Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2005. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Sunday Times (Johannesburg) - May 8, 2005
Claire Keeton
The children's clinic at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital has more than 500 children on treatment through the government's plan.
Dr Claire Egbers and Dr Tammy Meyers of the Wits Paediatric HIV Unit have conducted a study on 262 of the children, and say the treatment's efficacy has been outstanding.
Clinic manager Dr Harry Moultrie said the results "should put the minister's mind at rest".
The study shows that while 18 of the 262 children (6.9%) died while on treatment, not one of these deaths can be attributed to the antiretroviral medicines they were taking.
"This should be contrasted with the estimated 40% annual mortality rate for children with Aids not receiving antiretroviral therapy."
At a briefing in Pretoria, the minister challenged the government's own figure of 42367 patients on Aids treatment.
She said: "I have a problem with this and it is linked to side effects. When we were pressurised into using antiretrovirals, we warned about side effects.
"When I get reports, nobody presents to me how many people have fallen off the programme or have died... because of complications."
She also attacked the World Health Organisation for pressurising South Africa into accelerating its antiretroviral roll-out.
She again praised garlic, lemon, beetroot and olive oil for their role in combating HIV.
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