South Africa: Mandela to Discuss Making AIDS Drugs Available Nationwide With President Thabo Mbeki

Former President Nelson Mandela said Saturday he would discuss calls to make AIDS drugs available to all South Africans with his successor, Thabo Mbeki, whose government has balked at providing drugs nationwide. Mandela's announcement followed a meeting at the home of one of the top AIDS activists in the country, Zackie Achmat, who himself is HIV-positive and has refused to take medication until the government begins making antiretroviral drugs available to the general population.

"I've got a case to take to the president of the country and to acquaint him with what his [Achmat's] position is. I know under what conditions he will be prepared to take treatment," Mandela said after the meeting. Mbeki's government has said more research is needed before making antiretrovirals available nationwide. However, the government recently announced a more proactive approach to the pandemic after being criticized for not acting aggressively enough.

The government has said that AIDS drugs are too costly to give to all infected South Africans, and said it planned to pressure drug companies to lower their prices. Currently the drugs are available privately but not through the public health care system.

Achmat said he was moved by the visit from the country's elder statesman, but said it was "an issue of principle" that he not begin taking medication until the government begins programs to distribute the drugs to the poor. But he acknowledged that his stand might cost him his life. "My immune system is declining very quickly," Achmat said. "If I don't take medication soon it will be a severe problem." According to the Treatment Action Campaign, the cost of treating HIV-positive South Africans with generic antiretroviral drugs would be about 350 rand ($35) a month. "It's not cheap but it is affordable and the cost will be far greater if we don't do it," Achmat said.

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