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Vigil for those who died while waiting for ARV medication

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HIV/AIDS vigil outside the Edendale Hospital in Pietermaritzburg Kwazulu-Natal South Africa. The vigil was followed by a march through the streets of Pietermaritzburg on 15/16 July South Africa due to
in Society, on the 15th of July 2009
HIV/AIDS vigil outside the Edendale Hospital in Pietermaritzburg Kwazulu-Natal South Africa. The vigil was followed by a march through the streets of Pietermaritzburg. Members of the Edendale community including affected and infected children, family members and traditional healers remembered those in their midst who have died while waiting for ARV medication at Edendale Hospital. The waiting list for this life saving treatment stands at 2000 at present. Health officials said last night that they will correct the problems in the hospital. Pietermaritzburg has one of the highest HIV infection rates in the world. 15/16 JULY 2009 PIETERMARITZBURG SOUTH AFRICA PHOTO JOHN ROBINSON

HIV/AIDS vigil outside the Edendale Hospital in Pietermaritzburg Kwazulu-Natal South Africa. The vigil was followed by a march through the streets of Pietermaritzburg. Members of the Edendale community including affected and infected children, family members and traditional healers remembered those in their midst who have died while waiting for ARV medication at Edendale Hospital. The waiting list for this life saving treatment stands at 2000 at present. Health officials said last night that they will correct the problems in the hospital. Pietermaritzburg has one of the highest HIV infection rates in the world. 15/16 JULY 2009 PIETERMARITZBURG SOUTH AFRICA PHOTO JOHN ROBINSON

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HIV/AIDS vigil outside the Edendale Hospital in Pietermaritzburg Kwazulu-Natal South Africa. The vigil was followed by a march through the streets of Pietermaritzburg. Members of the Edendale community including affected and infected children, family members and traditional healers remembered those in their midst who have died while waiting for ARV medication at Edendale Hospital. The waiting list for this life saving treatment stands at 2000 at present. Health officials said last night that they will correct the problems in the hospital. Pietermaritzburg has one of the highest HIV infection rates in the world. 15/16 JULY 2009 PIETERMARITZBURG SOUTH AFRICA PHOTO JOHN ROBINSON

HIV/AIDS vigil outside the Edendale Hospital in Pietermaritzburg Kwazulu-Natal South Africa. The vigil was followed by a march through the streets of Pietermaritzburg. Members of the Edendale community including affected and infected children, family members and traditional healers remembered those in their midst who have died while waiting for ARV medication at Edendale Hospital. The waiting list for this life saving treatment stands at 2000 at present. Health officials said last night that they will correct the problems in the hospital. Pietermaritzburg has one of the highest HIV infection rates in the world. 15/16 JULY 2009 PIETERMARITZBURG SOUTH AFRICA PHOTO JOHN ROBINSON

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HIV/AIDS vigil outside the Edendale Hospital in Pietermaritzburg Kwazulu-Natal South Africa. The vigil was followed by a march through the streets of Pietermaritzburg. Members of the Edendale community including affected and infected children, family members and traditional healers remembered those in their midst who have died while waiting for ARV medication at Edendale Hospital. The waiting list for this life saving treatment stands at 2000 at present. Health officials said last night that they will correct the problems in the hospital. Pietermaritzburg has one of the highest HIV infection rates in the world. 15/16 JULY 2009 PIETERMARITZBURG SOUTH AFRICA PHOTO JOHN ROBINSON

HIV/AIDS vigil outside the Edendale Hospital in Pietermaritzburg Kwazulu-Natal South Africa. The vigil was followed by a march through the streets of Pietermaritzburg. Members of the Edendale community including affected and infected children, family members and traditional healers remembered those in their midst who have died while waiting for ARV medication at Edendale Hospital. The waiting list for this life saving treatment stands at 2000 at present. Health officials said last night that they will correct the problems in the hospital. Pietermaritzburg has one of the highest HIV infection rates in the world. 15/16 JULY 2009 PIETERMARITZBURG SOUTH AFRICA PHOTO JOHN ROBINSON

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HIV/AIDS vigil outside the Edendale Hospital in Pietermaritzburg Kwazulu-Natal South Africa. The vigil was followed by a march through the streets of Pietermaritzburg. Members of the Edendale community including affected and infected children, family members and traditional healers remembered those in their midst who have died while waiting for ARV medication at Edendale Hospital. The waiting list for this life saving treatment stands at 2000 at present. Health officials said last night that they will correct the problems in the hospital. Pietermaritzburg has one of the highest HIV infection rates in the world. 15/16 JULY 2009 PIETERMARITZBURG SOUTH AFRICA PHOTO JOHN ROBINSON

