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The South African National Aids Council, (SANAC), has warmly welcomed the amicable resolution of the court case brought about by the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association of South Africa against the South African Government.

The Council believes that the settlement reached has laid the basis for a departure from hostility and confrontation, to a partnership in the struggle for ensuring access to affordable drugs for the treatment of the various diseases that affect the South African population, including HIV/AIDS.

SANAC is particularly pleased at the level of support the Government received from the people of South Africa as well as foreign governments and international civil society organisations.

The resolution of the case is a victory not only for South Africa but all who are engaged in the struggle for affordable drugs throughout the world.

The organisation also extends its gratitude to President Thabo Mbeki and the Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr Kofi Annan, for their efforts in facilitating this agreement, thereby taking forward the struggle of ordinary people in developing countries for affordable health care.

The Council also congratulates the Minister of Health, Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, and her staff for their sterling work during this difficult period. We would also like to thank the Treatment Action Campaign and all other organisations that actively supported the government on this case.

The SANAC meeting which was held in the Eastern Cape for the first time, enabled members to get acquainted with the HIV/AIDS situation in the province. The MEC for Health, Dr Bevan Goqwana, presented a report on behalf of the Eastern Cape Provincial Aids Council.

The meeting welcomed the following developments in the province:

* The Province now has a fully-fledged HIV/AIDS directorate and this would lead to better focus and co-ordination and intensive work against the epidemic in the Eastern Cape.
* The programme for the distribution of the anti-HIV/AIDS drug Diflucan has begun in eight referral hospitals in the province and will be rolled out to district hospitals in the province.
* More extensive work will be done particularly in rural areas in an effort to strengthen voluntary testing and counselling sites in the province.

The government delegation at the Port Elizabeth meeting included the following:

* Minister of Health, Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang; Minister for Arts, Science, Culture and Technology, Dr Ben Ngubane; Minister of Labour, Membathisi Mdladlana; Minister of Transport, Mr Dullah Omar; Minister of Social Development, Dr Zola Sikweyiya; Deputy Minister of Defence, Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge; Deputy Minister of Finance, Mandisi Mpahlwa; Eastern Cape Health MEC, Dr Bevan Goqwana.

* SANAC is the highest body that advises government on all matters relating to HIV/AIDS, and represents a multi-sectoral approach in the fight against the disease. It comprises government and civil society organizations representing 16 sectors including women, labour, business, youth, people with disabilities, people living with HIV/AIDS, celebrities, legal and human rights sector, faith based organizations, traditional healers and others.

* Deputy President Zuma will visit Port Elizabeth tomorrow, on Saturday 21 April 2001, for a meeting of the South African National Aids Council, which he chairs.

* The meeting will start at 9am at the Summerstrand Inn Hotel. After the meeting, the Deputy President and other SANAC members will visit Gqebera Township projects as well as an Aids hospice.

* This will be SANAC's first visit to Port Elizabeth. During the visit, the Deputy President will also meet members of the Eastern Cape Provincial Aids Council, as well as the Nelson Mandela Metro Aids Council.

* This will be SANAC's second provincial visit. Last month's monthly meeting took place in Mpumalanga province and future meetings will take place in different provinces to enable members to get a first hand account and experience of the Aids situation throughout the country.

Contact: Lakela Kaunda, at 082 782 2575.

Issued by The Presidency on behalf of J Zuma, Chairperson: SANAC

21 April 2001