Aids plan on track - minister
2005-04-08 12:17
Cape Town - The health department met its target of establishing at least one service point for HIV and Aids care in all 53 districts in the country by the end of March, Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang said on Friday.
"Some districts already have more than one facility providing HIV and Aids related care and treatment within their boundaries," she told the national assembly during debate on her budget vote.
The department had also appointed seven companies to provide sustainable supplies of antiretroviral drugs through a tender valued at R3.4bn over the next three years.
"We are continuing with research on traditional medicines to ensure that all the medicines that have proven to have an impact in alleviating conditions associated with Aids get the necessary scientific endorsement."
Treatment of opportunistic infections also remained an important component of the programme, as most of these diseases could be treated even in the presence of HIV and Aids, she said.
The conditional grant aimed at assisting provinces to implement the comprehensive plan for the management, care and treatment of HIV and Aids had been increased by 45% from R782m in 2004/05 to R1.135bn this year.
This substantial increase in budget allocation would help in vigorously implementing the plan.
Turning to child and maternal health, Tshabalala-Msimang said the 1998 infant mortality rate of 45.4/1000 live births had been reduced to 42.5/1000 live births in 2003.
Mortality of children under five years had also decreased from 59.4/1000 live births in 1998 to 57.6/1000 in 2003.
The proportion of births that were attended to by either a nurse or doctor had increased from 84% in 1998 to 92% in 2003.
"This can be attributed to the increased access to health services both in terms of availability of health facilities in various communities and free health services for pregnant and lactating women as well as children under the age of six years.
"We are verifying data with regard to the maternal mortality ratio and the initial indications are that we have indeed significantly reduced this major cause of death amongst women. The maternal mortality ratio for the country will be announced soon," Tshabalala-Msimang said.
- SAPA