Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2006. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
BBC News - August 24, 2006
The announcement comes as activists called for a "day of action" to try to get the health minister to resign.
The government has been criticised for recommending natural cures as well as anti-retroviral drugs to Aids patients.
The UN special envoy on Aids accused the government of being "negligent" in its Aids policies at the International Aids Conference in Toronto last week.
"Cabinet decided that work should be done, locally and abroad, to enhance understanding of our comprehensive HIV and Aids programme, to address any doubts about government's commitment to the fight against HIV and Aids," government communications head Themba Maseko told journalists on Thursday.
He said a cabinet meeting on Wednesday had noted the impact of "false allegations" that the government did not have a comprehensive programme to deal with HIV and Aids.
"Nothing could be further from the truth," he said.
"Our responsibility is to find a better way of communicating the strategy so we are not seen to be over-emphasising one aspect", he said, apparently referring to criticism that the government's endorsement of natural remedies was discouraging people from seeking ARV treatment.
Protests
Protests led by the Treatment Action Campaign took place on Thursday in cities around South Africa, where more than 5m people - 12% of the population - are infected.
Police used pepper spray to evict dozens of TAC supporters from a government building in Cape Town, Reuters news agency reports.
Launching its day of action, the TAC called for:
** the dismissal of Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang;
** a national meeting to formulate an emergency strategy to tackle the Aids crisis;
** treatment and care for prisoners with HIV/Aids.
This follows the death in custody of a prisoner identified as "MM", who was among a group of prisoners who won a court case guaranteeing their right to ARV medication, but who TAC says received the drugs too late.
TAC described MM's death as "the tip of an iceberg".
"Today, we face a crisis of HIV infection, illness and death. Above all, we face a crisis of governance," TAC said.
More than 1,000 new infections and more than 800 deaths occur every day, according to TAC.
UN envoy Stephen Lewis said at the International Aids Conference that South Africa promoted a "lunatic fringe" attitude to HIV/Aids, and described the government as "obtuse, dilatory and negligent about rolling out treatment".
The South African display at the conference included lemons and garlic, which Dr Tshabalala-Msimang has advocated for many years as helpful to people with HIV.
After pressure from activists, South Africa changed its policy and started distributing ARVs at government clinics in 2004.
The government currently gives ARVs to more than 100,000 of the approximately 6m South Africans who are HIV-positive.
Critics say that the government's emphasis on natural remedies is leading people to see them as an alternative to ARV medication.
060824
BB060830
Copyright © 2006 - BBC. Reproduction of this article (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the BBC.
AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted funding from Boehringer Ingelheim, Bridgestone/Firestone Charitable Trust, Elton John AIDS Foundation UK, the National Library of Medicine, AIDS Walk of Orange County, and donations from users like you.
Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 2006. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.
AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.
Copyright ©1980, 2006. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content.
.