Manto ropes in Aids rebel
2003-03-09 19:30
Special Report
The South African government has announced a joint venture to reduce the cost of anti-retroviral drugs with a Swiss company.
Cape Town - In what is considered another controversial move, Health Minister Manto Tshabala-Msimang has asked Aids dissident Roberto Giraldo to advise her department on nutrition.
It is seen in many circles as yet another blow for the government's Aids programme.
According to the health ministry Giraldo would not be Tshabala-Msimang's adviser, but along with other experts, would help the department review its nutrition guidelines.
Opposition parties have criticised Tshabala-Msimang for asking Giraldo's advice.
Department of health spokesperson Sibani Mngadi said the government wants to improve its existing Nutritional Guidelines for People Living with Aids, tuberculosis and other debilitating conditions.
This would incorporate some elements of the work done by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).
The review would also take into consideration the results of the of the recent South African Development Community Health Ministers' Workshop which Giraldo had attended, Mngadi said.
The department would interact with various nutritional experts, including those involved in the formulation of WHO/FAO manual for people living with HIV/Aids and the expert Report on Diet and Chronic Diseases.
SA used for field-testing
The WHO and FAO had already used South Africa for field-testing of their HIV and Aids nutrition training courses and education materials for care providers, Mngadi said.
"Several experts who made presentation at the SADC Health Ministers' meeting will also be requested to provide a much more detailed information on their presentations for consideration in the formulation of a clear diet programme for people with HIV/Aids, TB and other debilitating conditions.
It was within this context that Giraldo would be approach to substantiate his presentation to the SADC workshop, Mngadi said.
"Like all other local and international experts that we will be dealing with, Dr Giraldo's input will be focused on Nutritional Guidelines.
"He will not be an adviser to the Minister."
The government believed that good nutrition was critical in the management of most infectious and chronic diseases, Mngadi said.
"It serves as a solid foundation, not a substitute, for medical intervention including antiretroviral therapy." Mngadi repeated there was no cure for HIV and Aids.
"We agree with the WHO and FAO that good diet can delay progression from HIV infection to Aids.
"It is a critical intervention for almost 95% of the world's population with HIV/Aids who live in developing countries (including South Africa) where an average family diet is often inadequate and access to drugs and healthcare is limited," Mngadi said.
- SAPA