HIV/AIDS vigil outside the Edendale Hospital in Pietermaritzburg Kwazulu-Natal South Africa. The vigil was followed by a march through the streets of Pietermaritzburg. Members of the Edendale community including affected and infected children, family members and traditional healers remembered those in their midst who have died while waiting for ARV medication at Edendale Hospital. The waiting list for this life saving treatment stands at 2000 at present. Health officials said last night that they will correct the problems in the hospital. Pietermaritzburg has one of the highest HIV infection rates in the world. 15/16 JULY 2009 PIETERMARITZBURG SOUTH AFRICA PHOTO JOHN ROBINSON

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HIV/AIDS vigil outside the Edendale Hospital in Pietermaritzburg Kwazulu-Natal South Africa. The vigil was followed by a march through the streets of Pietermaritzburg. Members of the Edendale community including affected and infected children, family members and traditional healers remembered those in their midst who have died while waiting for ARV medication at Edendale Hospital. The waiting list for this life saving treatment stands at 2000 at present. Health officials said last night that they will correct the problems in the hospital. Pietermaritzburg has one of the highest HIV infection rates in the world. 15/16 JULY 2009 PIETERMARITZBURG SOUTH AFRICA PHOTO JOHN ROBINSON

HIV/AIDS vigil outside the Edendale Hospital in Pietermaritzburg Kwazulu-Natal South Africa. The vigil was followed by a march through the streets of Pietermaritzburg. Members of the Edendale community including affected and infected children, family members and traditional healers remembered those in their midst who have died while waiting for ARV medication at Edendale Hospital. The waiting list for this life saving treatment stands at 2000 at present. Health officials said last night that they will correct the problems in the hospital. Pietermaritzburg has one of the highest HIV infection rates in the world. 15/16 JULY 2009 PIETERMARITZBURG SOUTH AFRICA PHOTO JOHN ROBINSON

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HIV/AIDS vigil outside the Edendale Hospital in Pietermaritzburg Kwazulu-Natal South Africa. The vigil was followed by a march through the streets of Pietermaritzburg. Members of the Edendale community including affected and infected children, family members and traditional healers remembered those in their midst who have died while waiting for ARV medication at Edendale Hospital. The waiting list for this life saving treatment stands at 2000 at present. Health officials said last night that they will correct the problems in the hospital. Pietermaritzburg has one of the highest HIV infection rates in the world. 15/16 JULY 2009 PIETERMARITZBURG SOUTH AFRICA PHOTO JOHN ROBINSON

HIV/AIDS vigil outside the Edendale Hospital in Pietermaritzburg Kwazulu-Natal South Africa. The vigil was followed by a march through the streets of Pietermaritzburg. Members of the Edendale community including affected and infected children, family members and traditional healers remembered those in their midst who have died while waiting for ARV medication at Edendale Hospital. The waiting list for this life saving treatment stands at 2000 at present. Health officials said last night that they will correct the problems in the hospital. Pietermaritzburg has one of the highest HIV infection rates in the world. 15/16 JULY 2009 PIETERMARITZBURG SOUTH AFRICA PHOTO JOHN ROBINSON

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HIV/AIDS vigil outside the Edendale Hospital in Pietermaritzburg Kwazulu-Natal South Africa. The vigil was followed by a march through the streets of Pietermaritzburg. Members of the Edendale community including affected and infected children, family members and traditional healers remembered those in their midst who have died while waiting for ARV medication at Edendale Hospital. The waiting list for this life saving treatment stands at 2000 at present. Health officials said last night that they will correct the problems in the hospital. Pietermaritzburg has one of the highest HIV infection rates in the world. 15/16 JULY 2009 PIETERMARITZBURG SOUTH AFRICA PHOTO JOHN ROBINSON

HIV/AIDS vigil outside the Edendale Hospital in Pietermaritzburg Kwazulu-Natal South Africa. The vigil was followed by a march through the streets of Pietermaritzburg. Members of the Edendale community including affected and infected children, family members and traditional healers remembered those in their midst who have died while waiting for ARV medication at Edendale Hospital. The waiting list for this life saving treatment stands at 2000 at present. Health officials said last night that they will correct the problems in the hospital. Pietermaritzburg has one of the highest HIV infection rates in the world. 15/16 JULY 2009 PIETERMARITZBURG SOUTH AFRICA PHOTO JOHN ROBINSON

