Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2002. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
South African Press Association (Johannesburg) - June 24, 2002
"The thesis that we believe we can prove is that if you manage HIV properly, it would cut costs and have social benefits."
Heywood, TAC chair Zackie Achmat and Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) first deputy president Jackie Phekane were briefing the media on an HIV/Aids congress taking place in Durban later this week.
The aim of the congress, jointly hosted by the TAC and Cosatu, is to develop a comprehensive National Treatment Plan for HIV/Aids to be tabled before the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac).
Heywood said Brazilian Aids experts would brief congress delegates on their experience that treating HIV/Aids was a long-term investment in the public health and social systems.
The TAC had set up a special research committee consisting auditors and economic specialists to consider the budget for the National Treatment Plan, and to support the theory that it would be cheaper to treat people living with HIV/Aids than to ignore the problem. The report would be released within the next two months.
Heywood said opportunistic diseases (such as tuberculosis) should be treated earlier and HIV should be diagnosed earlier. HIV-positive people should then receive aggressive counselling and immediately start with nutrition programmes. In the long-term this would result in lower health costs, less sick adults and less Aids orphans.
Achmat said a pro-active approach would benefit all.
"The truth is that HIV people are pushing other sick people out of hospitals. We must start lifting that burden of our healthcare system."
About 750 delegates will attend the congress from Thursday to Saturday. The Health Department's director general Dr Ayanda Ntsaluba and the chief director of HIV/Aids, Dr Nono Simelela, are expected to attend.
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