Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2003. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Sunday Times (Johannesburg) - November 9, 2003
Claire Keeton And S'thembiso Msomi
The minister's decision, which he took three days to make, will transform the children's lives - and highlights the urgency of a national treatment programme.
The eagerly awaited antiretroviral treatment plan will finally be presented to the Cabinet this week, after two months of work by a task team appointed by the Health Department.
Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang confirmed on Friday that the plan was ready. It has received her approval and that of the nine provincial health MECs.
"Our primary objective has always been to ensure that we forward a document upon which Cabinet can take a decision. We are now satisfied that the report going to Cabinet is the best report we could give," she said.
The first draft of the report was presented to Tshabalala-Msimang on September 30, but was sent back to the task team after the minister and the MECs "identified some weaknesses" in the plan.
Numerous meetings were then held with interest groups to discuss aspects of the comprehensive plan.
But the five orphans couldn't wait any longer for the government to decide on the plan and appealed for Skweyiya's help. Among them is a boy of 12 whose older sister nursed their mother until her death in February.
Now the 23-year-old sister, from Soweto, is relieved that her brother will be spared.
She cared for her dying mother without gloves so that she would not feel unloved, after other family members rejected her.
"My grandmother helped me, but my uncle, who lives in the same yard, never asked after her or visited her," she said.
The student, who is scared to take an HIV test, said: "My mother was in denial and it was difficult. But I have to be strong. My brother needs me now."
The Aids Law Project last Friday applied to Skweyiya to give the affected children access to treatment on behalf of the Wits Paediatric HIV Working Group.
By Monday, they already had the authorisation.
Skweyiya said of his swift decision: "Children need to be assisted as fast as possible to get whatever help is available."
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