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Doctors stage HIV/AIDS care protest
Jo-Anne Smetherham. 05 May 2003. The Mercury. Republished courtesy of Independent Newspapers (Pty) Ltd.
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Today and tomorrow hundreds of doctors across South Africa will go to work wearing the trademark Treatment Action Campaign T-shirts, which have the words "HIV-positive" splashed across the front in purple, to support the activist group's call for antiretroviral drugs to be provided at state hospitals and clinics.
The South African Medical Association (Sama), which represents two thirds of the country's doctors, has invited nurses, other health care workers, and all members of the public to join its "silent protest", says Sama chairman Kgosi Letlape.
Last week, about 300 T-shirts were ordered by Sama. Doctors at Groote Schuur, Red Cross, Tygerberg, Paarl and Worcester hospitals are expected to be among those wearing the shirts. The protest would be repeated in the future, Letlape said.
"The policy of no treatment is not acceptable to us as doctors," he said. "We are part of the fight against HIV/AIDS and it is our duty to tell others where we stand. By participating in this silent protest, doctors can, without compromising patient care, stand up for what they believe is in the best interests of their patients."
Sama registrars' association chairman Mark Sonderup, who ordered the shirts, said: "We are frustrated beyond frustration. We have seen too many people die. It is time for action.
"History is going to show that HIV/AIDS is one of the biggest tragedies ever to strike this country. But the health minister is treating people with HIV/AIDS with impunity - and treating health care professionals with disdain."
It is estimated that between 250 and 600 people die of AIDS daily in South Africa.
Sama has, in the past, added its voice to those of activists, religious leaders and unions calling for antiretroviral drugs to be provided by the government.
The doctors' body is distributing a petition to health care workers calling on health minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang to "demonstrate leadership" by ensuring the government increases its health expenditure and develops a comprehensive HIV/AIDS plan that includes the provision of antiretrovirals.
"Daily, many of us see patients die unnecessarily of HIV/AIDS," the petition states. "In many cases patients die because they do not have access to antiretroviral medicines. Often they die or suffer needlessly because our facilities are not stocked with essential life-saving treatments for opportunistic infections.
"And often they die or suffer because our facilities are under-staffed or because we have not been sufficiently trained to deal with the epidemic.
"We do not believe the dire state of the public health care system is inevitable. With political will and resources our health-care system can be greatly improved."
Letlape said that Sama supported the Treatment Action Campaign's civil disobedience campaign.
The TAC suspended the campaign on the request of deputy president Jacob Zuma, pending the outcome of a South African National AIDS Council (SANAC) meeting, to be held on May 17. TAC chairman Zackie Achmat said some TAC branches had been vehemently opposed to this decision. |
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