The Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) says it is happy with the amount Minister of Finance Trevor Manuel set aside for HIV/Aids on Wednesday but worries about whether it will be spent properly.
”Our preliminary view is that we are happy with the amount that Trevor set aside but the real challenge is to see if the money is spent properly,” TAC spokesperson Nathan Geffen said.
Manuel announced that the total budget for fighting HIV/Aids will rise in the coming year to about R4,3-billion, a rise of about R1-billion over current spending.
The increase is in line with medium-term expenditure framework projections, and is planned to rise to R5,2-million by the 2007/08 financial year.
R1,8-billion of this year’s amount is earmarked as conditional grants to the provinces in the fields of health, social development (which includes a R60-million increase in home-based care, to about R139-million) and education.
It also included an increase in condom distribution.
In a separate statement, the TAC and the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) called on the Cabinet to make sure that R30-million used to establish government’s Aids Trust in 2002 is spent.
It said only R520 000 of this money has been used and, of this, a large portion was for unoccupied offices.
The trust funds the South African National Aids Council (Sanac) as ”the highest advisory body” to the minister of health and the Cabinet on HIV/Aids policy and implementation of programmes in South Africa.
However, Sanac only meets sporadically and meetings are frequently cancelled at the last minute.
The Operational Plan for Comprehensive HIV/Aids Treatment, Care and Support, released on November 19 2003, is now far behind its original targets.
”TAC and Cosatu call on Cabinet to ensure the South African Aids Trust money is spent immediately and appropriately with the purpose of enabling Sanac to fulfil its duties.
”We cannot afford the dysfunctionality of structures such as Sanac which have been established to alleviate the epidemic. Genuine partnership and commitment from all in our society is needed now more than ever.”
Director General of Health Thami Mseleku was quoted in the media on Wednesday as saying trustees have not met because of their high calibre and their busy business schedules. — Sapa