Access to HIV/AIDS treatment

Delegates and health officials at the Earth Summit in Johannesburg have raised concerns that while there has been an increased awareness of the role of health in sustainable development, there was still a long way to go in improving the lives of the poor.

A newly launched African treatment access lobby group called for immediate implementation of the World Health Organisation goal to ensure antiretroviral treatment for at least three million people in the developing world by 2005.

Over 70 African AIDS activists from 21 countries met in Cape Town last week to inaugurate the Pan-African HIV/AIDS Treatment Access Movement (PHATAM).

"We are angry. Our people are dying. We can no longer accept millions of needless AIDS deaths simply because we are poor Africans. We know ARV treatment is feasible in our countries and are launching a movement to demand ARV treatment that won't take 'no' for an answer," PHATAM's co-founder, and advocacy officer of the Health Rights Action Group in Uganda, Milly Katana told a press release.

PHATAM representatives aim to submit a declaration of action with demands of African governments, developing countries, multilateral institutions, and the private sector, including the pharmaceutical industry.

"The world leaders meeting in Johannesburg must recognise that without a healthy population we cannot have development. Health is a prerequisite for sustainable development and access to AIDS treatment in Africa is the key to improving health," said Treatment Action Campaign chairman, Zackie Achmat.

Sustainable development could only be possible through the implementation of sound social security policies that targeted the poor and include HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention programmes, the group said in a statement.

PHATAM is calling for a global day of protest to demand that donor countries make contributions proportionate to their wealth to the Global Fund.

Activists are planning campaign events to call for the prioritisation of treatment by the Fund, as well as the involvement of people living with HIV/AIDS in Country Coordinating Mechanisms - the body responsible for coordinating country funding proposals.