IFP MEDIA STATEMENT BY: 
DR RUTH RABINOWITZ MP
IFP SPOKESPERSON ON HEALTH

14 February 2008

IFP spokesperson on Health, Dr Ruth Rabinowitz MP, today said: 

"President Mbeki has allegedly turned his attention to the poverty stricken masses.  Yet he ignored the most stricken among us, those orphaned or weakened by HIV/AIDS." 

"The one act that would have salvaged his manacled Presidency would have been his acknowledging unequivocally, that the HIV virus causes AIDS, that treatment is effective and available and that it is heroic to be open about the illness." 

"He should remove barriers to partnerships with business and donors; put mobile clinic services in every corner of the country providing testing, referrals and treatment for HIV and STD's.  Currently, no initiatives can be implemented without permission from provincial MEC's." 

"They ensure that money follows ANC members." 

"If the health mandarins and MEC's direct services only to safe centres of power in the current political turmoil, service providers will be paralysed and services will stagnate rather than surge.  President Mbeki will leave behind him a legacy of denial and death." 
 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Dr Ruth Rabinowitz MP: 082 579 3698