More, more is needed
Sep. 11th, 2007 05:08 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
nairiporterhttp://www.businessday.co.za/articles/national.aspx?ID=BD4A561472
In a marked show of unity, South African National AIDS Council (Sanac) deputy chairman Mark Heywood and the health department’s head of HIV/AIDS programmes, Nomonde Xundu, have criticised big business for failing to send top-level representation to the council’s first full meeting since it was restructured in March.
Sanac is charged with overseeing the government’s new five-year HIV/AIDS plan, which maps out SA’s response to the epidemic. Yesterday it held its first plenary session in Pretoria, at which it discussed reports on sectoral activities and key policy issues such as the role of male circumcision in reducing the risk of HIV transmission.
“If half a dozen government ministers and two deputies can clear their diary for a day, why can’t even two CEOs?” said Heywood in a telephone interview from Pretoria.
“It would be good to see the seniority of the likes of Tokyo (Sexwale) or Jay Naidoo. If necessary they (business leaders) need to be shamed to come on board,” he said.
The government’s delegation included Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, Land Affairs Minister Thoko Didiza, Education Minister Naledi Pandor, Public Service and Administration Minister Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi, Transport Minister Jeff Radebe, Minister in the Presidency Essop Pahad and deputy ministers Lindiwe Hendricks (correctional services) and Jean Benjamin (social development).
However, only two people from the private sector attended — the Chamber of Mines’ health adviser, Dr Fazel Randera, and the South African Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS CEO, Brad Mears.
HIV/AIDS is estimated to have infected 5,41-million, or one in nine, South Africans.
Xundu said the health department was close to finalising new treatment guidelines for preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV, and the use of the anti-HIV drug d4T.
About one fifth of patients taking d4T experienced serious side effects, and the department hoped it would soon be possible to shift them to tenofovir, which caused fewer problems, she said .
The health department also met treasury officials to discuss the HIV/AIDS budget.
