SOUTH AFRICA: Health minister's comments provoke criticism from activists

Health minister Manto Tshabala-Msimang on Wednesday dismissed as "bizarre" a report by Britain's Guardian newspaper quoting her as saying South Africa could not afford anti-AIDS drugs, because it needed submarines.

Budgetary priorities meant the health department could not provide antiretroviral (ARV) drugs to the estimated 4.5 million South Africans with HIV/AIDS, Tshabalala-Msimang was reported as saying by the Guardian newspaper on Tuesday.

She added that the country needed submarines to prevent attacks from countries such as the United States.

Tshabalala-Msimang was reported as saying she had been quoted out of context.

But her comments have provoked widespread criticism from AIDS activists.

"Putting aside the absurdity of her comments, we feel the health minister is at odds with the South African treasury department who has allocated about US $337,457 million to the implementation of what should be an effective antiretroviral plan for the public," Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) national manager Nathan Geffen, told UN news agency PlusNews.

"Manto Tshabalala-Msimang is directly responsible for untold suffering and unnecessary deaths," TAC chairman Zackie Achmat said in a statement.

"What is required now is a minister of health who is competent enough to realise that the public is in dire need of proper HIV/AIDS treatment," Geffen added.

The TAC is taking Tshabalala-Msimang and Mpumalanga Health Minister, Sibongile Manana to court for failing to provide nevirapine to pregnant women in the province.