28 FEBRUARY 2002

DEMONSTRATION AND NEW COURT HEARING ON ACCESS TO NEVIRAPINE, PRETORIA HIGH 
COURT, 9 a.m., FRIDAY 1 MARCH 2002

Tomorrow, TAC activists will demonstrate outside the Pretoria High Court 
to draw attention to the continued refusal of the Minister of Health to 
supply Nevirapine to health facilities where doctors and nurses say there 
is capacity to counsel, test for HIV and prescribe the drug properly.  
This intransigence costs lives.

During the demonstration, the High Court will be hearing: * the 
government's application for leave to appeal and * TAC's new application 
asking Judge Botha to order that part of his original judgment be carried 
out before the appeal is heard by the Con Court.  TAC says the consequence 
of a delay in the Judge?s original order to supply Nevirapine will cause 
irreparable harm to those infants infected with HIV and their parents.

Since Judge Botha handed down his judgment many things have happened 
confirming the justice of TAC's cause and court action.  The latest is the 
HST report recommending that government develop a credible plan and that 
Nevirapine can and should be provided immediately to all pregnant women 
who are known to be HIV positive, with appropriate counseling and 
information.  This recommendation is all that TAC is asking the Court to 
enforce.

TAC sincerely wishes that the chapter of conflict over MTCT could be 
closed. We want to support the government in a national mobilization to 
save lives and to make this programme a success.  Now is the time.

For further details, contact:

Pholokgolo Ramothwala: 011 403 7021