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AIDS activists threaten court action

    JOHANNESBURG

    South African AIDS activists have threatened to launch court action against the government if a national programme aimed at treating millions of HIV-positive people was not speeded up.

    The Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) accused the government of being too slow in implementing the treatment plan, which includes the provision of potentially life-saving antiretroviral drugs.

    A local newspaper, The Mercury, quoted TAC chairman Zackie Achmat as saying: "We are ready to go to court within two weeks if necessary, but we are prepared to talk. Bring us the medicines and we can work together."

    Research shows that South Africa had some 5.3 million HIV-positive people by the end of 2002, the highest number in the world.

    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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