South African Aids and HIV sufferers and health workers yesterday welcomed the turn-around by President Thabo Mbeki’s government to allow life-saving anti-retroviral drugs to reach the public. But there was also anger that the government’s delay in accepting the use of the drugs had cost many lives.
Mbeki had come under increasing criticism at home and internationally for failing to deal effectively with the world’s highest number of Aids and HIV cases. The government bowed to the pressure for drug treatment saying it intends to draw up a plan by the end of September for the national distribution of anti-retrovirals.
South Africa has the largest number of HIV-infected people in the world, nearly five million — more than 11% of its population of 43,8 million — according to the United Nations Aids programme. The figures are more frightening for the 23,7 million people aged 15 to 49, where about 20% are infected. The epidemic has left 660 000 South African children orphaned.
Yet, for years, as the virus has spread, Mbeki and his officials have resisted national programmes to provide anti-retrovirals, making him the target of intense criticism in South Africa and the world. With this weekend’s announcement, it appears Mbeki has bowed to that pressure.
The Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) has spearheaded demands for universal treatment. The group said it would call off a campaign of civil disobedience and reconsider pending litigation, which includes charges of culpable homicide against two Cabinet Ministers for failing to prevent the deaths of friends and family by refusing universal access to anti-retrovirals.
”We welcome the Cabinet’s bold step today, but also remember the anguish, pain and unnecessary loss of lives over the last four years,” TAC stated.
Zachie Achmat, the HIV-positive TAC chairperson, stepped up the pressure by refusing to take the drug cocktails himself until the government changed its policies to make them available to all South Africans.
Achmat’s health had been failing in the past year and last week he announced ”I will take my medicine”, in order, he said, to be able to continue battling for treatment for all.
Although he welcomed the government’s decision, Achmat said his group ”will wait to see the actual operational plan before celebration.
”For all of us living with HIV in South Africa , and our families, this is the first sign of hope,” he added.
Although the government has taken a new step, it probably does not indicate a change of heart by Mbeki. Just last week he wrote in the ANC newsletter of his mistrust of Western experts who urged the use of anti-retroviral drugs.
”We must free ourselves of the ‘friends’ who populate our ranks, originating from the world of the rich, who come dressed in jeans and T-shirts, as advisers and consultants, while we end up as the voice that gives popular legitimacy to decisions we neither made nor intended to make,” he wrote.
Opposition parties on Saturday welcomed the government’s new moves.
The New National Party (NNP) said it was pleased the government had heeded the ”almost universal call” for an operational roll-out plan for such treatment although this had taken a long time.
”What will be vital now is the implementation and sustainability of any such plan, and for this government will need help and we are willing to assist,” NNP leader Marthinus van Schalkwyk said.
On Friday, the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) said the Cabinet instructed the department to develop the programme with the assistance of local experts and specialists from
the Clinton Foundation aids initiative. The GCIS said it was expected that the department’s work would
be completed by the end of September.
The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) on Saturday welcomed the government’s decision, saying it was long overdue.
”The decision is correct, long overdue and we hope it will herald change in the public debate that has for too long been characterised by acrimony and discord,” IFP health spokesperson Ruth Rabinowitz said.
The Democratic Alliance said the announcement looked good on paper but the real test would be the manner in which it would be put into action.
”We will support any initiative to roll out anti-retrovirals,” DA spokesperson Mike Waters said. ”We will keep a close eye on the roll out process, and we will fulfil a watchdog role to prevent any past mistakes from being repeated.”
The Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) applauded the
announcement as a ”historic gesture”. ”We hope this will swiftly lead to the administration of anti-retrovirals in the public sector to all those people living with HIV/Aids,” Cosatu spokesperson Patrick Craven said.
The labour federation pledged to do everything in its power to work with government, health professionals and civil society to carry out the decision.
”We do not underestimate the scale of the challenge we face, to treat the five million people who are currently infected, but believe that this is a national emergency requiring a concerted drive by all of us to defeat this epidemic,” Craven said. ‒ Sapa, Guardian Unlimited Â