The US is giving South Africa US$120 million for AIDS treatment drugs in response to a plea from South African President Jacob Zuma that underlines his new approach to fighting the epidemic in the country with the world’s heaviest AIDS burden.
His predecessor’s health minister distrusted drugs developed to keep AIDS patients alive, instead promoting beets and garlic treatments. Zuma, who took over after April elections, and his health minister have said former president Thabo Mbeki’s AIDS policies were wrong. Zuma’s government has set a target of getting 80 percent of those who need AIDS drugs on them by 2011.
“This additional funding is in direct response to the government of South Africa’s request,” US Ambassador Donald Gips said in a statement yesterday.
Yesterday was World AIDS Day, when the world takes stock of efforts to fight the epidemic and remembers those who have died.
“We are pleased and honored to respond to President Zuma as South Africa’s partner in this fight,” Gips said.
Gips was to formally announce the additional funding at a ceremony later yesterday at which Zuma was scheduled to give an eagerly awaited speech on AIDS.
Michel Sidibe, head of UN AIDS programs, traveled to South Africa for World AIDS Day in part to show support for South Africa’s new direction, saying in an interview that Zuma was “committed to making change happen.”
While Zuma’s intentions have been lauded by AIDS activists who were bitter critics of Mbeki, reports of shortages of antiretroviral medications (ARVs) at some South African clinics have raised questions about whether the government has the money and the capacity for a massive rollout.
Kurt Firnhaber, who runs Right to Care, said private groups like his in South Africa have made great strides in providing AIDS treatment, counseling and testing, but had reached their capacity.
He said in an interview on Monday that over the next few months, he feared waiting lists would have to be created for patients in need of ARVs.
South Africa, a nation of about 50 million, has an estimated 5.7 million people infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS — more than any other country in the world. ARVs are designed to inhibit the reproduction of HIV in the body.
A US embassy statement said the US$120 million, to be disbursed over two years, was in addition to money South Africa receives under the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. The program, known as PEPFAR, is a major funder of AIDS programs around the world, particularly in Africa. South Africa is the largest recipient of PEPFAR funds.
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