FOTAC are a UK-based charity helping in the fight against HIV and AIDS in South Africa.http://www.fotac.org http://www.fotac.org/News-and-Events/News/59/TAC-complaint-about-the-anti-competitive-conduct-of-the-worlds-largest-pharmaceutical-companyWed, 05 Dec 2007 5:50:37 GMThttp://www.fotac.org/News-and-Events/News/55/Global-call-to-action-for-the-38th-Annual-Union-World-Conference-on-Lung-HealthFri, 26 Oct 2007 8:08:28 GMThttp://www.fotac.org/News-and-Events/News/5/BBC-NEWS--Africa--South-Africa-losing-Aids-battle<h2>South Africa 'losing Aids battle'</h2><p>South Africa is in danger of losing the battle against HIV/Aids, the United Nations children's agency has warned.</p><p>Unicef's South Africa representative, Macharia Kamau, said infection and death rates were outpacing treatment.</p><p>This was having a devastating effect on children whose parents died of Aids, and sent out a dire message for the future, he said.</p><p>Mr Kamau said if present trends continued, there could be five million orphans in South Africa by 2015.</p><p><strong>Huge risk</strong></p><p>South Africa is one of just nine countries worldwide where infant mortality is rising - from 60 deaths per 1,000 births in 1990, to 95 deaths today.</p><p>The main reason, Unicef says, is HIV/Aids.</p><p>About 12% of the population is living with HIV, but among pregnant women presenting at antenatal clinics it is 30%, rising to nearly 50% in some regions.</p><p>Speaking in Geneva, Mr Kamau said the effect on children was devastating, and that infants whose mothers died of Aids were at huge risk of dying themselves.</p><p>Older children who have lost one or more parents faced a struggle to survive and to go to school, he added.</p><p>In South Africa today there are 1.5 million Aids orphans. If the trend of 400,000 deaths from Aids per year continues, by 2015, the number of orphans will have reached five million.</p><p>Mr Kamau said that the numbers of people in South Africa being treated for Aids were constantly being outstripped by the numbers becoming infected and dying.</p><p>He described this as a dire message for the future because although 380,000 South African Aids patients were receiving anti-retroviral drugs, 1.2 million were not receiving treatment.</p><p>As long as infection and death rates continued to outpace treatment, South Africa would lose the battle against Aids, he said.</p><p>Unicef says an aggressive expansion of treatment is needed immediately, alongside a much more open Aids prevention campaign from the government, to challenge the stigma which still surrounds the disease in South Africa. </p>Fri, 26 Oct 2007 6:46:48 GMThttp://www.fotac.org/News-and-Events/News/9/TAC-letter-to-Mbeki-on-Virodene<h2><strong>REQUEST FOR A JUDICIAL COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO PRESIDENCY AND HEALTH MINISTRY INVOLVEMENT IN THE PROMOTION AND TESTING OF VIRODENE</strong></h2><p>.</p><p>.</p><p>Dear President Mbeki</p><p>Extremely serious allegations have been made by the media and a researcher with regard to the involvement of the Presidency and the Health Ministry in the promotion and testing of Virodene.</p><p>This is a formal request for the President to initiate a Judicial Commission of Inquiry under the powers invested in the President as per section 84 (2) of the Constitution.</p><p>The commission should examine</p><p>1. the extent of the involvement of the President, officials in the Presidency, the Health Minister or any other senior office bearers in government in the promotion and/or testing of Virodene;</p><p>2. the extent of involvement by private South African citizens, organisations (public and private) in experimentation on people in South Africa and other African countries;</p><p>3. legal steps, if any, that should be taken against officials of the South African government, private citizens and organisations; and</p><p>4. if the Presidency or the Health Ministry have been involved in undermining the independence of the Medicines Control Council required by the Constitution and Parliament to prevent unlawful human experimentation and to regulate medicine safety, efficacy and quality in the public interest.</p><p>We attach the following documents for your perusal:</p><p>James Myburgh's synopsis The Virodene Affair Parts I to V.</p><p>Newspaper article by Fiona Forde entitled: Mbeki link to toxic 'cure'.</p><p>We look forward to your urgent response before or on 31 October 2007.</p><p>Yours sincerely</p><p>Vuyiseka Dubula (TREATMENT ACTION CAMPAIGN PWA SECTOR CO-ORDINATOR AND SECRETARIAT MEMBER AND SANAC PWA REPRESENTATIVE)</p><p>Lihle Dlamini (TREATMENT ACTION CAMPAIGN SECRETARIAT MEMBER AND PWA)</p><p>cc:</p><p>Mr Jody Kollapen, Chairperson of the South African Human Rights Commission; Fax (011) 484 8403</p><p>Ms Baleka Mbete, Speaker of Parliament; Fax (021) 461 9462</p><p>Mr James Ngculu, Chair of the National Assembly Portfolio Committee on Health; Fax (021) 387 6807</p><p>Mr Adv Mushwana, Public Protector; Fax (012) 366 7047/ 362 3473</p><p>Ms Brigitte Sylvia Mabandla, Justice Minister; Fax (012) 315 1749 or (021) 467 1730</p><p>Ms Fatima I. Chohan-Khota, Chair of the National Assembly Justice Portfolio Committee; Fax (011) 760 1583</p>Thu, 25 Oct 2007 8:30:47 GMThttp://www.fotac.org/News-and-Events/News/54/Aids-fight-inspires-singer-LennoxFri, 26 Oct 2007 8:15:32 GMThttp://www.fotac.org/News-and-Events/News/56/South-African-health-ministry-in-condom-recall<h2>Media Statement by the Minister of Health on the Condom Distribution Programme</h2><p>22 October 2007</p><p>Last month, the Department of Health stated that according to the internal audit at the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) there were anomalies requiring a further investigation of more batches of condoms supplied by at least three of the seven companies responsible for the tender. These companies were Kohrs Medical, Juel Health and Sekunjalo.