This is an archive of the Treatment Action Campaign's public documents from
December 1998 until October 2008. I created this website because the TAC's
website appears unmaintained and people were concerned that it
was becoming
increasingly hard to find important documents.
The menu items have
been slightly edited and a new stylesheet applied to the site. But none of the
documents have been edited, not even for minor errors. The text appears on this
site as obtained from the Internet Archive.
The period covered by
the archive encompassed the campaign for HIV medicines, the civil disobedience
campaigns, the Competition Commission complaints, the 2008 xenophobic violence
and the PMTCT, Khayelitsha health workers and Matthias Rath court cases.
Christopher lived with HIV for more than ten years before he died of an undiagnosed disease. Like many in South Africa, had he had access to better health care and HIV treatments, he might have survived. But, unlike many, he died knowing what his rights were and he fought for them.
He joined TAC in January this year. He and his partner Nontsikelelo, were the first ones from the Nyanga Clinic support group (which Christopher, with two other members, started) to join the campaign for treatments. Since then they have convinced more than 10 members from that support group and others from clinics in the area to join the Campaign. He was Organiser of Nyanga TACs work.
In the little time that he has been with Nyanga TAC, he has taught all of us the meaning of real courage. He challenged societal discrimination towards people with HIV. He has mobilised other PWAs in the townships to live openly with HIV and to join the campaign for treatments. He has challenged health workers careless attitudes in clinics and day hospitals in the area. He has gone as far as Parliament to speak against unjust government policies on HIV/AIDS.
He has been the heart of all our community actions and campaigns in the group. He was passionate about the Pfizer campaign
and through this he earned the nickname
Mr Sluconazole i.e. Steere + Fluconazole without the F.
He gave evidence at the parliamentary hearings on access to treatment earlier this year.
In 1996 he lost a child to HIV. He leaves behind his partner Nontsikelelo (also living with HIV), an 11 year old daughter, six siblings and two parents.
His death has redefined the meaning and gravity of the campaign for HIV TREATMENTS for all of us in the group.
We salute Him for his indomitable fighting spirit, now and forever!
Aluta Continua!