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.
We are grateful to the many people who helped with the humanitarian relief effort from 23 May to 2 June. Regrettably, the state is still failing to provide sufficient relief. We have therefore stepped up our relief efforts again. TAC continues to need donations for humanitarian relief and our advocacy efforts against xenophobia. Please donate to TAC or one of these organisations.
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Ministry of Health distances itself from Ubhehane
UPDATE:
On 14 April, the Ministry of Health issued this statement. Despite its untruthfulness, it is essentially a concession that the Department no longer supports Ubhejane.
Media Statement
14 April 2008
Health Ministry does NOT support Ubhejane
The Ministry of Health would like to correct the inaccuracy in the news reports relating to the ruling of the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) regarding the advertisement of Ubhejane in Ilanga newspaper.
The reports wrongly have suggested that this product is supported by the Minister of Health, Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang.
The Minister emphasizes the important role played by African traditional medicines in responding to various ailments and according to the World Health Organisation, these medicines are used by about 80% of
people in Africa. The Minister further promotes research and development of these medicines and regulatory framework for traditional health practitioners.
However, the Minister has never expressed support for Ubhejane or any specific traditional medicine product for that matter.
The Ministry is concerned about the development of the whole spectrum of medicines falling within this category and has no interest in one particular product.
Issued by Department of Health
Contact Sibani Mngadi 0827720161