South Africa's Aids battle plan
1 December 2003
South Africa has launched what is likely to be the world's largest comprehensive Aids treatment plan. The rollout of anti-retroviral treatment in the country's public health sector will involve a massive training and infrastructure overhaul, will cost in the region of R12-billion over the next three years.
In November 2003, the Cabinet in principle approved an operational plan for HIV/Aids treatment and care prepared by the department of health, and instructed the department to proceed with implementing the plan.
Among other things, the plan provides for anti-retroviral treatment in the public health sector, as part of the government's comprehensive strategy to combat the epidemic. The plan was drawn up by a team of South African experts with backing from specialists from the Clinton Foundation Aids Initiative.
A special task team report found that universal provision of antiretrovirals would see approximately 1.2 million South
Africans on treatment by 2008, and was likely to save the lives of more than 1.7 million people between 2003 and 2010.
The plan envisages that, within a year, there will be at least one service point in every health district across the country and, within five years, one service point in every local municipality.
These service points will give citizens access to a continuum of care and treatment, integrated with the prevention and awareness campaign which remains the cornerstone of the government's strategy to combat HIV/Aids.
According to a Cabinet statement, the plan will involve:
- Introducing antiretroviral treatment for those who need it, as certified by doctors.
- Improving the treatment of opportunistic infections for those who are infected but have not reached the stage at which they require antiretrovirals.
- Intensifying support for families affected by HIV-Aids.
- Stepping up the prevention campaign so that the 40 million South
Africans not infected by HIV/Aids stay that way (South Africa has a population of 44.8 million plus).
- Conducting a sustained education and community mobilisation programme to strengthen partnerships in the fight against the epidemic.
- Expanding programmes aimed at boosting the immune system and slowing down the effects of HIV infection, including the option of traditional health treatments for those who use these services.
The statement added that in order to deliver on the plan, a major upgrade of the national health care system will be undertaken.
"This includes the recruitment of thousands of health professionals, and a very large training programme to ensure that nurses, doctors, laboratory technicians, counsellors and other health workers have the knowledge and the skills to ensure the safe, ethical and effective use of medicines", the statement said.
A massive public education campaign will also be conducted so that patients will know what is
expected of them. This will include the provision of all the necessary information about the benefits as well as dangers of using antiretrovirals, to allow patients to make an informed choice.
According to the statement, the government will spend over half of the total budget for implementing the programme over the next five years on upgrading health infrastructure in the country, including emphasising prevention and promoting healthy lifestyles.
"As such, the implementation of this plan will benefit the health system as a whole", the Cabinet said.
Source: BuaNews
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