Joint Statement on MRC report & TAC letter to Minister of Health on delayed MRC
Report

Dear All

This posting includes two items: 

A joint statement by the Anglican Church, Southern African Catholic Bishops 
Conference (SACBC), COSATU and the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC).  The 
statement was released at a press conference by these bodies today. 

A letter to the Minister of Health from TAC. 

Thanx

Zackie Achmat

###
We must take strong action to Stop HIV/AIDS
Joint Statement of the Anglican Church, Southern African Catholic Bishops 
Conference (SACBC), COSATU and the Treatment Action Campaign
(TAC)

Bishopscourt, Cape Town, September 20, 2001
In an historic meeting on September 17, 2001, representatives of the Anglican 
Church, the Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference,
COSATU and the Treatment Action Campaign met, out of a common commitment to life 
and dignity, to join forces against the AIDS epidemic.  

It can no longer be denied that AIDS is by far the leading cause of death for 
adult South Africans, especially those between 20 and 50. The
report by the Medical Research Council (MRC) says that, unless we can ensure 
that all HIV-positive people get treatment, between four and
seven million South Africans will die over the coming decade. 

The MRC report only confirms the experience of our people and organisations. Our 
clergy report that every week, they are burying people who
die of AIDS. Young workers are disappearing and dying from "natural causes" in 
the prime of live, leaving their families behind with no
income or support. Educators and learners are buried alongside each other. 
Mothers watch their babies die prematurely and unnecessarily
from AIDS. We could continue this list indefinitely.

No one in our country can afford to deny the terrible extent of this epidemic. 
The meeting expressed concerns over the attempts of some in
government to downplay its impact. The data are clear, and must not be obscured 
by wishful thinking. No organisation or individual should
try to suppress the facts - that way lies disaster. 

Faith-based organisations, trade unions and TAC are committed to building an 
effective alliance of civil society to prevent new HIV
infections and ensure that people with HIV/AIDS get life-prolonging and 
effective treatment. This includes the development of a national
treatment plan that includes anti-retroviral therapy. 

We have agreed:
. To set up a working group that will develop shared campaigns to overcome the 
denial syndrome that has emerged in some official and
unofficial circles; and
. To work with representatives of civil society in the South African National 
AIDS Council (SANAC) to guide and challenge our national
leaders to take more positive action on AIDS, to replace the cycle of 
controversy and denial with co-operation, common purpose and courage
in the national interest. 

Government must ensure that its policies face up to the national emergency 
caused by AIDS, or it will fail our people in both human and
economic terms. We call on it:
. To declare that the AIDS epidemic constitutes a National Emergency.
. To take into account the extent and impact of AIDS in all its policies and 
public statements, providing the moral and political
leadership our country so desperately needs.
. To increase the health budget and ensure cheaper anti-retrovirals and other 
medications, in order to provide adequate care for HIV-positive people, and to 
expand prevention and educational campaigns. 

Even one death from AIDS is a death too many. We need to use every tool at our 
disposal, from education and prevention to treatment, to address this national 
emergency. We call on all faith-based organisations, every trade union, and all 
civil society organisations to join us. We are making HIV/AIDS a top priority. 
We call on our government to do the same.

Njongonkulu Ndungane
Archbishop of Cape Town, Chairperson of the AIDS Commission of the Council of 
Anglican Provinces in Africa.
Willie Madisha President of COSATU (Derek Cele deputised at press conference)
Zackie Achmat Chairperson of TAC (Sipho Mthathi deputised at press conference) 
The Rev Father Richard Menatsi General Secretary of the SACBC (Auxiliary Bishop 
of Cape Town -- Reginald Cawcutt) 
Statement ends

###
Letter to Minister of Health from TAC
 
Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang

Minister of Health 

South African Department of Health

20 September 2001

By fax to Pretoria: 012-325 5526 By fax to Cape Town: 021 465-1575

 Urgent Request for Public Information

Dear Minister

It has come to our attention that the Medical Research Council has submitted a 
report to cabinet which contains information in the public interest, essential 
to public health, regarding current and projected causes of death, particularly 
mortality caused by HIV/AIDS. This letter serves to request that this document 
be made available to the Treatment Action Campaign and the public by no later 
than the 27th of September, 2001, as is our constitutional right. 

Furthermore this letter also serves to request that copies be given to TAC and 
the public of all studies submitted by Abt & Associates to the Health, Education 
and Public Service and Administration Departments regarding HIV/AIDS statistics 
and models.

If these documents are not made public by 27 September 2001, the Treatment 
Action Campaign will consider all appropriate steps including legal action to 
ensure that they are made public.

 Yours sincerely, 

Zackie Achmat             Sipho Mthathi             Nathan Geffen

Chairperson               Vice-Chairperson          Treasurer