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Aids test: Response, anyone?
11/12/2006 23:02 - (SA)
Deon de Lange, Beeld
Pretoria - While Aids organisations have been praising deputy health minister Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge for getting it right on HIV/Aids, by insisting that responsibility begins at the very top, government spokespersons appear to still be speechless.
Or at least, like Mukoni Ratshitanga, President Thabo Mbeki's spokesperson, they're not responding to the phone calls and SMS messages sent to them for comment.
Sibani Mngadi, spokesperson for Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, also failed to respond to Beeld's calls, and the department's public relations officer, Charity Bengu, could not be reached.
The Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) supported the deputy minister's suggestion that Mbeki should be tested for HIV, especially for its symbolic impact.
TAC head Zaki Achmat said the call should not be limited to the president, but should go out to every political leader, business leaders, religious and traditional leaders, to set the example.
"We have reached a critical point in the life of our young democracy.
"The government's response will indicate if we have reached maturity," he said.
- Beeld
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