Issued by Ministry of Health
31 May 2006
The Ministry of Health is notes the degree of maturity demonstrated by the Deputy Chairperson of Treatment Action Campaign Khensani Mavasa when addressing the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on HIV and AIDS which started in New York today.
Mavasa addressed the UNGASS as a representative of the International Women's Health Organisation from United States of America after the TAC rejected an invitation to be part of a South African country delegation to the meeting.
Mavasa, who is living with HIV, highlighted the challenges of poverty that is prevalent in her home village of Limpopo and acknowledged that efforts have been made in her home village, like in all other districts of South Africa to make HIV and AIDS prevention, care and treatment programme available.
Mavasa said she need not be on antiretroviral therapy because her CD4 count was still high. The Ministry of Health would like to reassure Mavasa that at the time when she needs ARVs, she will be able to access them free of charge from an accredited-government health facility.
The spirit of her statement to UNGASS was in contrast to an unbecoming behaviour of TAC chairperson, Zachie Achmat during the TAC march in Pretoria on Tuesday. Achmat used the march to falsely accuse government of being in denial and of lying in its report to UNGASS.
Contact: Sibani Mngadi