9.11.2006
Slow progress in South Africa
Mbeki's government in South Africa has responded to activists' and international scientists' demands to fire their erroneous and immoral health minister, by appointing a committee.
South Africa has an internationally influential activist community, spearheaded by the Treatment Action Campaign, which has been putting pressure on the government for years to provide real care for people with HIV. And, in many instances, they have been answered with half-truths about drug toxicities and outright lies about the power of natural remedies. It's an outrage, ongoing, and I hope the new committee is a sincere effort to hurry roll-out of antiretrovirals, and not just a strategy for political appeasement. 140,000 patients may be receiving ART, but millions more are waiting. For them, time is running out.
South Africa has an internationally influential activist community, spearheaded by the Treatment Action Campaign, which has been putting pressure on the government for years to provide real care for people with HIV. And, in many instances, they have been answered with half-truths about drug toxicities and outright lies about the power of natural remedies. It's an outrage, ongoing, and I hope the new committee is a sincere effort to hurry roll-out of antiretrovirals, and not just a strategy for political appeasement. 140,000 patients may be receiving ART, but millions more are waiting. For them, time is running out.
Hit Counter
