30 November 2000
The marking of World AIDS Day provides all South Africans with the opportunity to commit themselves to the following:
HIV/AIDS AFFECTS US ALL
Noting that more than 4 million South Africans live with HIV/AIDS, and that there are 1,500 daily new infections, as the South African Communist Party (SACP), we mark 2000 World AIDS Day with the message that HIV/AIDS threatens to undermine all our develop mental efforts.
This is a crisis situation that calls for extraordinary measures.
But even in this bleak context, we need the optimism of a forward-looking mass campaign based on human rights and which dynamically links prevention, access to information, awareness, care, support, access to social services, management, and access to trea tment.
WE CAN PREVENT NEW INFECTIONS
The rate of new infections can be drastically reduced through public education, openness, and care and support for people and families living with HIV/AIDS.
However, only real development and a radical improvement in literacy, housing provision and employment when combined with an effective mass campaign can produce this result.
It is well known that it is the poor who are most vulnerable to this disease. This poverty is inextricably linked to capitalism, the apartheid legacy and neo-liberal restructuring of our economy. A campaign to combat HIV/AIDS should simultaneously be a str uggle against capitalism and the eradication of the apartheid legacy and for the building of a people's economy, which puts people first.
DRUG COMPANIES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR HIGH PRICES FOR MEDICINES
As we mark the 2000 World AIDS Day, we hear announcements by the drug companies of free, but limited, offers of HIV/AIDS drugs. A genuine and sustainable healthcare programme for Sub-Saharan Africa and all poor countries cannot rely on donations or discoun
ts by the drug companies. Apart from being public relations exercises, these offers are aimed at preventing healthcare reform and transformation that will put people's lives before profits.
For example, a 200mg tablet of fluconazole costs R127 in South Africa's Private Sector, while in Thailand the government manufactures a generic version (Biozole) of the same tablet for R1.78 - and still makes profit. But this drug cannot be imported to Sou th Africa because drug companies took the South African government to court when it attempted to use parallel importing and compulsory licensing of medicines to get affordable HIV/AIDS drugs. The SACP calls on drug companies to drop their court action agai nst the South African government. This court action is tantamount to holding our country at ransom on the altar of maximum profits for the drug companies.
Providing quality healthcare for all and HIV/AIDS treatment means preventing profiteering by drug companies through encouraging generic competition, and, stopping profiteering by the insurance industry and healthcare administrators from medical schemes. It also means ensuring that the government invests adequately in healthcare and social services first and foremost.
ACT AGAINST DRUG COMPANIES
The marking of World AIDS Day provides all South Africans with the opportunity to commit themselves to the struggle against HIV/AIDS and the struggle for affordable treatment. In this regard, the SACP calls on government, all South Africans and the drug co mpanies to ensure the following:
For all the above reasons, the SACP is part of the Vigil and Demonstration against the Pharmaceutical Manufacturer's Association in memory of those who were killed by HIV/AIDS profiteering. This demonstration will be held at the PMA head office in Midrand on World AIDS Day (Organised by COSATU, the SA NGO Coalition and the Treatment Action Campaign).
CONTACT
Mazibuko K. Jara (surname Jara)
Department of Media, Information Publicity South African Communist Party
COSATU House
No. 1 Leyds Street - 7th Floor
Braamfontein 2001
Republic of South Africa
Tel: 27 11 339-3621/2
Fax: 27 11 339-4244
Cell: 083 651 0271
Email: sacp1@wn.apc.org