acquisition of HIV infection, but will not itself cause HIV infection or AIDS. The boost consists of a combination of
clade C ALVAC-HIV (vCP2438) and Bivalent Subtype C gp120 with an adjuvant, a substance that is added to a
vaccine to enhance the immune response to the vaccine. The Bivalent Subtype C gp120 consists of two clade C
recombinant gp120 monomeric proteins that represent the HIV Envelope surface glycoprotein containing the receptor
binding domain. In the proposed study, Bivalent Subtype C gp120 will be administered with MF59® Adjuvant, as
well as with clade C ALVAC-HIV (vCP2438). The boost further strengthens the immune response generated by the
prime. If this vaccine regimen proves sufficiently efficacious, the data from this phase 2b/3 pivotal trial may be used
to support an application for marketing authorization in the Republic of South Africa (RSA).
This clinical trial will be conducted in South Africa, where clade C is the predominant circulating HIV subtype. It
is planned that 5400 healthy, HIV-1–uninfected adults, who are aged 18 to 35 years and who are at risk for HIV
infection, will be enrolled; 24-36 months of scheduled clinic visits are planned. The products will be shipped to
Southern Trials (PTY) LTD, International Clinical Research, Products Management Center (ICRPMC), 38 Saturn
Crescent, East Block, Linbro Business Park, Sandton, Johannesburg 2130, South Africa. The shipment will arrive
by air through OR Tambo International Airport. Southern Trials - ICRPMC works under contract to the DAIDS, NIH,
and is licensed with the MCC to store and distribute Clinical Research Products. The ICRPMC will receive product
on behalf of the Principal Investigators and distribute it to expert sites for the duration of the study. Southern Trials ICRPMC will comply with the conditions for the importation of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) stated in the
Import Permit for GMOs that will be issued to the Principal Investigators. The investigational vaccine will be supplied
in sealed vials and transported in containers that meet international legal requirements for transport by air and road.
The vaccines will be stored in restricted access storage facilities and will only be administered by qualified and trained
personnel as described in the protocol. The study site will follow stringent procedures regarding the disposal of used
syringes as biohazardous waste. Upon completion of the trial, any remaining study vaccine vials will be returned to
the ICRPMC or will be destroyed as directed by the NIAID International Clinical Research Products Management
Center (ICRPMC).
The following sites in South Africa will participate in this clinical trial:
1.
Dr CE Louw: Madibeng Centre for Research, Brits
2.
Prof L Bekker: Emavundleni Research Centre, Cape Town
3.
Prof G Meintjes: University of Cape Town IDM/CIDRI Research Site, Cape Town
4.
Dr KT Mngadi: CAPRISA eThekwini CRS, Durban
5.
Prof G Gray: HIV Prevention Research Unit, Isipingo
6.
Prof G Gray: HIV Prevention Research Unit, Verulam
7.
Dr JC Innes: The Aurum Institute Klerksdorp CRS, Gavin J Churchyard Legacy Centre, Klerksdorp
8.
Dr PL Kotze: Qhakaza Mbokodo Research Centre, Ladysmith
9.
Prof M Nchabeleng: MeCRU Clinical Research Unit, Medunsa, Pretoria
10. Dr WL Brumskine: The Aurum Institute Rustenburg CRS, Rustenburg
11. Dr M Malahleha: Setshaba Research Centre, Soshanguve
12. Dr F Laher: Perinatal HIV Research Unit, Baragwanath Hospital, Soweto
13. Dr N Hunt: Perinatal HIV Research Unit, Kliptown, Soweto
14. Dr M Sebe: The Aurum Institute Tembisa CRC, Tembisa
15. Dr LS Mtingi-Nkonzombi, Walter Sisulu University HIV Vaccine Research Unit, Mthatha
Interested parties may submit comments or objections within 30 days of this publication in writing to:
The Registrar: Genetically Modified Organisms Act, Private Bag X973, Pretoria, 0001
Fax: 012 319 6329
Fax: 011 252 6669,
E-mail: [email protected]
Kom óns maak
SKOON
Rustenburg – Vir die afgelope paar maande het die SSR Krag/ Water Facebook blad
‘n reuse rol gespeel om munisipale dienslewering probleme op te los in die stad.
As daar ‘n tekort is aan aksie deur die munisipaliteit na ‘n pyp wat lek, verstopte riool
of foutiewe elektriese kabels, het ‘n enkele ‘post’ op die blad in aksie omgeskakel.
Elektriese onderbreking? Binne minute sal Theunis Peens of Erich Hahn, die blad
administrateurs, met die munisipaliteit kontak maak om die lesers gereeld op hoogte
te hou van die verwikkelinge.
SSR Krag/ Water het ‘n stap verder gegaan.
“Met toestemming verleen deur die munisipaliteit, vul ons nou die gate wat orals langs
die strate te siene is,” vertel Theunis.
Saterdagmiddag 13 Februarie 2016 was geen uitsondering nie. Die groep was doenig
op die h/v Thabo Mbeki Rylaan en Brink Straat toe Christo van Adendorff tussen
vergaderings kom help graaf gooi het. ‘n Rapsie later stop Andries Erasmus, eienaar
van Era Plumbing en bied die gebruik van sy loopgraaf aan en in ‘n japtrap is die gat
toegegooi.
Mense het selfs gestop en koue koeldrank en water aangedra – waarvoor ons baie
dankbaar was!
“Ek weier om die stad in só toestand te los,” sê Theunis, “As jý ook so voel, kom help.
Niemand is te oud om te help nie – al is dit om rommel op te tel of koeldrank aan te
dra.”
Kontak Theunis by 084 645 6607 of per e-pos by [email protected] of sluit
aan by die SSR Krag/ Water Facebook blad.
Die SSR Krag/ Water Facebook, ‘n nie-winsgewende organisasie, is gestig onder
leiding van Cheryl Phillips, DA raadslid.
Theunis Peens (voor) en ander helpers hard aan die werk.
EPWP Works Cleaning Kremetart Avenue
EPWP workers from Kgaswane Mountain Reserve removing reeds growing in
and around the pond in Krematart Avenue, Rustenburg.
Rustenburg – Fourteen Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) workers from
the Kgaswane Mountain Reserve, under the Public Safety Directory from the Rustenburg Local Municipality on Friday, 05 February 2016, continued to make strides during
the joint cleaning campaign.
This campaign was initiated by Cheryl Phillips, DA Cllr.
As part of the campaign they also cut trees, thatched grass and reeds growing in and
around the pond in Kremetart Avenue.