Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2002. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Mail & Guardian (Johannesburg) - April 12, 2002
Sizwe Yende and Justin Arenstein
Eighty doctors, nurses and support staff signed a memorandum to MEC for Health Sibongile Manana on Wednesday warning that further delays in providing nevirapine were unnecessarily condemning babies to deaths.
"Mpumalanga has the second-highest incidence of HIV/Aids in South Africa, with roughly 30% of pregnant women at this hospital testing positive. We cannot afford to wait any longer, especially because we have the capacity to supply the drug immediately," said Philadelphia's chief gynaecologist, Professor Louis-Jacques van Bogaert.
The memorandum was faxed to Manana and Highveld region health director Dr Keith Michael on Wednesday. Manana's spokesperson Dumisani Mlangeni said he was not yet aware of the ultimatum, but stressed that provincial hospitals did not have the authority to provide nevirapine until a provincial task team had completed a review of the situation.
The task team, headed by chief director Maureen Sithole, began reviewing the capacity of hospitals on Wednesday and is expected to advise next Friday where nevirapine can be supplied.
Mlangeni conceded, however, that the province had not yet ordered nevirapine stocks, and that any roll-out would therefore be further delayed. Philadelphia's rebellion follows staff meetings with the Treatment Action Campaign's (TAC) national general secretary Mark Heywood.
Heywood informed staff about the recent Constitutional Court order that government supply nevirapine at public hospitals pending its challenge against an earlier high court order to provide the anti-retroviral drug to all pregnant women who want it.
National government has since warned, however, that it does not have the capacity to immediately roll- out nevirapine countrywide.
"That may be true, but we'll go ahead even if Manana refuses to provide the drug in Mpumalanga. We have our own nevirapine stocks from TAC, and will begin saving lives as soon as possible," said Dr Donna van Bogaert, provincial Department of Health medical research and ethics committee member.
The Van Bogaerts and other Philadelphia doctors, such as obstetrician Dr Solly Mahlangu, say they will meet their constitutional and Hippocratic Oath responsibilities regardless of threats of disciplinary action.
Dr Thys von Mollendorff, who was axed as superintendent of Nelspruit's Rob Ferreira hospital, is meanwhile still fighting his dismissal on gross misconduct charges for allowing an anti-rape NGO to supply anti-retroviral drugs to rape survivors at the hospital.
Von Mollendorff's appeal contends that he was complying with the Hippocratic Oath and acting in the best interests of his patients.
Other senior doctors at Rob Ferreira have since resigned in protest at Manana's heightened campaign against anti-retroviral drugs, and her attempts to evict the Greater Nelspruit Rape Intervention Project from provincial hospitals. Two earlier high court eviction attempts failed, but Manana is currently preparing a third eviction order.
020412
MG020409
Copyright © 2002 - Daily Mail & Guardian. For information about the content or for permission to redistribute, publish or use for broadcast, contact the publisher.
AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted funding from Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, Elton John AIDS Foundation, the National Library of Medicine, Pacific Life Foundation and donations from users like you.
Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 2002. 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, 2002. 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. .