[ Home ] [ Speeches & statements ]

26 May 2005

It is unfortunate that the South African Press Association (SAPA) has misrepresented statements made by Health Minister, Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, on the role of nutrition in managing HIV and AIDS and sought to give an impression that there were contradictions between the Minister's statement and the speech made by Deputy President, Jacob Zuma, in Parliament yesterday.

The article, entitled "Nutrition no substitute to ARV" by Boyd Webb of SAPA, appeared in the Pretoria News, Citizen and other newspapers in the country.

At the opening of the World Health Organisation's consultative meeting on nutrition and HIV and AIDS in Durban on 10 April 2005, Minister Tshabalala-Msimang made the same statement that the Deputy President has made in Parliament.

Addressing this meeting, Tshabalala-Msimang said: "Our view is that good nutrition does not only promote good health but it is also a critical component of a comprehensive response to diseases. Of course, good nutrition is not a substitute for appropriate treatment. It prolongs good health and serves as a solid foundation that often determines the success of other interventions."

The policy of government is to provide nutritional support for people with tuberculosis, HIV and AIDS and are also malnourished. Food supplementation is provided firstly as an intervention to prolong progression from HIV infection to the development of AIDS defining illnesses. Secondly, nutrition is provided to support people who are on treatment including anti-retroviral (ARV) therapy.

There is therefore no contradiction between the statements made by the Deputy President and the Health Minister. These statements are in line with Government's Comprehensive Plan for Management, Care and Treatment of HIV and AIDS.

The issue of side-effects associated with ARVs that SAPA raises is a challenge that the Department of Health has to deal with as it continues to implement the Comprehensive Plan and putting more and more people on treatment.

The Department has already established three pharmacovigilance centres in former Medunsa and Universities of Free State and Cape Town to monitor and investigate adverse reaction particularly to antiretroviral drugs. Data coming out of these centres should assist the Department to make necessary interventions to minimise the impact of side effects and adverse reaction to ARVs.

Note: Minister Tshabalala-Msimang's speech referred to above is available on Health website (http://www.doh.gov.za).

Enquiries: Sibani Mngadi
Spokesperson for the Minister of Health
Cell: 082 772 0161

Issued by: Ministry of Health
26 May 2005