Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2002. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Sunday Times (Johannesburg) - October 6, 2002
Buddy Naidu
The move follows a Cabinet resolution in April to make Post Exposure Prophylaxis treatment - which consists of a combination of the controversial drug AZT and 3TC medications - available to rape survivors and victims of sexual abuse.
The province's Superintendent-General for Health, Professor Ronald Green-Thompson, said on Friday that medication had already been distributed to all state hospitals, crisis centres and community health clinics which offered emergency services .
He said that while provinces around the country were still rolling out their Pep programmes, KwaZulu-Natal was "faster on the draw" because the initiative had been expanded to all state health institutions.
National manager for the Treatment Action Campaign , Nathan Geffen, welcomed the programme .
"This is a boost for rape survivors . . . and we and our allies in KwaZulu-Natal will try our best to work closely with the health services in the province."
Health Minister Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang's spokesman, Sibani Mngadi, said the government's reluctance to make the drugs freely available had stemmed from the fact that there was no scientific evidence to prove AZT and 3TC were effective.
"Even now, people are urged to sign consent forms saying that they understand the limits of the intervention, as well as other effects the drugs may have on them," he said.
THE Aids ribbon is one of the most recognised symbols in South Africa, according to the Markinor-Sunday Times Top Brands survey.
The annual survey, which seeks to identify the most popular brands in South Africa, found nine out of 10 South Africans could correctly identify the red ribbon. Find the supplement inside the Sunday Times.
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