Zuma’€™s statements during his budget speech have come in the wake of growing animosity between those who believe that vitamins-only and nutrition are the appropriate treatment or ‘€œcure’€ for HIV/AIDS and doctors, activists and international organizations such as the United Nations who believe that anti-retrovirals coupled with appropriate nutrition and vitamin supplements are the ideal treatment to manage the chronic disease.

Health minister Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang has also made no secret of her concerns over the ‘€œtoxicity’€ of anti-retrovirals preferring to punt a diet of lemon, garlic, beetroot, olive oil and ginger.

‘€œLet me emphasise that our position is that nutrition is not a substitute for appropriate treatment, but prolongs good health and serves as a solid foundation that determines the success of other medical interventions,’€ Zuma told the National Assembly.

He said that public education remained an important part of the national programme, including the campaign to destigmatise the disease.

‘€œIf we succeed in destigmatising, we will have an environment in which people find it easier to take the HIV test, not for the result to be known publicly, but confidentially in order to know their status.

‘€œIf negative, they will then strive to stay that way, if positive, they will have to adjust their lifestyles accordingly.

‘€œPart of the management of HIV and AIDS includes the need to alleviate poverty and provide nutrition for people infected with HIV, in order to build the body’€™s defence mechanism,’€ Zuma added.    

He emphasized the pillars of the Comprehensive Plan including prevention, enhancing the treatment of opportunistic infections, and effective management of those HIV positive individuals who have developed AIDS defining illnesses.

‘€œLet me reiterate the seriousness with which government is treating this epidemic. This is borne out by the magnitude of government expenditure in implementing our Comprehensive HIV and AID Care, Management and Treatment Plan,’€ he said.

Zuma said he was aware of some further work that needed to be done including the need to continue to work at removing the obstacle which limits the ability of some women to protect themselves against HIV infection, ‘€œnamely the unequal power relations between men and women’€.

He said the question of the emancipation of women in all spheres remained paramount if Government were to make a visible impact in curbing the spread of the disease.

E-mail Anso Thom