MONDAY, 11.30PM
THE African National Congress Youth League said on Monday that health cannot be a privilege of the wealthy, but has to become a right for all.
ANCYL president Malusi Gigaba made the statement in response to the death of Durban kidney patient Thiagraj Soobramoney, 41, who died soon after a Constitutional Court ruling that he did not have the constitutional right to continue to demand dialysis treatment at state expense.
The ANCYL sent its condolences and prayers to the family and friends of Soobramoney, saying their loss is a loss for the entire country. “His death is a tragic indictment to the health system of this country, and to its commitment to human rights,” Gigaba said. “A man who had a right to life was denied his right simply because he could not pay for treatment.”
Meanwhile, the ANCYL has also demanded that Health Minister Dr Nkosazana Zuma allow testing of the controversial Aids drug Virodene, and others, to continue. “We owe it to the infected people to test whether the drugs work or not. Lives must be spared. Not exploring this is irresponsible to the extreme,” the league said.