De Klerk took no 'meaningful action' on Aids, says Msimang
October 06, 2004 Edition 1
Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang has accused former president FW de Klerk and his government of not responding adequately to HIV and Aids when they were in power.
The government was concerned about the "disturbing remarks" made at the weekend by De Klerk about South Africa's programme on HIV and Aids, she said in a statement yesterday.
De Klerk was quoted in the media as saying the ANC government lost years in the fight against Aids by not implementing a plan to tackle the problem drawn up by the former health minister in his government.
Tshabalala-Msimang said Aids had been a global challenge since it was discovered in the 1980s.
"De Klerk and the apartheid government failed to take meaningful action to respond to this challenge," Tshabalala-Msimang said.
"The ANC and other organisations outside of the government had to lead many efforts in responding to the rapid spread of HIV infection in the early 1990s with former president (Nelson) Mandela launching the main programme in 1992."
The "limited interventions" made by De Klerk's government were not only ineffective, but contributed to perpetrating negative stereotypes and stigma around HIV and Aids.
"Apartheid's campaigns portrayed HIV and Aids as a deadly condition associated with improper or unfaithful sexual behaviour.
"It was a black man's disease with images of people being buried in black coffins because they had Aids," she said.
"It was only after 1994 that tangible efforts were made by the government to curb the spread of HIV infection; provide treatment, care, and support for those infected and affected; and address the stigma associated with HIV and Aids," Tshabalala-Msimang said.
