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Mandela requests AIDS meeting with Mbeki
July 29 2002. Reprinted courtesy of Independent Newspapers (Pty) Ltd.
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Former president Nelson Mandela has formally requested a meeting with President Thabo Mbeki over the issue of antiretroviral treatment for people living with HIV.
The move follows Mandela's talks at the weekend with Treatment Action Campaign leader Zackie Achmat, who is refusing to take the potentially life-saving drugs until the government introduces a pilot project.
Mandela said afterwards he understood Achmat's position and thought he had "a case" to take to Mbeki.
Mandela's spokeswoman Zelda la Grange said on Monday: "We did put in a formal request (for a meeting) and we are waiting for the president's office to get back to us."
The TAC's campaign for antiretroviral treatment follows its Constitutional Court victory over the government on the prophylactic use of the drugs to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission.
Mandela said at the weekend he supported the government's stance that research into antiretroviral drugs in an African context was necessary to ensure that if there was a roll-out, it would be safe.
"But of course what worries everybody is the number of people who are dying almost daily," he added. - Sapa |
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