Minister's statement on HST PMTCT Report
Candy Day
2002-03-07
The Minister of Health's made a statement to Parliament on the Health Systems Trust
Report on the National PMTCT Research Sites Wednesday, 6 March 2002. The full text of this statement, as well as other media coverage of the report, is available from the Health Systems Trust web site: http://www.hst.org.za/pubs/pmtct/pmtctinterim.htm
Please note that the full text of the report itself is also available on the web site in PDF format.
Only a few selected sentences from the Minister's statement are included here, since the full statement is quite long. [Source: DRUGINFO]
Quality of the report
*****
If I could, I would make the HST report compulsory reading for every Member of this House.
This is largely because the document recognises the complexity of the programme and examines this in a helpful way.
The HST report also reflects on some of the scientific questions in a manner that makes these understandable even to those of us who are not
conversant with this field of work.
This in turn helps us all to engage in the related policy debates.
Response to recommendations
*****
What I can say, is that I feel assured that we are making good progress, and we have a very solid piece of research in front of us.
Its recommendations are well-rooted both in the reality that the researchers have witnessed at the South African sites and informed by
international experience.
I can assure you that aspects of the report that relate to policy development will be considered with the seriousness they demand.
Conclusion
*****
In conclusion, I would appeal to Members of this House and the public at large to read the full HST report and not to rely on journalist's reports
that lift out only the newsworthy elements.
One of the unfortunate aspects of the debate on mother-to-child transmission of HIV has been a tendency to depict research as a stumbling
block or an enemy of extended access to care.
The HST report shows just how systematic information gathering can become the key to an effective programme.
We do not want a PMTCT programme that does not deliver the goods - we want one that works.
And different strands of research - each with different time-scales - will continue to underpin our work enable us to review our policy from time to time.
... I do not take these issues of public health policy lightly. I have to think about them carefully in order to advise my colleagues in
Cabinet, including the President.
Therefore, Madame Speaker, we will examine this report carefully and take whatever steps are appropriate to increase the coverage of HIV positive women giving birth to health and HIV positive children.
We will develop national norms and standards to ensure that wherever this programme is provided, there is adequate health infrastructure, the service is staffed adequately, and that there are sufficient and sustainable resources.
We are also committed to see to it that for the women of this country, pregnancy and childbirth are not seen as an illness but are part of their
normal lives, and for those women who are HIV positive, the ANC-led government will see to it that they have an opportunity to lead productive
and loving lives in the company of their children, partners and families.
The Minister of Health's made a statement to Parliament on the Health Systems Trust
Report on the National PMTCT Research Sites Wednesday, 6 March 2002. The full text of this statement, as well as other media coverage of the report, is available from the Health Systems Trust web site: http://www.hst.org.za/pubs/pmtct/pmtctinterim.htm.
Please note that the full text of the report itself is also available on the web site in PDF format.
Only a few selected sentences from the Minister's statement are included here, since the full statement is quite long. [Source: DRUGINFO]
Quality of the report
If I could, I would make the HST report compulsory reading for every Member of this House.
This is largely because the document recognises the complexity of the programme and examines this in a helpful way.
The HST report also reflects on some of the scientific questions in a manner that makes these understandable even to those of us who are not
conversant with this field of work.
This in turn helps us all to engage in the related policy debates.
Response to recommendations
What I can say, is that I feel assured that we are making good progress, and we have a very solid piece of research in front of us.
Its recommendations are well-rooted both in the reality that the researchers have witnessed at the South African sites and informed by
international experience.
I can assure you that aspects of the report that relate to policy development will be considered with the seriousness they demand.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I would appeal to Members of this House and the public at large to read the full HST report and not to rely on journalist's reports that lift out only the newsworthy elements.
One of the unfortunate aspects of the debate on mother-to-child transmission of HIV has been a tendency to depict research as a stumbling
block or an enemy of extended access to care.
The HST report shows just how systematic information gathering can become the key to an effective programme.
We do not want a PMTCT programme that does not deliver the goods - we want one that works.
And different strands of research - each with different time-scales - will continue to underpin our work enable us to review our policy from time to time.
... I do not take these issues of public health policy lightly. I have to think about them carefully in order to advise my colleagues in
Cabinet, including the President.
Therefore, Madame Speaker, we will examine this report carefully and take whatever steps are appropriate to increase the coverage of HIV positive women giving birth to health and HIV positive children.
We will develop national norms and standards to ensure that wherever this programme is provided, there is adequate health infrastructure, the service is staffed adequately, and that there are sufficient and sustainable resources.
We are also committed to see to it that for the women of this country, pregnancy and childbirth are not seen as an illness but are part of their
normal lives, and for those women who are HIV positive, the ANC-led government will see to it that they have an opportunity to lead productive
and loving lives in the company of their children, partners and families.
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Percentage of facilities that are PMTCT sites
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South African Demographic and Health Survey 1998. Preliminary Report
Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV/AIDS (PMTCT)
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