The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the North West has called on Premier Popo Molefe to intervene in the running of the health department, after accusing it of neglecting the citizens of the province.
This followed health MEC Paul Sefularo supplying ”shocking information” to the legislature in response to DA questions on the department’s provision of nevirapine to pregnant HIV-positive mothers. During July 2001 and December 2002 the North West government supplied antiretroviral (ARVs) medication to 327 HIV-positive mothers and their children.
”This happened in a province where official statistics indicated that about 28% of pregnant women are HIV-positive,” DA provincial leader Chris Hattingh said in a statement on Monday.
Only 7,5% (R100 000) of the R1 342-million allocated for the department to provide ARVs was expended on medication while 58% of the budget was spent on cellphones, travel, accommodation, air tickets and training, he said.
The response to the DA question also revealed that 52% of the total number of pregnant women (5 825) in a research project subjected themselves to voluntary testing and counselling. A total of 781 were found to be HIV-positive, but only 326 women and their babies received ARVs.
”Only 56 (3%) babies of the 1 828 women tested were tested again at the age of nine months, making the so-called research project a failure and a farce,” Hattingh said.
”The Democratic Alliance will once again call on the premier to come to the rescue of the citizens of the province by intervening in what may be described as criminal neglect.”
A North West government spokesperson was not immediately available for comment on Monday night. – Sapa