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HIV/AIDS treatment plan on it's way to cabinet
01 October 2003. Daily News. Republished courtesy of Independent Newspapers (Pty) Ltd.
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An HIV/AIDS treatment plan, which includes the provision of antiretroviral drugs at state health facilities, was presented to Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang in Pretoria on Tuesday (30 September 2003).
She is to present it to the cabinet, said Dr Anthony Mbewu, who headed the task team that drew up the plan. The cabinet would take a final decision on how the roll-out would occur, he added.
The team was appointed last month following a cabinet decision. The team drew up the operational plan with the help of staff of the William Jefferson Clinton Foundation in the United States. The drafting included visits to all nine provinces to assess provincial plans and preparedness.
"The process has gone smoothly," Mbewu told reporters.
Earlier this month, Ira Magaziner, chairman of the Clinton Foundation's HIV/AIDS initiative, told reporters that if the cabinet approved the plan it could be introduced almost immediately.
That did not mean all people in need of antiretrovirals would get them straight away though.
The New National Party (NNP) called on the government to deal with the matter urgently. "Every day without antiretroviral treatment means loss of more lives," NNP spokesperson on health Dr Kobus Gous said.
"We congratulate the task team for completing its task within the deadline set by the cabinet." |
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