Government makes dramatic HIV/AIDS pledge

An anti-retroviral treatment programme for the millions of people infected with HIV/AIDS is "a reality" - and not a matter of if, but when.

In a dramatic closing statement at the South African AIDS Conference in Durban on Wednesday, the MEC for health in KwaZulu-Natal, Dr Zwele Mkhize, said the government was committed to a comprehensive plan of HIV/AIDS treatment for the country.

"There is no question about this," Mkhize said. "It must be placed on record that this is not an ideological issue. With the rising mortality rate from AIDS, one more death is one too many."

Mkhize said he was speaking on behalf of Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, who was unable to address delegates at the close of the conference because she was out of the country.

In another breakthrough, government sources confirmed that President Thabo Mbeki had signed the long-awaited Global Fund agreements, which will see more than R500-million coming to KZN to support a wide range of programmes, including the provision of anti-retroviral treatment.

The only signature outstanding was that of Deputy President Jacob Zuma, who is expected to sign the agreements "either today or tomorrow" after he returns from a trip to Tanzania.

The cabinet also announced on Wednesday that South Africa's first generic anti-retroviral drugs - up to 41 percent cheaper than the original - were being manufactured. Manufacturer Aspen Pharmacare said it hoped the drug, Aspen-Stavudine, would eventually form part of a cocktail for AIDS patients costing less than $1 (about R7) a day.

It has, to this end, applied to the Medicines Control Council to be allowed to also manufacture generics of the drugs Didanosine, Combivir, AZT, 3TC and Nevirapine.

The cabinet welcomed the fact that Aspen had reached the stage of production of some generic anti-retroviral drugs in South Africa. "Already, the first (Aspen-Stavudine) package of such generic drugs - which can be used in various combinations as part of treatment for people with HIV/AIDS - is being produced, with production of other drugs to start as soon as relevant formalities have been undertaken," the cabinet said in a statement.

Regarding the Global Fund agreements, Mkhize said the delays in the signing were of a "technical" nature and that the documents would be signed by the end of this week. He said problems encountered in assessing Global Fund money would not happen again because the correct accounting processes were now in place. On the delivery issue of anti-retrovirals, Mkhize said the cabinet was looking at the most balanced responses and a "phased in" management process, emphasising that "tremendous investment" had put the country in a strong position to embark on the treatment programme.

In another surprise development, the government said it supported the use of the controversial single-dose anti-retroviral drug Nevirapine, which prevents mother-to-child transmission of the HI-virus.

Last week, the Medicines Control Council gave the manufacturer, Boehringer Ingelheim, 90 days in which to provide data relating to the "flawed" HIVNET 012 Ugandan trial of the drug to avoid its deregistration. "While we can't prejudge the decisions of the MCC, which is an independent body, the value of Nevirapine to save babies' lives cannot be undermined and the programme itself must not be compromised," Mkhize said.