Issued by the African National Congress
20 March 2002
1. During its meeting of 15 to 17 March 2002, the National Executive Committee of the ANC held a wide - ranging discussion on the issue of HIV and AIDS. The discussion was preceded by extensive briefings on the evolution of policies and programmes of government against the epidemic.
2. The meeting noted the comprehensive nature of the programme of government and the ANC, including the Youth and Women's Leagues, to work together with other sectors of society to combat this scourge. While reaffirming the correctness of the strategies currently being implemented, the meeting underlined the commitment of the ANC to a continuing search for better and more effective ways of fighting the spread of HIV infection and the management of AIDS.
3. The ANC wishes to reassert three critical components of the basic premise from which we move in dealing with this matter.
4. The first one is the assumption that HIV causes AIDS.
5. The second one is that, though the Syndrome can be managed in a variety of ways, there is no cure for AIDS.
6. The third is that socio-economic conditions, particularly poverty, play a critical role in both the transmission and progression of the disease.
THERE IS HOPE
7. The AIDS epidemic is one of the greatest challenges that our society has ever faced. The difficult and complex questions it raises and the pressure it exerts on families require unity of purpose and action among all of us.
8. We are confident that, inspired by this joint commitment to action, South Africans can succeed in managing and ultimately defeating AIDS. Our primary call, therefore, is for all of us to lend a caring hand in building hope.
9. There is hope because South Africans have the internal strength to ensure their self-preservation as individuals, as communities and as a nation.
10. There is hope because the message of awareness that we have all promoted has reached the overwhelming majority of South Africans.
11. There is hope because the partnerships that we built over the years, are an important resource and would continually be strengthened.
12. There is hope because the programmes of treatment and home-based care we have initiated in the past are helping the nation to manage the epidemic.
13. There is hope because we are continually improving our legal instruments and cultural practices to protect the rights of those living with AIDS.
14. Above all, there is hope because, through our comprehensive programme to build a better life for all, we are eradicating the conditions of poverty that are critical in the propagation of HIV and progression of AIDS.
CONTINUITY AND CHANGE
15. The NEC meeting put all elements of our policies and strategy under scrutiny, and also examined the environment within which these matters have to be articulated. The overriding conclusion the meeting came to, is that these policies and strategies are, under current circumstances, amongst the best and most relevant approaches required to manage the epidemic.
16. However, we wish to assert, now, more than ever before, that many areas require improvement. Indeed, there would never be a time, as long as HIV and AIDS exists, that we could be satisfied with the work we are doing.
17. In this regard, the NEC concluded that our work in the current period should be characterised by an approach of "continuity and change": continuity in broad strategy and policy, and change in intensity and coherence of implementation and articulation.
18. The NEC reaffirmed the comprehensive strategy of government to address all aspects of the disease. In particular, the following issues were isolated for emphasis:
19. The programme of prevention epitomised by the ABC Strategy is the key pillar of our awareness campaign.
- On prevention of mother-to-child-transmission, the NEC stressed that PMTCT entails more than just the administration of anti-retrovirals; but includes complex procedures to manage delivery of new-borns ,the health status and well - being of their mothers.
- With regard to the matter of Nevirapine, it was emphasised that the current programme is one of research to establish both the long-term efficacy of the drug, resistance to the drug and other operational challenges.
- The key questions to be answered by the research sites are:
- The current task, therefore, is to consolidate this research. Any extension of these research sites will be determined by the demands of this programme and such a decision will be taken collectively by the Minister and MECs, based on national guidelines, norms and standards.
- It will be possible to determine whether the administration of the drug could be universally rolled out or not when the first group of babies in this programme would be between 12 -18 months This process will start in December 2002.
- In the meantime, we will intensify the training of lay counsellors and the implementation of other procedures to manage the delivery of babies born to HIV positive mothers.
20. On preventing transmission following sexual assault or needle-stick injury, the meeting noted that the efficacy of the use of anti-retrovirals in this regard was unproven. The NEC therefore reaffirmed that these could not be provided in public health institutions for this purpose. However, it instructed the Health Ministry to do further work on this subject by consulting with medical practitioners and other health workers.
21. On treatment, care and support, the NEC reaffirmed its support for the government's programme and called for the intensification of the programme to treat all opportunistic infections and care for the affected and infected.
22. With regard to antiretroviral drugs, the meeting noted the fact that a number of these drugs have been registered for use in the country. However, they could not be provided in the public health system because of prohibitive costs and the complexity of management with disastrous consequences in instances of non-compliance, which is quite common in managing such diseases as TB.
