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NEWS
MANDELA CALLS FOR AIDS DRUGS FOR ALL Date: Friday, July 12, 2002
From Charlene Smith, Barcelona Mandelaclinton
Nelson Mandela, who revealed that he had personally over time collected US$2,28m for the African National Congress, called on every leader of the world to personally take action against HIV/AIDS by extending AIDS medication and treatment to all. Mandela who was speaking at the closing of the International Aids Conference 2002 in Barcelona, Spain has, with former US president Bill Clinton formed a World Leaders and AIDS Action Network to, Clinton said, “raise global commitment, find a vaccine, discover a cure, treat the sick and care for orphans. We will find our freedom in the release of those who suffer,” he said. “There are cracks appearing in glaciers of indifference we thought would never melt. Do not give up on anyone, keep pushing the rock up the hill.” Mandela who revealed the extent of his fundraising for the ANC in the context of calling on AIDS activists to approach even those they criticize for funding, noted that he had collected US$66m for the ANC in the western countries, $73m for the Middle East and US$89m from Asia. His revelation of how much he has personally collected for the ANC was a buttress, too, insiders claimed against criticisms from those in the ANC who oppose AIDS preventative treatment going to all in South Africa. Mandela pointed out that 6m people had died of HIV/AIDS in the two years since the Durban world AIDS conference. “In the next 20 years, 70m people will die unless drastic action is taken. AIDS should not be a disease of children. Nothing can be more heart rending and in need of urgent attention than AIDS orphans.” He noted that there were presently 40m AIDS orphans in the world and called for antiretroviral treatment to be extended to the HIV-infected parents of children “Many children are orphans today because their parents were not able to get access to treatment for AIDS. We know that there are treatments available that support the immune system, that fight opportunistic infections such as tuberculosis, is it acceptable that these dying parent have no access to treatment? The simple answer is no. We must find the means to take life saving treatment to all who need it, regardless of whether they can pay for it, or where they live or whatever reason. “If parents can be given a few more years then their children will have a better opportunity for survival and development. It is a timely reminder of the sanctity of human life.” Mandela gave an example of a young woman whose university education he was supporting who became HIV infected. He said she went to a hospital for treatment but was discharged because she lacked the money to pay. When she came to visit him she could barely walk or speak. He sent her back to hospital but doctors said there was nothing they could do for her. Mandela then raised funds for (antiretroviral) drugs. “There is life after HIV/AIDS, two weeks later when I phoned her voice was strong, she was not the same sick person who had visited me.” Mandela present three challenges to the world: • “All institutions, public and private to make a statement on treatment access today and to make rapid and real progress in achieving access to AIDS treatment for all who need it wherever they may be in the world. Treatment will provide hope for the future. Ninety percent of people don´t know they are infected with the virus – with the hope of treatment people will have a reason to go for voluntary counseling and testing.” Mandela said business must stop “humiliating people by testing them for HIV” he stressed that such testing must be voluntary and accompanied by treatment for those infected. • He called on all to go for HIV testing, “the sooner you establish your HIV status, the more you can do for yourself, and the more others can do for you.” • “Leaders of the world there is no doubt that strong leadership is the key to any effective response in the war against HIV. When the top person is committed, the response is much more effective, this includes not only political leaders but those from business, trade unions, religions, traditional leaders and those from non-governmental organisations. NGOs have made much more impact on this virus than far bigger organisations. If only big business and governments had made a similar effort we may have already turned the tide of the AIDS epidemic.” Clinton also criticized slow action on the part of world leaders to stop the epidemic, he pointed out that only one in 100 000 people had access to treatment drugs in Africa and noted that the world would not attain the goals set for 2003 by the UN General Assembly last year. “Too few countries have concluded agreements like those of the Caribbean yesterday to get discounted drugs from pharmaceutical companies for their people.” Clinton said too that HIV/AIDS constituted a global security threat and that if only 3% of the huge US defence budget could be set aside for the war on HIV/AIDS it could make a considerable difference. “There also has to be an increase in the role of young people and women because they are disproportionately affected.” Clinton said he would be visiting Africa and India later this year to bring a more intense focus to HIV/AIDS. The next international AIDS conference will be held in Bangkok, Thailand in 2006. ends • linton --------------------------------------------- This message was sent using World Mail. http://www.worldonline.co.za