UN hears plea for HIV medication
An HIV positive woman has asked world leaders to make medicines available to people with HIV and not to neglect the needs of women and children.
South African Khensani Mavasa made her plea to the UN general assembly - the first time that a person with HIV has addressed the international body.
South Africa's health department responded by promising Ms Mavasa medication when she needs it.
South Africa, where 5m people have HIV, has been accused of ignoring HIV/Aids.
"Because of scientific advances of the past 25 years, I have hope that when time comes for me to take treatment, it will be available," Ms Mavasa told leaders who had gathered for a special UN conference on Aids in New York.
"The entire world's HIV positive people deserve this hope. All the 14,000 more who will be infected by end of today deserve this hope."
Vulnerable
She pointed out that women constitute nearly 60% of the world's 40.3m HIV-positive people.
"Among young people in Africa, women constitute 77% of new infections," said Ms Mavasa, the deputy chair of South Africa's Treatment Action Campaign, who was speaking on behalf of the International Women's Health Coalition.
HAVE YOUR SAY
People are less and less aware and worried of AIDS
Tivadar Mach, Bremen, Germany
"I call on all African leaders sitting here, to protect and promote the human rights of all people and vulnerable groups, particularly women and girls."
South Africa's health ministry - which has been criticised by TAC for many years over its perceived reluctance to endorse anti-retroviral (ARV) drugs - praised Ms Mavasa for the "maturity" of her address to the UN.
"The Ministry of Health would like to reassure Mavasa that at the time when she needs ARVs, she will be able to access them free of charge from an accredited-government health facility," the ministry said in a statement.
The statement contrasted Ms Mavasa's address with the "unbecoming behaviour" of TAC chairperson Zackie Achmat who recently accused the government of lying about the extent of its HIV treatment programme.
South African Khensani Mavasa made her plea to the UN general assembly - the first time that a person with HIV has addressed the international body.
South Africa's health department responded by promising Ms Mavasa medication when she needs it.
South Africa, where 5m people have HIV, has been accused of ignoring HIV/Aids.
"Because of scientific advances of the past 25 years, I have hope that when time comes for me to take treatment, it will be available," Ms Mavasa told leaders who had gathered for a special UN conference on Aids in New York.
"The entire world's HIV positive people deserve this hope. All the 14,000 more who will be infected by end of today deserve this hope."
Vulnerable
She pointed out that women constitute nearly 60% of the world's 40.3m HIV-positive people.
"Among young people in Africa, women constitute 77% of new infections," said Ms Mavasa, the deputy chair of South Africa's Treatment Action Campaign, who was speaking on behalf of the International Women's Health Coalition.
HAVE YOUR SAY
People are less and less aware and worried of AIDS
Tivadar Mach, Bremen, Germany
"I call on all African leaders sitting here, to protect and promote the human rights of all people and vulnerable groups, particularly women and girls."
South Africa's health ministry - which has been criticised by TAC for many years over its perceived reluctance to endorse anti-retroviral (ARV) drugs - praised Ms Mavasa for the "maturity" of her address to the UN.
"The Ministry of Health would like to reassure Mavasa that at the time when she needs ARVs, she will be able to access them free of charge from an accredited-government health facility," the ministry said in a statement.
The statement contrasted Ms Mavasa's address with the "unbecoming behaviour" of TAC chairperson Zackie Achmat who recently accused the government of lying about the extent of its HIV treatment programme.
posted by TIUranta at 11:27 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home