Cape Town - The country’s lawmakers could find themselves having to publicly test for HIV if Parliament heeds a call by Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi.
Addressing MPs this week during his budget vote in the National Assembly, Motsoaledi said while the country had made inroads in fighting HIV/Aids and tuberculosis, and had launched the biggest testing campaign in the world, Parliament had not publicly shown its support. “There is one extremely powerful place in this country where the HIV, counselling and testing campaign has never been launched. It is called the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa.”
His call was welcomed by the DA with the party’s spokeswoman on health, Patricia Kopane, saying the testing of MPs was about “leading by example”.
“As the DA we welcome such initiative, but it must be done voluntarily. We can’t fight the HIV/Aids scourge unless we as leaders lead by example. It’s like being a parent… you can’t tell children to lead their lives in a certain manner when you as a parent go out and do the opposite.”
Motsoaledi, who is probably the country’s most admired health minister since 1994, said while the country had “turned the corner” as far as HIV was concerned, “we should not be complacent - we still have a very long road to travel”.
However, almost two million HIV-positive people had been put on ARVs, the number of ARV centres had increased from 490 in early 2010 to 3 540 today, the country’s life expectancy had lengthened to almost 60 years.
Motsoaledi urged the National Assembly Speaker Max Sisulu to set aside a date to launch the HIV, counselling and testing campaign. This would see Sisulu and the chair of the National Council of Provinces Mninwa Mahlangu taking the lead, followed by political leaders of all parties, then provincial legislatures and municipalities. “I promise to supply a GeneXpert unit as well as a mobile X-ray unit for the benefit of members of this Parliament because you will need to be screened for TB as well.”
The comprehensive rollout of ARV therapy has been hailed as a major contributor to the country’s improved life expectancy, which according to StatsSA is currently at 59.6 years, up from 51 about 10 years ago.
Parliamentary spokesman Luzuko Jacobs said Parliament acknowledged the “importance” of the HIV Counselling and Testing campaign, but Motsoaledi would have to make a formal request before it could be considered.
Bevan Goqwana, chairman of the parliamentary oversight committee on health and the new standing committee on HIV/Aids, also welcomed Motsoaledi’s call, but said the emphasis would have to be put on counselling.
Cape Argus