ACDP Response to statement by Minister of Health on World Aids Day

Cheryllyn Dudley MP (ACDP)

Friday, 16 November 2001

Speech by African Christian Democratic Party MP, Cheryllyn Dudley given in Parliament yesterday:


Madam Speaker,

When Finance Minister Trevor Manuel substantially increased spending on HIV/Aids in the interim budget he implied acknowledgement of the increasing devastation caused by the disease. Yet when the Medical Research Council (MRC) produced it’s report that Aids was the leading cause of death in the country the contents were withheld and criticised by government. According to the MRC report there are about 10 000, Aids related deaths every two weeks however it has been reported that government has responded to this by threatening to cut the MRC’s funding “if it does not toe the line on Aids” (Cape Times 6 Nov 01).

Providing antiretroviral drugs to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission is the least that should be done in light of our circumstances and by treating parents as well we would be investing in the family, which will pay big dividends.

The use of antiretrovirals in the US led to a dramatic decline in deaths and the number of Aids patients admitted to hospitals. As the pharmacy bill increased the in-patient bill decreased and in the end the drugs paid for themselves. Having recently visited hospitals in Mpumalanga and witnessed the desperation in overcrowded wards filled with HIV/Aids patients waiting to die or committing suicide, this option looks even more imperative.

Other countries like Brazil have experienced the same cost benefit and South Africa is in the enviable position of being able to benefit from the lessons of these other countries (Cape Times 6 Nov 01).

Medical data also shows that antiretroviral therapy significantly decreases the incidence rate of TB, and may be a powerful strategy for the control of HIV associated TB (Aug 2001 vol 91 no 8 SAMJ).

The ACDP calls on the Minister to be brave and stand up in support of
Making antiretrovirals available to all the people of South Africa.

As for Planned Parenthood’s “life skills”, they are despicable and an affront…all I can say is “Shame on you Hon Minister”!


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For more information please call Cheryllyn Dudley MP 082 8906520 or ACDP Media Liaison Liza Bloemetje at 082 4781037