South Africa - The Pills and the Potato
The campaign in South Africa, mainly by women, to have the government recognise and distribute antiretroviral drugs to combat the spreading of AIDS. The government is criticised for sending out mixed messages and only advocates a diet of garlic and lemon as a treatment.
In recent months, how best to treat HIV and Aids has marked a raging health debate in South Africa. On one hand, a vocal lobby, the Treatment Action Campaign. They're calling for free anti-Aids drugs in public health facilities. On the other, a health ministry that appears to be dragging its heels in providing them. The government has repeatedly argued it isn't ready yet. Fanning the flames is the Minister of Health, who is promoting alternative therapies - like a highly-publicized garlic and olive oil diet.
The stand-off ended last week when the government agreed to the immediate roll-out of the drugs in the provinces, averting legal action by TAC.
In this feature, we visit Lusikisiki in the Eastern Cape... where a test site is already providing anti-retrovirals. And in Bloemfontein we meet the controversial woman behind the so-called garlic diet. 00.03.07 - One of the few clinics in Eastern Cape, South Africa, which provides AIDS antiretroviral drugs to the poor 03.55 -a few hours into the countryside from Lusikisiki, S.A. 05.42 - group of activists prepare to march for antiretrovirals in public hospitals 06.35 - women march 08.24 - protester saying the Minister of Health should be arrested for culpable homicide for not distributing antiretroviral drugs 10.58 -the two women behind the lemon, olive oil, garlic treatment for AIDS which works by boosting the immune system 23.29 - visit of councillor to family of a user of antiretroviral drugs
FULL SYNOPSIS
The stand-off ended last week when the government agreed to the immediate roll-out of the drugs in the provinces, averting legal action by TAC.
In this feature, we visit Lusikisiki in the Eastern Cape... where a test site is already providing anti-retrovirals. And in Bloemfontein we meet the controversial woman behind the so-called garlic diet. 00.03.07 - One of the few clinics in Eastern Cape, South Africa, which provides AIDS antiretroviral drugs to the poor 03.55 -a few hours into the countryside from Lusikisiki, S.A. 05.42 - group of activists prepare to march for antiretrovirals in public hospitals 06.35 - women march 08.24 - protester saying the Minister of Health should be arrested for culpable homicide for not distributing antiretroviral drugs 10.58 -the two women behind the lemon, olive oil, garlic treatment for AIDS which works by boosting the immune system 23.29 - visit of councillor to family of a user of antiretroviral drugs