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Unions push for urgent AIDS drug rollout

    JOHANNESBURG

    South Africa's umbrella trade union group on Thursday said any delay by the government in its plans for a national rollout of HIV/AIDS drugs could kill thousands of HIV-positive people.

    The government bowed to pressure from local and international AIDS activists last month by announcing plans to start distributing antiretroviral drugs by the end of the year.

    However, the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) said the rollout deadline could come too late.

    It is estimated that the country has the highest HIV/AIDS caseload in the world, with AIDS-related illnesses killing around 600 people daily.

    Reuters quoted COSATU president, Willy Madisha, as saying: "Our government needs to act as a matter of urgency. They need to implement the decision quickly, not in six months' time."

    This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

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