WHAT IS THE GOVERNMENT'S "PLAN" WITH PREGNANCY AND HIV? RELEASE THE PLAN FOR COMMENT NOW!

The first meeting of the National AIDS Council (SANAC) was presented with the government's new "HIV/AIDS/STD Strategic Plan for South Africa 2000-2005". One of the strategies in the plan is the reduction of mother-to-child-transmission of HIV. Good. But, there is a marked difference between a version of the plan released during the Christmas holidays and the version presented to SANAC. The provision and expansion of voluntary HIV counselling and testing services for pregnant women is common to both plans. Regrettably, a new and dangerous substitution has taken place in the action plans.

A review of the "current research on the use of anti-retroviral therapy to reduce mother to child HIV transmission" and subsequent adjustment of "national anti-retroviral policies" is removed from this section. It is substituted with "improve access to termination of pregnancy services". Instead of its "promise" to review studies in the actions, the new five-year plan offers abortions instead of AZT or Nevirapine. Does this mean there will be no budget for pregnant women with HIV? Has this section been moved to research? A few lines on research are not enough to deal with more than 60 000 pregnant positive women every year in a five year plan. We appeal to the government to publish all its plans on mother-to-child-transmission in the public interest.

Clearly on AZT and pregnancy research is not the main priority. Translating research into the real world of under-resourced clinics is the challenge. Has the government thought of the unintended consequences of its "plan"? Here, over-burdened health care workers will translate the current plan's specific mention of abortion as the only option for women with HIV, as an instruction.

Dr. Nkosazana Dhlamini-Zuma defied reactionary public opinion to support the right of women to choose when she introduced the "Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act" (1996). Her successor, Dr. Manto Tshbalala-Msimang undermines the constitutional right of women to choose pregnancy or termination. The Treatment Action Campaign believes that:

1. Termination of pregnancy is based on the autonomy and liberty of women. It is a right of pregnant women with HIV/AIDS. The current "plan" seems to substitute this as the only practical option to reduce and prevent mother-to-child-transmission of HIV. This is wrong.

2. The established risks associated with the use of AZT and Nevirapine by pregnant women with HIV is a decision that should be taken by women, not a paternalistic Minister and State.

3. Any proposal that promotes termination of pregnancy (almost in a mandatory manner) will provide a focal point for reactionaries to undermine the right of women to choose.

The Treatment Action Campaign calls on all women's and children's rights organisations and the Reproductive Rights Alliance to campaign against this "plan".

4. The effect of a policy of HIV testing without any benefit to women or their children will drive them away from ante-natal services. Again, the previous health minister, Dr. Zuma prioritised maternal health care. On average, 2 of every 100 000 white women die when giving birth. Among African women the figure increases to 50 for every 100 000. If termination is preferred to AZT/NVP by government, women who have HIV and are pressured by men and their families to have children will stay away from ante-natal services. This will undo all the hard work by the Department of Health in the field of maternal health care.

Issued by Deena Bosch and Zackie Achmat for TAC.

Please contact Mario/Midi on (021) 788 5058 to rsvp for the meeting.

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