Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009
| Subscribe to Newser's RSS feeds RSS | Follow Newser on Twitter Twitter


1

Mbeki AIDS Denial Killed 365K in South Africa

Study blames Mbeki for keeping antiretrovirals from citizens

Share

(Newser) – South Africa's failure to provide antiretroviral drugs to AIDS patients has cost 365,000 lives,  a new Harvard study finds. The report places the blame for the deaths with ousted president Thabo Mbeki, whose denial of AIDS' viral cause led Africa's richest country to ignore its sick citizens while other southern African nations provided medicine, the New York Times reports.

On his first day in office, new South African president Kgalema Motlanthe fired the government's health minister, who notoriously advised garlic, lemon juice, and beetroot as treatment for AIDS. Her replacement, who is trying to accelerate the expansion of antiretroviral treatments to the nation's 5.7 million HIV-positive citizens, said she felt "ashamed" by the Harvard report, but added, "The era of denialism is over completely in South Africa."

A blind woman holds her son's shoulder March 28, 2004 in Richards Bay, South Africa. The woman's husband has AIDS leaving her to be the sole provider for them and their two sons.
A blind woman holds her son's shoulder March 28, 2004 in Richards Bay, South Africa. The woman's husband has AIDS leaving her to be the sole provider for them and their two sons.   (Getty Images)
A man who has been ill from the effects of AIDS since 2000 is aided by a community caregiver March 28, 2004 in Richards Bay, South Africa. He lives alone and is estranged from the community but is visited by care workers.
A man who has been ill from the effects of AIDS since 2000 is aided by a community caregiver March 28, 2004 in Richards Bay, South Africa. He lives alone and is estranged from the community but is visited...   (Getty Images)
An older woman sits with her 12 adopted children from her community whose parents all died from AIDS March 27, 2004 in Richards Bay, South Africa. The children all remain untested for HIV/AIDS.
An older woman sits with her 12 adopted children from her community whose parents all died from AIDS March 27, 2004 in Richards Bay, South Africa. The children all remain untested for HIV/AIDS.   (Getty Images)
A woman holds her husband, who is dying of AIDS as their three adopted children, who have AIDS, pose in the background March 27, 2004 in Richards Bay, South Africa.
A woman holds her husband, who is dying of AIDS as their three adopted children, who have AIDS, pose in the background March 27, 2004 in Richards Bay, South Africa.   (Getty Images)
AIDS orphans play on the bed in their new adopted home March 6, 2004 in East London, South Africa. There are over 50 children in the home and most are HIV-positive.
AIDS orphans play on the bed in their new adopted home March 6, 2004 in East London, South Africa. There are over 50 children in the home and most are HIV-positive.   (Getty Images)
Two young girls pose with their alcoholic father March 4, 2004 in Eastern Cape, South Africa. The young girl on the right is HIV-positive. Her father's drinking habit consumes most of the government financial aid she receives from the state.
Two young girls pose with their alcoholic father March 4, 2004 in Eastern Cape, South Africa. The young girl on the right is HIV-positive. Her father's drinking habit consumes most of the government financial...   (Getty Images)
South African president Kgalema Motlanthe appointed a new health minister charged with stemming the AIDS epidemic on his first day in office.
South African president Kgalema Motlanthe appointed a new health minister charged with stemming the AIDS epidemic on his first day in office.   (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Former South African President Thabo Mbeki arrives for power sharing talks in Harare, Zimbabwe, Monday, Oct. 27, 2008.
Former South African President Thabo Mbeki arrives for power sharing talks in Harare, Zimbabwe, Monday, Oct. 27, 2008.   (AP Photo)
Two girls walk towards the Barcelona Baptist Church where abused and orphaned children are taken care of under the supervision of Pastor Julius Bonani in the poor area of Barselona, South Africa, Sunday, March 23, 2008.
Two girls walk towards the Barcelona Baptist Church where abused and orphaned children are taken care of under the supervision of Pastor Julius Bonani in the poor area of Barselona, South Africa, Sunday,...   (AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
OFF THE GRID
11.23.09
Books Are Bad for You
11.20.09
The Health-Care Wars Have Just Begun
1 comment
VIEWING:
 
Shannonals
Dec 4, 08 9:05 PM CST
The health minister should have been placed against a wall and shot Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
0
LEAVE A
COMMENT Comment Policy
Facebook ConnectPost this comment to Facebook?

After connecting you will have the option to post your comment on your Facebook profile.

 

Related Newser Stories

87 Stories

CAN YOU TELL ME HOW TO GET...?

 At 40, Sesame Street 
 Hasn't Aged a Bit 

Classic kids' show pioneered educational entertainment

Nov 9, 09 4:00 AM CST
(Newser) - The first kids who learned the letters of the alphabet from Sesame Street could have grandchildren by now—but Big Bird hasn't aged a day. Using TV to educate preschoolers was a radical concept in 1969, when Sesame Street founder Joan Ganz Cooney and Muppet creator Jim Henson launched their... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Michelle Obama • HIV • South Africa • Johnny Cash • Jake Gyllenhaal • Sesame Street • Muppets • Jim Henson • Joan Ganz Cooney

 Accelerated Aging 
 Tied to HIV/AIDS 

Middle-aged sufferers have symptoms of HIV-negative 80-year-olds

Nov 2, 09 3:25 PM CST
(Newser) - The aging population of Americans with HIV/AIDS is in a much different spot than those infected before the drug cocktail was introduced in the mid-1990s. But new research reveals disturbing trends related to aging. The cause is likely either the disease or the medications, and the result is symptoms—from... More »

MORE ABOUT:
AIDS • dementia • HIV • memory loss • osteoporosis • HIV/AIDS • medication • drug cocktail • mild cognitive impairment • gay men

 Obama Lifts HIV+ Travel Ban 

President extends bill funding care for low-income HIV/AIDS patients

Oct 30, 09 1:25 PM CDT
(Newser) - HIV-positive individuals will no longer be banned from visiting or immigrating to the US, President Obama announced today. The president discussed the revocation of the ban, which has stood since 1987, at today's signing of an extension of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS bill. That bill provides funding for HIV/AIDS testing... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Bush administration • travel • HIV • HIV/AIDS • US Congress • George W. Bush • Obama administration • HIV travel ban • President Obama • Ryan White

87 Stories


Q&A with Barbara Hogan, the new health minister
News24 (South Africa)

Universal testing and treatment could end epidemic in 10 years
Washington Post


World  •  Science & Health 
TwitterFollow @NewserWorld on Twitter

 
AIDS • HIV • South Africa • Thabo Mbeki • HIV/AIDS • AIDS epidemic • Kgalema Motlanthe

from our news partners