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ALLEGATIONS of breaches of confidentiality about people living with HIV/Aids by the South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco) in Khayelitsha were reported to the Treatment Action Campaign on Friday. He said the women described how they were recruited by alleged members of Sanco to the Dr Rath Health Foundation surgeries in Mandela Park and given vitamin tablets.

The allegations are that Sanco members, or alleged Sanco members, with the help of community health workers track down HIV or Aids infected people without their knowledge and then introduce them to the Dr Rath Foundation surgeries.

City Vision is in possession of a pamphlet written by Sanco in Khayelitsha about what they call a "Vitamin Community Programme in Khayelitsha".

Visibly angry Xoliswa Mqambeli (28), who is HIV/Aids positive and has been taking ARVs, related her story to City Vision.

"On 16 May a Sanco member arrived at my house and asked me to go with her to the Dr Rath foundation in Mandela Park. I did not know this woman but she knew that I was HIV/Aids positive.

"At the foundation, I filled in forms, signed them and was given the vitamin pills and the procedure on how to take them," she said.

The question that plagues Mqambel is: "How did they know about my status and where I stay?"

Mqambeli said she did not take the vitamin tablets as she was on ARVs, and instead took them to her doctor at Micheal Mapongwana hospital.

"I showed them to my doctor who then advised me not to take them."

Mqambeli also attends a support group at Groote Schuur hospital. They advised her to contact the TAC.

Thabisa Ramba, also HIV/Aids infected and a mother of two girls from Site C, went through the same rigmarole but decided to take the vitamin pills believing that, within a week, her weight would blossom. But, Ramba said, she vomited the whole night and become very weak.

"I decided to call the health worker who took me to the foundation and told her about my problem, and she became very angry at me," Ramba said.

Lungiswa Mjacu (33) was diagnosed HIV/Aids positive in 2003 when she was pregnant. She said she went to be tested three times after taking the vitamin pills but "still the results came back positive".

Mjacu said she went through the same procedure as the other two women and was given "Vita-cells food supplement pills from the Dr Rath Foundation surgery in Mandela Park".

She said she had taken about 27 of the pills when she developed unwelcome symptoms - "grey eyes, pimples, becoming very weak and knees wobbling every time she wanted to walk".

Mjacu said she called the health worker and told her about the problem, and instead she also become very angry.

It is believed that the 28 Sanco branches in Khayelitsha are divided on the matter, with six branches opposing the programme.

Veliswa Cebisa, Sanco secretary in Town Two, said Sanco did not consult the community about the matter and Dr Rath, but took its own decision.

TAC organiser Majola said it was unfortunate that people are given treatment about which they know nothing. He said TAC had submitted sufficient evidence to the police and the Medical Control Council for the surgeries be closed down.

"It is tragic that nothing has been done by these organisation because people lives are in danger."

Majola said TAC will be staging a march from Site C taxi rank to the Site B police station soon to put pressure on police to speed up a case against Dr Rath.

Mzanywa Ndibongo, Sanco chaiperson in Khayelitsha, did not deny his organisation met with Dr Rath earlier this year.

He said Dr Rath approached his organisation and made a full presentation to the executive and general council at Injongo Primary school. Ndibongo said all the 28 branches in the area attended the presentation, and denied allegations that branches were against Dr Rath.

"Dr Rath brought with him three HIV/Aids patients from Khayelitsha as evidence enough that his vitamins really work.

"The council took an overwhelming vote of support and he is welcome to work in Khayelitsha."

Ndibongo said there were 18 patients in Khayelitsha that are proof that Dr Rath had helped with his vitamin tablets.

"We asked him to conduct workshops through our branches in Khayelitsha so that our members could spread the information."

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