It is no surprise that Johannesburg's HIV/AIDS clinics are turning away patients and haven't the funds to treat peoples' opportunistic infections. The entire Aids epidemic is an unfunded mandate.

The flow of sick people to provincial health facilities increases by the day without increased financial support, adequate medical supplies or staff.

There is a serious failure of co-ordination between national Aids programmes and provinces. Procurement policy and funding of health programmes remain complex and bureaucratic.

We must find mechanisms to empower NGO's and to make them accountable.

Government must rapidly provide training and materials for Aids counselors and test people more widely. We must form partnerships with drug companies and international donors to treat pregnant mothers, give legal advice and offer support to Aids sufferers.

Money spent on academic debates about the link between HIV and Aids will do nothing to reduce the scourge. Practical measures are urgently required; more condoms, better management of Aids programmes and an educational blitz that saturates all levels of society.

For Further Information

Dr. R. Rabinowitz 082 597 3698

IFP Parliamentary Media Cape Town 021-403 3965/403 3945