Johannesburg - The Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) on Tuesday launched a month-long global fund-raising campaign in an attempt to rid the organisation of its financial difficulties.
“We aim to raise R10 million by (December 1),” TAC general secretary Anele Yawa told reporters in Johannesburg.
“This is a significant day for us because it falls on World Aids day and the 10th anniversary of the distribution of ARV's (antiretroviral drugs) in South Africa.”
TAC board member Mark Heywood and Mango Groove lead singer and HIV activist Claire Johnston were other speakers at the briefing. A pre-recorded message from Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu was played.
Former United Nations special envoy on Aids in Africa Stephen Lewis spoke from Canada via Skype.
Yawa said the organisation desperately needed funds to continue its campaign, which included representing users of the public health care system, monitoring clinics and hospitals, and providing HIV/Aids education.
Several donors had stopped their funding, believing the HIV/Aids epidemic in the country had subsided.
“Many organisations that used to financially support the TAC believed that the struggle against Aids was over and they pulled their funding,” he said.
However, Yawa said the organisation could no longer rely solely on its donors, and its 8000 members at 182 branches across the country would campaign for the TAC's survival.
“We have taken it upon ourselves to raise the money through the crowd funding campaign.
“Two-and-a-half million lives have been saved by the work done by the organisation and through the campaign we will save even more.”
Yawa said the fund-raising campaign would run parallel to the TAC's other campaigns.
Heywood said the campaign was a chance for the organisation to free itself from government.
“With the R10m we hope to cut a new path and to allow for ordinary people to invest in the organisation and for us to not only depend on government.
“Our objective is to free ourselves and to commit to people's dignity.”
The campaign would involve several fund-raising efforts throughout the month.
“We have big plans ahead and we request the public's support,” Heywood said.
He urged people to visit the organisation's website for details about donating to the campaign.
Tutu urged people to support the TAC's initiative.
“Please show solidarity and prove your belief in others' humanity by donating to the TAC in the organisation's time of need,” he said in the pre-recorded message.
Sapa