23. Again, on the above issue, (anti-retrovirals), the meeting emphasised that, while these drugs could not be provided in public health institutions currently, the Ministry was again instructed to do further work in this regard by consulting with medical practitioners and other health workers.
24. The meeting welcomed the briefing on support structures and resources that were being provided to help the infected and affected, including foster care grants and food parcels.
25. The NEC strongly emphasised that the ANC has a critical responsibility to mobilise communities to assist in this regard. This will be part of the ongoing Letsima programme during the Health Month in April.
26. The NEC examined the place and role of continuing scientific enquiry in the struggle against HIV and AIDS. The meeting resolved as follows:
BUILDING PRINCIPLED PARTNERSHIPS
27. The NEC examined the need to strengthen partnerships across all sectors of society for us collectively to make maximum impact in the fight against HIV and AIDS. The meeting welcomed the current discussions in the SA National AIDS Council aimed at strengthening this body, which brings together various sectors of society, including those living with the HI - virus.
28. The strength of these partnerships depends critically on the strength of structures in government to co-ordinate and integrate this campaign and strengthen the HIV and AIDS Directorate in the Department of Health to meet these challenges, including the Core Team of Ministers in SANAC. Further, the Core Team of Ministers in SANAC will be constituted into a Presidential Task Team on HIV and AIDS.
29. The NEC emphasised that the ANC, the Youth and the Women's Leagues had a central role to play in mobilising communities to realise the objectives of all aspects of the comprehensive strategy. The same applies to the Tripartite Alliance and the mass democratic movement.
30. In contributing to building these partnerships, the ANC proceeds from the understanding that many NGO's and CBO's are driven by the desire to pursue the people's interests on the matter of HIV and AIDS. These form part of the people, and without prejudice, do recognise that the ANC and the government pursue the same interests.
31. There are those who express concern and impatience faced with an epidemic that creates a terrible toll on individuals and families. Others, in various professions, have to deal with difficult challenges on a daily basis. These and many others do experience a sense of frustration; and their pronouncements and actions are then portrayed by agents of doom as being antagonistic to the objectives we pursue.
32. The ANC rejects such insinuations. We shall continue to seek co-operation with all who are genuinely interested in joining the fight against the epidemic. At the same time, we shall combat populism and opportunism that derives from cheap politicking or from benefits lavished by the lobby of powerful local and international interests.
33. From practical experience, we are also convinced that, when we are united about our objectives, there are many areas of co-operation that we can find with many pharmaceutical companies. We shall further continue with the co-operation we started with pharmaceutical companies.
DEALING WITH THE COURT JUDGEMENT
34. The NEC approved the decision of government to appeal the court judgement on universal access to Nevirapine, at the Constitutional Court. The appeal is driven by the desire to clarify the critical matter of the role of the judiciary in relation to detailed matters of public policy. We are convinced that it is incorrect for anyone to prescribe a specific drug from the Bench, let alone one whose efficacy is still under investigation.
35. Further, it is our view that the order to implement the court judgement pending the Constitutional Court appeal defies logic. What this means in actual practice is that medicine still subject to research should be delivered to health institutions for universal access, with the possibility of withdrawing it if the Constitutional Court rules against the judgement.
CONCLUSION
36. These then are the views of the ANC on the campaign against HIV and AIDS. We hold these views out of a deep sense of conviction and concern for the people of our country, particularly those infected and affected. Our positions and actions are inspired by hope in the strength of South Africans to lend a caring hand to defeat the pandemic.
37. Where there is prophesising for doom, we stand for hope. Where there is mobilisation for despair, we call for measured, effective and sustainable programmes. Where there is focus on one issue, we draw attention to the whole gamut of actions required to fight HIV and AIDS.
38. We are not populist. And we shall always strive to act with honesty.
39. Not once in its history has the ANC been corrupted into acting as an agent for any force, no matter how powerful.
40. Not once in its history has the ANC sought short-cuts when faced with difficult problems. Nor shall we mislead our people in search of an adulatory news headline.
41. We are confident that the overwhelming majority of South Africans will work with us, in lending a caring hand of hope!
42. The NEC calls upon its leadership in its entirety to explain the policy of the ANC on AIDS to its constitutional structures, including its branches and regional general councils, in a coherent and simplified manner. To take this profound message to all levels of our society should be the responsibility of all caring South Africans.
43. Finally, the NEC emphasised that at the centre of this programme should be caring for the people who are infected and affected, by lending a caring hand of hope.
For more information, contact Smuts Ngonyama at 082 569 2061