</p><p>The audit followed the charges that Zalatex (which distributed condoms produced by Latex Surgical Products) bribed an official of the SABS to approve condoms that were not conforming to the quality standards. The Department acted swiftly in removing from circulation condoms supplied by Zalatex that were suspected of not meeting the quality standard. More than 5 million condoms were recalled and another 7 million quarantined at the company’s warehouse.</p><p>The SABS recommended at the time that the Department quarantines the most recent batches of condoms supplied by these companies for retesting. This was intended to verify the quality of these condoms and inform the final conclusions of the audit process that was underway.</p><p>The SABS has reported to the Department that this verification process has been completed and the findings were as follows:</p><p>1.At least 5 batches belonging to Kohrs were sampled and they failed an airburst test. The SABS has reported to the Department of Health that based on the results, SABS was suspending Kohrs use of the SABS mark/certificate until remedial action is taken by the company to rectify the quality issues.</p><p>2.Samples tested relating to Juel Health and Sekunjalo were found to be of adequate quality.</p><p>Based on the conclusions of this audit process, the Department is recalling the products supplied by Kohrs. We appeal to the public and all partners involved in the distribution and promotion of the use of condoms to assist with the recall of these condoms. The condoms produced by Kohrs are identifiable with the manufacturer’s code 6809/MED/.</p><p>SABS has reported that, currently, there is no information suggesting collusion between Kohrs and the official of the SABS who is charged of corruption. However, the Department of Health notes that a large stock of condoms that was dumped at Inanda, in KwaZulu-Natal were produced by Kohrs. This matter is under police investigation.</p><p> </p><p>During this financial year, Kohrs has supplied 5 million condoms to the Department. Of this, more than 1 million condoms have been quarantined at the distribution sites as part of the audit process. In the same way as we acted against Zalatex, the Department will no longer be procuring any stock from Kohrs. </p><p>The quantities that would have been supplied by Zalatex and Kohrs - which is 09 and 15 percent respectively of the projected 425 million male condoms supplied per annum - will be shared equitable amongst the other five companies over the remaining period of the contract ending in February 2008. SABS is satisfied with the quality of the condoms supplied by these five companies.</p><p>The SABS has indicated that extensive controls and verifications have been implemented throughout the testing and certification process to ensure that all condoms supplied under the SABS mark and under the Choice brand, comply with standards set by the World Health Organisation.</p><p>Condoms are a crucial element of the Department of Health’s programme to prevent sexually transmitted infections including HIV and unwanted pregnancies. The two incidents involving Zalatex and Kohrs should not be allowed to impact negatively on the significant progress we have made in promoting condom use in the country.</p><p>Through the Khomanani Campaign, the Department of Health will be making efforts to emphasise the messages that correct and consistent use of condoms is important in preventing sexually transmitted infections. We hope that other partners involved in the response to HIV, STIs and unwanted pregnancies can assist us in reinforcing the message that condoms are important in protecting our health.</p><p>Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang</p><p>Minister of Health</p><p> </p><p>Contact</p><p>Sibani Mngadi</p><p>0827720161</p><p>Please note that if you have condoms with the manufacturer's code 6809/MED/ on them, they should be returned to the Department of Health. The address is:</p><p>Department of Health - HIV Unit,</p><p>226 Vermeulen Street,</p><p>Hallmark Building,</p><p>Pretoria 0001</p><p>The following condoms should be returned:</p><p> * Those with the manufacturer's code 6809/MED/ (it is not clear what the brand name of these are but we [i.e. TAC] think it is Choice)</p><p> * Ultramour</p><p> * LSP</p><p> * Makoya </p><p> * Randy Rat</p><p> * Condom Concept</p><p> * Positions </p><p> * African skins</p><p> * Choice â€" Lot number 4308/ZLX/</p><p></p>Fri, 26 Oct 2007 8:14:34 GMThttp://www.fotac.org/News-and-Events/News/58/Need-for-open-discussion-on-antiretroviral-side-effectsFri, 21 Nov 2008 8:26:45 GMThttp://www.fotac.org/News-and-Events/News/60/Global-call-to-action-on-TBTue, 11 Dec 2007 1:40:32 GMThttp://www.fotac.org/News-and-Events/News/64/New-edition-of-Equal-TreatmentMon, 04 Feb 2008 0:16:25 GMThttp://www.fotac.org/News-and-Events/News/65/TACs-statement-on-the-ANC-National-Conference-and-leadership-electionMon, 04 Feb 2008 0:19:05 GMThttp://www.fotac.org/News-and-Events/News/67/World-AIDS-Day--Monday-1-December-2008Tue, 16 Dec 2008 7:49:09 GMT