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HEALTH
de Lille and her ID party's candidates get hiv/aids tests
April 06, 2004
JOHANNESBURG — Leader of the Independent Democrats (ID), Patricia de Lille, and
the Premier Candidates of the ID announced that they would
simultaneously go for public HIV/AIDS tests at 11am on Monday 5th
April.
Patricia de Lille and Professor Themba Sono (Gauteng) will go to
Baragwanath Hospital, Johannesburg; in the Northern Cape – Esau
Benny Damoense to the Kimberley Hospital; Mpumalanga – Farouk
Sulliman at Dr Kramer in Middelburg; Limpopo – Edgar Miyeni at the
Louis Trichardt Clinic; Free State – Mangkaiseng Moeng at the
Botshabelo Hospital; Eastern Cape – Mabandla Makwetu at the
Frontier Hospital, Queenstown; North West – Koos Sanoamadi at Dr
Maphali in Hammanskraal; Graham Mackenzie at the Hillcrest Medical
Centre, Durban.
De Lille said, "South Africa is moving from an HIV into an AIDS
pandemic. The first step to effectively counter this pandemic is
for South Africans to know their HIV status and to be empowered to
take preventative measures.
"However, there is still widespread confusion amongst people
because there is a complete failure of leadership by the President
and his Minister of Health, who continue to obfuscate the issue.
"Yet an AIDS pandemic remains the greatest threat to the health
and stability of our country. As a political party we must set the
example to counter the stigma that exists around the HIV issue. We
must break the silence!
"Research has shown that those countries whose political leaders
have driven the HIV strategy have met with the greatest success in
reducing infection rates. I am extremely proud of the leaders in
our party. People, no matter what their age or their position in
society, must know they can go for a test at a hospital, a public
clinic or their private physician."
"Already the ID has openly HIV positive candidates, like Noncedo
Bulana who is third on the National list.
"We call upon government to urgently launch a well-funded
countrywide
Know Your Status Campaign. Since I last challenged
government on this issue, the situation has changed. The government
is now obliged to provide treatment and to access this people must
know their HIV status and their CD4 count. South Africans must go
for regular check-ups." – Issued on behalf of the Independent Democrats. – Sapa
Related stories
Enter the divine De Lille [03/07/2003]
Fraser-Moleketi gives clarity on research [06/04/2004]
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