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HIV/AIDS vigil outside the Edendale Hospital in Pietermaritzburg Kwazulu-Natal South Africa. The vigil was followed by a march through the streets of Pietermaritzburg. Members of the Edendale community including affected and infected children, family members and traditional healers remembered those in their midst who have died while waiting for ARV medication at Edendale Hospital. The waiting list for this life saving treatment stands at 2000 at present. Health officials said last night that they will correct the problems in the hospital. Pietermaritzburg has one of the highest HIV infection rates in the world. 15/16 JULY 2009 PIETERMARITZBURG SOUTH AFRICA PHOTO JOHN ROBINSON

HIV/AIDS vigil outside the Edendale Hospital in Pietermaritzburg Kwazulu-Natal South Africa. The vigil was followed by a march through the streets of Pietermaritzburg. Members of the Edendale community including affected and infected children, family members and traditional healers remembered those in their midst who have died while waiting for ARV medication at Edendale Hospital. The waiting list for this life saving treatment stands at 2000 at present. Health officials said last night that they will correct the problems in the hospital. Pietermaritzburg has one of the highest HIV infection rates in the world. 15/16 JULY 2009 PIETERMARITZBURG SOUTH AFRICA PHOTO JOHN ROBINSON

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HIV/AIDS vigil outside the Edendale Hospital in Pietermaritzburg Kwazulu-Natal South Africa. The vigil was followed by a march through the streets of Pietermaritzburg. Members of the Edendale community including affected and infected children, family members and traditional healers remembered those in their midst who have died while waiting for ARV medication at Edendale Hospital. The waiting list for this life saving treatment stands at 2000 at present. Health officials said last night that they will correct the problems in the hospital. Pietermaritzburg has one of the highest HIV infection rates in the world. 15/16 JULY 2009 PIETERMARITZBURG SOUTH AFRICA PHOTO JOHN ROBINSON

HIV/AIDS vigil outside the Edendale Hospital in Pietermaritzburg Kwazulu-Natal South Africa. The vigil was followed by a march through the streets of Pietermaritzburg. Members of the Edendale community including affected and infected children, family members and traditional healers remembered those in their midst who have died while waiting for ARV medication at Edendale Hospital. The waiting list for this life saving treatment stands at 2000 at present. Health officials said last night that they will correct the problems in the hospital. Pietermaritzburg has one of the highest HIV infection rates in the world. 15/16 JULY 2009 PIETERMARITZBURG SOUTH AFRICA PHOTO JOHN ROBINSON

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HIV/AIDS vigil outside the Edendale Hospital in Pietermaritzburg Kwazulu-Natal South Africa. The vigil was followed by a march through the streets of Pietermaritzburg. Members of the Edendale community including affected and infected children, family members and traditional healers remembered those in their midst who have died while waiting for ARV medication at Edendale Hospital. The waiting list for this life saving treatment stands at 2000 at present. Health officials said last night that they will correct the problems in the hospital. Pietermaritzburg has one of the highest HIV infection rates in the world. 15/16 JULY 2009 PIETERMARITZBURG SOUTH AFRICA PHOTO JOHN ROBINSON

2009, ARV, colour, HIV/AIDS, memorial, protest, vigil

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John Robinson is a Africa based photojournalist of Zambian extraction, and now living in South Africa. He is based in Sout... Read more.

