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Multibillion Aids plan hailed
14/03/2007 20:10 - (SA)
Johannesburg - The National Strategic Plan to combat Aids to 2011 met with business, government and civil society approval in Johannesburg on Wednesday.
"I regard it as a major landmark in our efforts as the people of South Africa to respond to HIV and Aids," acting Health Minister Jeff Radebe told a conference on the presentation of the 2007-2011 plan.
He said a lot of progress had been made through implementing the 2000-2005 plan. A total of 245 670 people were now enrolled for antiretroviral treatment at 293 facilities countrywide.
Problems that remained were a shortage and uneven distribution of health workers. Reducing medicine prices also remained a "critical area".
The most enthusiastic response came from the Congress of SA Trade Unions.
'Boldest in the world'
"This plan is a radical challenge. As civil society we plan to support it and add to its call," said the federation's general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi.
"If supported by all of us it will be the boldest, most comprehensive strategic plan on Aids in the world," he told business, civil society and government representatives.
He expressed concern about the cost of the plan, saying there was a "huge funding gap" between the estimated cost and what the treasury had allocated.
Business Unity SA president Patrice Motsepe was more muted in his response, saying it was important that business not consider only profits.
Deputy president Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka said that in order to be effective, the fight against Aids needed to deal with poverty, underdevelopment and violence against women.
A comprehensive strategy to create and retain jobs was needed, she said in her speech.
The SA National Aids Council (Sanac), of which Mlambo-Ngcuka is chairwoman, would be strengthened to become more effective at monitoring and evaluation of progress made in implementing the new plan.
The treasury had committed R14bn to implement the plan and she asked that this be spent effectively.
Treatment Action Campaign general secretary Sipho Mthathi said: "It's one of the best responses to the epidemic in terms of a national framework."
It "seriously acknowledged" how the pandemic evolved as well as its socio-economic factors.
Will cost R4.6bn
The health department's head of HIV/Aids, Dr Nomonde Xundu, said the draft had a "great amount of consensus".
Implementing it would cost about R4.6bn in 2007-'08.
She said consultation on the document would not be taken any further and a final draft would be presented to a restructured Sanac at month- end for possible adoption.
- SAPA
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