South Africa to Expand AIDS Treatment: Zuma

PRETORIA (Reuters) - South Africa, which has the world's highest HIV caseload, will roll out life-prolonging anti-retroviral drugs to significantly more people infected with the virus from next year, President Jacob Zuma said on Tuesday. Zuma announced a new era in the approach to AIDS in South Africa, where at least 5.7 million people are infected with HIV and predecessor Thabo Mbeki was accused of failing to address a sickness that kills an estimated 1,000 people a day.

"Let there be no more shame, no more blame, no more discrimination and no more stigma. Let the politicization and endless debates about HIV and AIDS stop," Zuma said in a speech on World AIDS Day.

From April 2010, all children under one year will get anti-retroviral drugs if they test positive. Pregnant women and patients with both tuberculosis and AIDS will receive treatment if their CD4 or T-cell counts are 350 or less.

Currently, public hospitals dispense ARVs when HIV deteriorates to AIDS and patients' CD4 counts are below 200. It was unclear exactly how many more people would now be covered, or how the government would meet the cost.

Former President Mbeki drew sharp criticism for questioning accepted AIDS science and failing to make life-prolonging ARVs widely available. Mbeki's health minister was lampooned for recommending garlic and beetroot as treatments.

But Zuma, an old rival of Mbeki who was elected this year, encouraged all South Africans to undergo HIV testing and likened the battle against AIDS to the struggle against apartheid.

ZUMA TO TAKE TEST

"Together we fought and defeated a system so corrupt and reviled that it was described as a crime against humanity. Together we can overcome this challenge," he said.

"I am making arrangements for my own test. I have taken HIV tests before, and I know my status. I will do another test soon as part of this new campaign. I urge you to start planning for your own tests."