DA shows confidence in Hogan

2008-10-14 14:07

Johannesburg - The Democratic Alliance expressed confidence on Tuesday that the new health minister, Barbara Hogan, would improve health care for HIV/Aids sufferers.

Hogan declared on Monday that Aids was unquestionably caused by HIV and must be treated with conventional medicine, seen by some critics as a dramatic departure from her predecessor Manto Tshabalala-Msimang's policies.

"Barbara Hogan's statement that HIV does cause Aids is proof that a monumental and definitive shift in outlook has taken place in the Health Department under her tenure," said DA spokesperson Mike Waters.

"The DA welcomes this statement of fact, which for so long, no one in our leadership has been able to make. We believe this will be the beginning of a new and much brighter phase in South Africa's battle against HIV/ Aids."

The DA called on her to start a "vigorous campaign" to promote HIV testing.

Waters also said she should crack down on peddlers of fake Aids treatments.

"The minister needs to take legal measures against the most prominent of these fraudsters," said Waters.

- SAPA