HIV/AIDS vigil outside the Edendale Hospital in Pietermaritzburg Kwazulu-Natal South Africa. The vigil was followed by a march through the streets of Pietermaritzburg. Members of the Edendale community including affected and infected children, family members and traditional healers remembered those in their midst who have died while waiting for ARV medication at Edendale Hospital. The waiting list for this life saving treatment stands at 2000 at present. Health officials said last night that they will correct the problems in the hospital. Pietermaritzburg has one of the highest HIV infection rates in the world. 15/16 JULY 2009 PIETERMARITZBURG SOUTH AFRICA PHOTO JOHN ROBINSON
HIV/AIDS vigil outside the Edendale Hospital in Pietermaritzburg Kwazulu-Natal South Africa. The vigil was followed by a march through the streets of Pietermaritzburg. Members of the Edendale community including affected and infected children, family members and traditional healers remembered those in their midst who have died while waiting for ARV medication at Edendale Hospital. The waiting list for this life saving treatment stands at 2000 at present. Health officials said last night that they will correct the problems in the hospital. Pietermaritzburg has one of the highest HIV infection rates in the world. 15/16 JULY 2009 PIETERMARITZBURG SOUTH AFRICA PHOTO JOHN ROBINSON
HIV/AIDS vigil outside the Edendale Hospital in Pietermaritzburg Kwazulu-Natal South Africa. The vigil was followed by a march through the streets of Pietermaritzburg. Members of the Edendale community including affected and infected children, family members and traditional healers remembered those in their midst who have died while waiting for ARV medication at Edendale Hospital. The waiting list for this life saving treatment stands at 2000 at present. Health officials said last night that they will correct the problems in the hospital. Pietermaritzburg has one of the highest HIV infection rates in the world. 15/16 JULY 2009 PIETERMARITZBURG SOUTH AFRICA PHOTO JOHN ROBINSON
HIV/AIDS vigil outside the Edendale Hospital in Pietermaritzburg Kwazulu-Natal South Africa. The vigil was followed by a march through the streets of Pietermaritzburg. Members of the Edendale community including affected and infected children, family members and traditional healers remembered those in their midst who have died while waiting for ARV medication at Edendale Hospital. The waiting list for this life saving treatment stands at 2000 at present. Health officials said last night that they will correct the problems in the hospital. Pietermaritzburg has one of the highest HIV infection rates in the world. 15/16 JULY 2009 PIETERMARITZBURG SOUTH AFRICA PHOTO JOHN ROBINSON
HIV/AIDS vigil outside the Edendale Hospital in Pietermaritzburg Kwazulu-Natal South Africa. The vigil was followed by a march through the streets of Pietermaritzburg. Members of the Edendale community including affected and infected children, family members and traditional healers remembered those in their midst who have died while waiting for ARV medication at Edendale Hospital. The waiting list for this life saving treatment stands at 2000 at present. Health officials said last night that they will correct the problems in the hospital. Pietermaritzburg has one of the highest HIV infection rates in the world. 15/16 JULY 2009 PIETERMARITZBURG SOUTH AFRICA PHOTO JOHN ROBINSON
HIV/AIDS vigil outside the Edendale Hospital in Pietermaritzburg Kwazulu-Natal South Africa. The vigil was followed by a march through the streets of Pietermaritzburg. Members of the Edendale community including affected and infected children, family members and traditional healers remembered those in their midst who have died while waiting for ARV medication at Edendale Hospital. The waiting list for this life saving treatment stands at 2000 at present. Health officials said last night that they will correct the problems in the hospital. Pietermaritzburg has one of the highest HIV infection rates in the world. 15/16 JULY 2009 PIETERMARITZBURG SOUTH AFRICA PHOTO JOHN ROBINSON
HIV/AIDS vigil outside the Edendale Hospital in Pietermaritzburg Kwazulu-Natal South Africa. The vigil was followed by a march through the streets of Pietermaritzburg. Members of the Edendale community including affected and infected children, family members and traditional healers remembered those in their midst who have died while waiting for ARV medication at Edendale Hospital. The waiting list for this life saving treatment stands at 2000 at present. Health officials said last night that they will correct the problems in the hospital. Pietermaritzburg has one of the highest HIV infection rates in the world. 15/16 JULY 2009 PIETERMARITZBURG SOUTH AFRICA PHOTO JOHN ROBINSON
HIV/AIDS vigil outside the Edendale Hospital in Pietermaritzburg Kwazulu-Natal South Africa. The vigil was followed by a march through the streets of Pietermaritzburg. Members of the Edendale community including affected and infected children, family members and traditional healers remembered those in their midst who have died while waiting for ARV medication at Edendale Hospital. The waiting list for this life saving treatment stands at 2000 at present. Health officials said last night that they will correct the problems in the hospital. Pietermaritzburg has one of the highest HIV infection rates in the world. 15/16 JULY 2009 PIETERMARITZBURG SOUTH AFRICA PHOTO JOHN ROBINSON
HIV/AIDS vigil outside the Edendale Hospital in Pietermaritzburg Kwazulu-Natal South Africa. The vigil was followed by a march through the streets of Pietermaritzburg. Members of the Edendale community including affected and infected children, family members and traditional healers remembered those in their midst who have died while waiting for ARV medication at Edendale Hospital. The waiting list for this life saving treatment stands at 2000 at present. Health officials said last night that they will correct the problems in the hospital. Pietermaritzburg has one of the highest HIV infection rates in the world. 15/16 JULY 2009 PIETERMARITZBURG SOUTH AFRICA PHOTO JOHN ROBINSON

