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The time for action is now
Durban Lesbian & Gay Community & Health Centre press release.
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Another Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) victory is about to be experienced in South Africa. The Constitutional Court has ruled that government must nationally provide Nevirapine to HIV positive pregnant women. The Constitutional Court requires the government to devise and implement, within its available resources, a comprehensive and well co-ordinated programme to support the process. The Durban Lesbian & Gay Community & Health Centre continues to fully support the TAC in this victory and struggles that will follow.
We urge the government to:
- make use of the support systems for HIV/AIDS management it had promised to put in place ( reported in the Cabinet statement of 17th April 2002);
- take reasonable measures to provide and support the provision of anti-retroviral drugs to all people living with HIV;
- put in place measurable programmes whose priority is clearly indicated and which realistically meet socio-economic challenges.
Urgent implementation of the above is crucial as people's lives are at stake. There must be an expansion of the Voluntary Counselling & Testing program; improvement of Opportunistic Infection treatment medication; provision of anti-retroviral drugs and improvement of working conditions for health-care workers to mention the few.
By the same token we urge all structures and sectors of government and the general public to work together. This, we believe will improve people's lives, their health ( so that they remain productive) and that it will contribute to our economy. Reduction of the risk of transferring HIV from mother to babies, affordable health care, access to appropriate medical treatment and care for all people is what all South Africans need.
South Africa has one of the best Constitutions in the world as it recognises, gives equality, respect and dignity to all its citizens. Reality for millions of South Africans is that their rights to life, dignity and access to health care are still infringed. They are systematically denied care and medication. This must be acknowledged and urgently addressed.
Let HIV/AIDS not become a ball in the political field for it costs South Africa many innocent lives. HIV positive pregnant mothers have a right to access health service and newborn babies have a right to life. |
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