Brev til SA sundhedsminister 2003

4 danske organisationer sender et protestbrev til den sydafrikanske sundhedsminister pga af Sydafrikas regerings langsomlighed med at skaffe livsvigtig medicin til landet HIV positive.

Dr ME Tshabalala-Msimang
Minister of Health, South Africa
120 Plein Street
8001CAPE TOWN
South Africa

Copenhagen 23 April 2003

Dear Dr. Tshabalala-Msimang

We, a group of Danish organisations, are deeply concerned that the South African government has not adopted or implemented an HIV/AIDS treatment plan. Over 600 South Africans die a day on average of HIV/AIDS. Most of them die because they cannot afford to buy life-saving medicines. We appeal to you agree to the demands of the Treatment Action Campaign to sign the NEDLAC Framework Agreement for an HIV/AIDS Treatment and Prevention Plan and to make an irrevocable commitment to providing antiretroviral therapy in the public sector. If South Africa does this, it will demonstrate that wide-scale treatment can be made available in the developing world and that there is no reason why the international community cannot unite to make life-saving treatment available to poor people everywhere.

South Africa's transition to democracy has been remarkable. Its Constitution and democratic structures have set a magnificent example for the whole world. But the South African Government's negligent response to the HIV epidemic is damaging its international reputation. We appeal to you: For the sake of millions of lives give meaning to the Constitutional rights to life, dignity and health-care by implementing an HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention plan. South Africa's Freedom Day is in a few days time. This marks the first democratic election in South Africa. Please use this day as an opportunity to give hope to millions of people by announcing the rollout of an antiretroviral treatment programme.

Sincerely yours

Morten Nielsen, Chairman
Southern Africa Contact
4 Wesselsgade
DK-2200 Copenhagen N
Denmark

Maia Tarnow Ingvardson
DanChurchAid
13 Nørregade
DK-1165 Copenhagen K
Denmark

Pia Laulund
The Danish Institute for Human Rights
8 H Wilders Plads
DK-1403 Copenhagen K
Denmark

Annemette Danielsen, Chairman
Ibis, Danish Development NGO
68B Nørrebrogade
DK - 2200 Copenhagen
Denmark

CC: South African Ambassador to Denmark Steven Pandula Gawe
CC: Local Media
CC: info@tac.org.za