The Madiba stamp of approval endorsed the long-awaited R80-million private sector programme to extend free anti-retroviral drug treatment to thousands of people living with HIV/Aids at a gala dinner this week.
The programme, called Tshepang (to have hope), will pave the way for poor people to have access to the life-saving drugs by providing free anti-retroviral treatment (ART) to 9 000 public sector patients at 18 treatment sites countrywide.
Championed by the South African Medical Association (Sama), representing 16 000 doctors, the programme was launched at a function in Johannesburg where the Nelson Mandela Foundation pledged R10-million to kick-start donations.
Among the guests was Aids activist Zackie Achmat, who has taken a stance not to take anti-retrovirals unless everyone has access to them.
The Mail & Guardian first reported on the programme in September, saying that Sama would attempt to raise the money to provide the triple-therapy drugs to the 500 000 South Africans with full-blown Aids [Madiba backs private anti-retroviral plan].
”Only public sector patients who cannot afford ART would be identified and referred for treatment to medical practitioners in their area who have been appropriately screened and trained to manage HIV/Aids patients,” says Magda Naude, Sama’s media officer.
Sama chairperson Kgosi Letlape, who conceptualised the programme, says the launch was to create awareness and to encourage all people to get involved in the fight against HIV/Aids.
”If one million people donate R1 each day, we will have R365-million at the end of the year. This is enough money to keep 6 000 people on anti-retroviral therapy for three years. It is better than nothing.”
He says people should stop pointing fingers at the government and begin to take responsibility and action to support people with HIV/Aids.
”A schoolchild can get involved [in the programme] by donating their left-over pocket money or by playing with a child who is HIV-postive,” says Letlape. He says that the programme is not just about providing anti-retroviral therapy but is a call to all South Africans to destigmatise HIV/Aids.
Letlape says doctors should seek knowledge to treat HIV/Aids patients despite the government’s non-treatment policy.
”Sama’s aim is to mobilise doctors and to ensure that each and every doctor in the country knows enough about Aids treatment to make a difference in dealing with the pandemic,” he says.
”At this stage the big challenge is to create awareness of the programme, and to raise funds to put it into practice. We call on the corporate sector and individuals to donate funds to assist Sama in implementing this treatment programme that will bring HIV/Aids patients and doctors together in its mission to bring health to the nation,” Letlape says.
Nelson Mandela reiterated Letlape’s point by saying that people must take action in their personal capacity to turn the pandemic around.
Sama’s programme comes at a time when the government, activists, unions and businesses are in a stand-off with regard to a national treatment plan for anti-retroviral therapy.
After four months of rigorous negotiations in the National Economic Development and Labour Council, the government and businesses have still not signed the Framework Agreement for a National Prevention and Treatment Plan that would lead to the provision of anti-retrovirals to Aids patients next year.
The Treatment Action Campaign slammed the government and businesses for the delay, blaming it on the anti-retroviral aspect of the plan. The stand-off is expected to be resolved soon, and it has been agreed that the framework agreement’s task team will return to negotiations after February.
Related:
Madiba backs private anti-retroviral plan 19 September 2002