AIDS will drive down the life expectancy of a South African
woman to 43 in 2005, NMG-Levy’s annual report on labour relations
and employee benefits said on Thursday.
According to the report South Africa’s women, with a life
expectancy of 54 in 1999, will only survive until the age of 37 in
2010, while men would survive until 38.
”The population of those aged 15 and below will be relatively
large, as will the population of seniors aged 50 and above,” the
report said.
”The pandemic will take a dramatic toll on the most productive
members of the population, those in their 20s, 30s and 40s.”
The report predicts that close to 30% of South Africa’s
work force will be HIV positive in 2005.
It said by 2010, one million South Africans would be sick with
Aids, while six million would already have died from Aids-related
diseases.
The report, now in its 20th year, is seen as a reliable
barometer for comparative and predictive purposes.
Information and analysis are assembled in three sections —
labour relations developments, employee developments and human
resource management. Each contribution is written and researched by
experts in the field.
In other news, rape victims are to be provided with anti-Aids drugs at public
health institutions as soon as possible, the government announced
on Wednesday.
”Government will endeavour to provide a comprehensive package of
care for victims (of sexual assault), including counselling,
testing for HIV, pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections,”
Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang said in Pretoria.
Counselling would include pointing out the risks of using
antiretrovirals.
”If they so choose, they will be provided with such drugs.”
Cabinet agreed to the new approach at its fortnightly meeting.
Tshabalala-Msimang told reporters a national protocol on the
treatment of victims of sexual assault would first have to be
developed.
”I can’t see this being finalised in less than six months,” said
Arts, Culture, Science and Technology Minister Ben Ngubane.
Ngubane, Tshabalala-Msimang, and Minister in the Presidency
Essop Pahad would form part of a new presidential task team on
HIV/Aids.
Ministers who served on the SA National Aids Council (Sanac)
would also be members of the new team, to be chaired by Deputy
President Jacob Zuma.
”There was self-criticism with regard to the effectiveness of
that structure (Sanac),” government representative Joel Netshitenzhe
said.
This was ”quite rare” in Cabinet, he added.
Tshabalala-Msimang said plans were on track for a universal
roll-out of nevirapine to HIV-positive mothers, hopefully from next
year.
General distribution depended on the outcome of current research
on the use of the drug to curtail mother-to-child transmission of
HIV.
Meanwhile, the government would continue complying with a
Constitutional Court ruling that nevirapine be provisionally
provided to pregnant HIV-positive women at public health facilities
with the capacity to do so.
The ruling was made pending the government’s main appeal against
a Pretoria High Court ruling that it put in place plans to make the
drug freely available.
Asked if the interim provision of nevirapine would be stopped if
the government won its appeal, Tshabalala-Msimang said: ”I think we
must wait until the 2nd and 3rd of May (the date of the appeal). We
will take it from there.”
The ministers said the general provision of anti-retroviral
drugs to HIV-positive people was not an option at this stage.
”Cabinet noted that they (the drugs) could help improve the
conditions of people living with Aids if administered at certain
stages in the progression of the condition.”
However, these drugs were too costly for universal access, and
could cause harm if incorrectly used and if health systems were
inadequate, as was currently the case in South Africa.
”Government will continue (pushing) for the lowering of the cost
of these drugs, and intensify the campaign to ensure that patients
observe treatment advice given to them by doctors,”
Tshabalala-Msimang said.
Health Department director-general Dr Ayanda Ntsaluba estimated
the treatment of 100 000 people would cost the government in the
region of R700 million.
Alongside poverty alleviation, the government would encourage
research into alternative treatments, particularly on supplements
and medication boosting the immune system.
Tshabalala-Msimang said the state programme of home-based and
community-based care would be improved. More than R94 million had
been allocated for this purpose this year, which would rise to R138-million in 2004/2005.
Emphasis would also be placed on treating HIV-positive people
for opportunistic diseases such as tuberculosis, oral thrush, and
meningitis.
Up to now, the tendency was not to treat a patient suffering,
for example, from tuberculosis if he already had Aids, Pahad said.
”Whilst noting the complications (in freely providing
anti-retroviral drugs), we are saying something can be done in the
meantime,” Netshitenzhe said.
He said the gist of the new approach was that individuals had to
accept responsibility in the quest to curb the spread of HIV/Aids,
and that the government would continue tackling the disease with a
sense of urgency.
”Society doesn’t have to go into a depression. The problem is
huge, but there is hope if we all work together,” Netshitenzhe
said. – Sapa