Tshabalala-Msimang denies being sidelined
January 16, 2007, 17:30
Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, the health minister, has dismissed suggestions that she has been sidelined from government's Aids combating efforts in recent months. She has also challenged her critics to find and present proof that she has in any of her statements on HIV/Aids, said that nutrition must take precedence over treatment.
The minister said the role of nutrition must be understood within the context of the government's comprehensive plan on the pandemic. She said she is still involved in all decision-making.
Tshabalala-Msimang returned to her office today after a three month absence. She was hospitalised for a month last September after she fell ill with a lung infection. The minister said: "I was sick and was not concentrating on what people were saying and obviously people were not going to wait for somebody to get ill before they implement those decisions. Besides the department briefed me on a daily basis on what was happening."
TAC says its prepared to work with minister
Tshabalala-Msimang also denied reports that the Aids plan only gained momentum once she was gone, saying the decisions were taken long before then. The minister said she cannot be held accountable for people twisting her articulation of the comprehensive plan on HIV/Aids.
The Aids plan will be finalised before the South African National Aids Council's first meeting in March. In the past the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) made no secret of how it felt about the minister's stance on Aids. The TAC said its prepared to work with her as its key objective is to finalise the national strategic plan and if the minister maintains the tone which was set by Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, the deputy president, there should be progress. Read more
Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, the health minister, has dismissed suggestions that she has been sidelined from government's Aids combating efforts in recent months. She has also challenged her critics to find and present proof that she has in any of her statements on HIV/Aids, said that nutrition must take precedence over treatment.
The minister said the role of nutrition must be understood within the context of the government's comprehensive plan on the pandemic. She said she is still involved in all decision-making.
Tshabalala-Msimang returned to her office today after a three month absence. She was hospitalised for a month last September after she fell ill with a lung infection. The minister said: "I was sick and was not concentrating on what people were saying and obviously people were not going to wait for somebody to get ill before they implement those decisions. Besides the department briefed me on a daily basis on what was happening."
TAC says its prepared to work with minister
Tshabalala-Msimang also denied reports that the Aids plan only gained momentum once she was gone, saying the decisions were taken long before then. The minister said she cannot be held accountable for people twisting her articulation of the comprehensive plan on HIV/Aids.
The Aids plan will be finalised before the South African National Aids Council's first meeting in March. In the past the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) made no secret of how it felt about the minister's stance on Aids. The TAC said its prepared to work with her as its key objective is to finalise the national strategic plan and if the minister maintains the tone which was set by Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, the deputy president, there should be progress. Read more
posted by Jopie Fourie at 7:28 AM
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