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Ali Agushito is a Zimbabwean immigrant now living in Pietermaritzburg South Africa, he creates football stars from beads and wire in the lead up to the FIFA 2010 World Cup 25 March Pietermaritzburg South Africa Photo/John Robinson
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Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi's ashes are scattered in the Indian Ocean by his grand-daughter Ela Gandhi off the coast of Durban, South Africa. 30/01/2010 ELI GHANDI, grand daughter of MOHANDAS KARAMCHAND GHANDI immersed the peace icon's ashes in the Indian Ocean just off the South African city of Durban, once the home of Ghandi. The ceremony which included pouring the ashes into the sea, sprinkling flowers and candles into the sea was preceded by an all night candle lit vigil at the Ghandi Settlement in the Pheonix area of Durban 30 JANUARY 2010 DURBAN SOUTH AFRICA PHOTO/JOHN ROBINSON
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On World Sight Day, a marathon cataract operation returns the sight of twenty-one patients. Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. 08/10/2009. For Sam Ndimisana (a retired painter) this is the second time that he has had this operation. He had his left eye's cataract removed in May this year and now it is the turn of his right eye. Now he will be totally reliant on the artificial replacement lens that will take the place of his old cataract ridden eyes. Sam will gain sight in his right eye and full bi focal sight and depth perception too! Edendale Hospital is a South African government hospital with the usual shortages of funds and facilities, but for the event of World sight day, a huge effort is made to help the patients' vision. The cost of the operation is about $500.00 per patient and it is the world's most efficient too. Dr Mohammed Iqbal Rahmtoola is one of many registrar Ophthalmic surgeons training at the facility and he is at the end of the line of case finders and ophthalmic nurses who work in small rural clinics who will refer patients to this hospital. He and other doctors review each case and perform this life changing procedure.
World Sight Day: Sam's new eyes
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The cataract removal procedure is the world's most performed medical procedure, it takes the ophthalmic surgeon about 40 minutes and when it's over the recipient of the new lens will have clear vision in that eye. Looking through a stereoscopic microscope tiny cuts are made into the eye and working under the bright light of the microscope the surgeon cuts up and then removes the old cataract ridden lens from the patient's eye. A new artificial lens then replaces the old. Costing about $500.00 per procedure and providing clear sight once again for the patient for what it costs it is also one of the worlds most effective surgical procedures. The patients for the operation come from across the rural back roads of Kwazulu-Natal. They are generally old and their cataracts have gradually reduced their sight to the point that they no longer have viable vision. Kwazulu-Natal a place of hills, trees, cattle and goats, with vistas that let the viewer see for miles and miles. Tugela Ferry is about as traditionally Zulu as it can get. Imbued with the values, it's the heart beat of the Zulu nation and here pride and independence is a thing of great value.  But when you are old and blind these values that are beholden take a bit of a knock. The government hospitals across the province have trained up eye nurses and case finders who work in the community and do a basic examination and refer these people onto the cataract removal programme. The stay in hospital is little more then a night or two, and the results are as grandmother Gogo Ntombi Ngema will tell you are bright. Shaking her hands and speaking through her grand daughter she says that she can see clearly, 'you can tell everyone that I can see now, I was not afraid of the procedure... i was ready for it'. She held up her hands with the fingers raised and moving them from left to right, and with a glow in her eye she begins to talk of a life of change. 'I could not walk around on my own,' says Ntombi, who lives in a home cut into the edge of a steep hillside. 'I could not even see what it is that I was eating,' and she is now able to choose her own food at the local markets. 'I could not count my money,'and now she is confident when she joins the government pension queues.  She smiles and says 'I am an independent women and I can now dress the way that I like' her daughter stands to one side and I guess that there is a bit of sadness in the change of their relationship, she will no longer need to be the second eyes and guide for her grandmother. Ntombi looked away from the home out over the same vistas that she was once led around. Her grand daughter will move on with her own life as granny Ntombi has gained a little confidence once again.
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