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KZN did try the right channels
Lynne Altenroxel. The Star, August 2001. Reprinted courtesy of Independent Newspapers (Pty) Ltd.
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The government accused KwaZulu-Natal of ignoring official channels in its bid for a R720-million grant to fight HIV/AIDS, but evidence shows that the province tried to use those channels - in vain.
Health Minister Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang accused the province of approaching the Global Fund without first getting approval from the South African National HIV/AIDS Council.
Sanac was named as South Africa's official co-ordinator of Global Fund submissions and had approved a last-minute application for R930m, submitted by the Health Department.
According to the University of KwaZulu-Natal, which co-wrote KwaZulu-Natal's proposal, it applied to Sanac for approval in March - but had not heard from the council since.
The provincial proposal, which was praised by the Global Fund, proposes giving anti-retroviral triple therapy to HIV-positive healthworkers and TB patients. The Heath Department's proposal only asks for funding for HIV-prevention.
Health Ministry spokesperson Sibani Mngadi has confirmed that the Health Department's submission had received Sanac's approval. But, according to sources, the Global Fund was never discussed at Sanac's meeting in March, even though it was on the agenda. Neither was the matter debated at the latest Sanac meeting.
Last week at a meeting between Health MECs and Tshabalala-Msimang, it was decided that KwaZulu Natal's R720m should be distributed equitably among all nine provinces.
The University of KwaZulu-Natal pointed out that this amounted to turning down the KwaZulu-Natal grant.
On Thursday, the South African Medical Association and the Treatment Action Campaign joined scientists in calling for an end to the controversy. |
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