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Government pledges billions for HIV/AIDS battle
John Battersby. The Star. 29 October 2002. Republished courtesy of Independent Newspapers (Pty) Ltd.
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Government spending to counter the HIV/AIDS pandemic is due to be stepped up by a massive R3,3-billion over the next three years.
Additional funds have been voted to finance the rollout of the prevention of mother-to-child transmission, which is due to get into full swing by the end of the year, as well as the treatment of victims of sexual assaults.
Both measures were announced in the cabinet statement of April 17 2002, which signalled a shift in government policy towards the broader use of anti-retrovirals.
A second cabinet statement earlier this month indicated a further softening of the government's resistance to the use of anti-retrovirals to treat HIV/AIDS.
Finance Minister Trevor Manuel's budget policy statement indicated the additional funds would also go towards the "further expansion of appropriate treatment regimes".
Treasury officials indicated that these funds could be used for acquiring anti-retrovirals to treat people living with HIV/AIDS but that this would depend on future policy decisions by the government.
The cabinet announced earlier this month that a technical committee made up of officials from the Treasury and the Department of Health was investigating the cost and logistics of the use of anti-retroviral therapy.
The cabinet was expected to consider the HIV/AIDS issue again on Wednesday.
Asked whether the R3,3-billion would be used to acquire anti-retrovirals, Manuel said the additional spending amounted to about R1-billion a year, but he would not be drawn on what the money would be used for.
"We provide the resources. The choices are made by doctors employed by the Department of Health," he said.
A grant of R50-million has been voted for the mother-to-child rollout for this year, R60-million for next year and R90-million and R120-million for the two subsequent years. |
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