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South Africa's Minister of Health Should Resign, Says Global AIDS Alliance

Posted on: Wednesday, 23 August 2006, 12:00 CDT

WASHINGTON, Aug. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Today the Global AIDS Alliance joined South African organizations in calling for the resignation of South Africa's Minister of Health, Manto Tshabalala-Msimang. South Africa has the largest number of people living with AIDS of any country, yet the government's response to the crisis has been slow and marred by confusion.

Rev. Mpho Tutu, chair of the Board of Directors of the Global AIDS Alliance, stated: "The policies of the South African government with regard to HIV/AIDS are outrageous. South Africa has the knowledge, the skills, and the resources to be at the forefront of the fight against the AIDS pandemic, yet, under the leadership of our current Minister of Health, we are lagging behind many of our poorer neighbors in the response to AIDS. It is past time for the government to be called to account for the unnecessary suffering and loss of life that have resulted from its lack of leadership."

A Global Day of Action has been called for August 24th by South Africa's Treatment Action Campaign (TAC). TAC is calling on South African President Thabo Mbeki to convene a national dialogue to develop a new AIDS strategy, guarantee treatment for prisoners who are living with AIDS, dismiss the Health Minister, and end what it has termed "health apartheid." Protests are planned at the South African Embassy as well as consulates in the US and other countries.

The Ministry of Health has failed to utilize at least one quarter of the funding at its disposal, and it has delayed drug procurement, according to an independent study presented at last week's AIDS Conference in Toronto. The study, by Nicoli Nattrass of the University of Cape Town, found that an additional 278,000 people would have been put on AIDS treatment if the Ministry of Health had acted appropriately. Nattrass stated: "South Africa is not constrained by budgetary allocations...but is instead constrained by ineffective leadership in the national Department of Health and in many of the provincial Departments of Health."

AIDS is damaging the climate for investment in South Africa, and new leadership is needed to reassure business leaders. A survey presented at Toronto said that 40 percent of the manufacturers and transport companies and 60 percent of the mines are reporting that HIV/AIDS has caused a loss of experience and vital skills in their workforces. The survey also showed financial services companies are concerned about the impact of HIV/AIDS on the South African companies in which they invest.

"To show the world -- including potential investors -- that it is serious about tackling AIDS, South Africa simply must have new leadership in the Ministry of Health," said Dr. Paul Zeitz, Executive Director of the Global AIDS Alliance. "800 deaths each day in South Africa from AIDS are more than mere statistics -- this is about people like you and me who are suffering and dying. The Health Minister's long reign of error must come to an end, and she must either resign or be dismissed."

Global AIDS Alliance

CONTACT: David Bryden of Global AIDS Alliance, +1-202-789-0432, ext.211, or Mobile: +1-202-549-3664

Web site: http://www.globalaidsalliance.org/

Source: PRNewswire

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