Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) http://www.tac.org.za For Widest Distribution TAC Response to Cabinet Statement "DEVELOP AN ARV PLAN FOR THE PUBLIC SECTOR IN ONE MONTH"--CABINET INSTRUCTION WELCOMED BY THE TREATMENT ACTION CAMPAIGN 8 August 2003 There is cause for celebration and optimism. Government has decided to provide anti-retroviral therapy in the public sector in South Africa. The Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) welcomes the Cabinet's instruction to the Department of Health to develop an operational plan within one month to provide ARVs in the public sector. The Cabinet endorsed the findings of the Joint Health and Treasury Task Team Report that between 500,000 and 1.7 million lives will be saved with anti-retroviral therapy. It also reaffirmed the science of HIV/AIDS pathogenesis and treatment. This is a critical step to develop a more comprehensive treatment and prevention plan for managing the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Properly implemented, this will restore hope, dignity and life for millions of people in our country, and, hope throughout the continent. This will also give doctors, nurses and communities the opportunity to work together with government to build a better health care system that meets the needs of all people in South Africa. The TAC National Executive will formally suspend the civil disobedience campaign and reconsider pending litigation early next week. We welcome Cabinet's bold step today but we also remember the anguish, pain and unnecessary loss of lives over the last four years. The end of policy and political vacillation reveals the real hard work to all of us. TAC pledges to put its full weight and support behind the successful implementation of all interventions aimed at alleviating the HIV epidemic. We will work with government to save lives and build a better health service. The private sector, drug companies, civil society, international agencies and individuals need to redouble our efforts to improve prevention, treatment and care. We salute the efforts of every person living with HIV/AIDS, doctors, nurses, scientists, government administrators and all people who contributed to the report and the struggle for a treatment and prevention plan. Let's get to work!