HIV/AIDS Committee Report: adoption

JOINT MONITORING COMMITTEE ON THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND THE STATUS OF WOMEN
14 November 2001
HIV/AIDS COMMITTEE REPORT: ADOPTION

Chairperson: Ms P Govender

Documents Handed Out
Report of Joint Monitoring Committee on Improvement of Quality of Life & Status of Women

SUMMARY:
The Committee presented the report on the impact of HIV/AIDS on women and girls following the HIV/AIDS hearings of the past months. The report was unanimously adopted.

MINUTES
Deputy Chairperson, Ms P Themba explained that the purpose of this meeting was to adopt the committee's report on HIV/AIDS. The committee read through the report following changes made after the closed meeting on the report of the previous week.

How Best Can South Africa Address the Horrific Impact of HIV/AIDS on Women and Girls ?
The Chairperson, Ms Govender, proceeded through the report. The report consists of the committee's conclusions and recommendations following the HIV/AIDS hearings, where the views of both civil society and government were presented in numerous oral and written submissions. The report remained out of the current debate about whether HIV causes AIDS, working from the premise that HIV does cause AIDS.

The main points of the report were summarised. Statistical data presented at the hearings confirmed the seriousness of the epidemic in South Africa. There are several determinants of the epidemic: behavioural factors, such as unprotected sexual intercourse, multiple partners as well as socio-economic factors such as poverty, migrant labour, the low status of women in society, and stigmatising of the disease. Women are worst affected by the disease because of their inferior economic and social status, violence against women, and other biological factors. The committee recommends a holistic integrated response encompassing prevention and treatment, and endorses the Government's HIV/AIDS/STD Strategic Plan for South Africa 2000-2005.

The report emphasises the need to address HIV/AIDS and its intersection with gender based violence and poverty. In relation to this the committee recommends replacing the term 'Mother to Child Transmission' with 'Parent to Child Transmission', since the former reinforces society's blaming of women for HIV/AIDS. In fact in most cases the women is infected by her male partner, and in turn passes the virus on to their child.

The Committee concluded that the ABC (Abstain, Be Faithful, Condomise) campaign does not work because there are so many socio-cultural barriers to women's sexual autonomy. There is an overlap of the dual epidemics of HIV and gender violence in women's lives, such as the myth that sleeping with a virgin cures HIV/AIDS.  The committee endorses priority areas and goals of the SA Strategic HIV/AIDS/STD plan, which includes prevention, treatment, care and support, research, monitoring and surveillance (AIDS vaccine development and policy research) and the creation of an appropriate social environment via human and legal rights.

The committee called on men and boys to recognise their role and responsibility in stopping the spread of HIV/AIDS. The committee endorsed the use of Neviropene in the prevention of Parent to Child Transmission (PTCT), as well as the use of infant formula. The committee also recommended the use of anti-retrovirals (ARV's) as post-exposure prophylaxis for rape, and felt outrage at the idea that a 100% full-proof preventative measure would not be used to prevent the additional tragedy of the rape survivor contracting HIV/AIDS.

The report cited the example of Brazil as a developing country resembling South Africa where a 'treatment and prevention campaign' had been implemented successfully. The report said that South Africa should take steps to ensure that nothing in the TRIPS (Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights) would prevent the protection of public health. In other words it is possible to change the agreement to ensure that affordable generics can be produced to provide for sustained treatment for all. 'Treatment for all' is not a pipe dream.

Summaries of each of the written and Oral submissions are included in appendix A of the report.

Discussion
Dr J Benjamin made the point that although the committee had recommended changing the term Mother to child transmission (MTCT) to Parent to child transmission (PTCT) this had not been used consistently throughout the report. She  referred to Section E: The Committee endorsing Priority Areas and Goals of South Africa's Strategic HIV/AIDS/STD.

The chairperson pointed out that this had been a direct quote from the government's strategic plan.

Dr Benjamin, however, insisted on this point and that the committee should somehow indicate that the term 'MTCT' was outside of their recommended language.

The chairperson agreed to this.

Ms S Botha acknowledged the invaluable work reflected in this report but pointed out that the real problem consisted of the persistence of the dissidents in the idea that HIV does not cause AIDS.

The chairperson pointed out that the committee had addressed this issue without engaging in the controversial debate by working on the premise that HIV does cause AIDS.

Another DA member, part of the sub committee on the HIV/AIDS hearings congratulated the committee on pulling together a set of very diverse hearings, emphasising the central role of the chairperson, Ms Govender, in producing this report. She furthermore commented that the report needed to address the problem of younger girls having sex with older men.

Ms J Kgoali stated that the committee should follow up issues raised in this report, rather than changing the content of the current report. She addressed Ms Botha's criticism by reminding her that the president had earlier given this committee permission to address all departments to achieve its aims. One member pointed out the importance of the Government's HIV/AIDS/STD Strategy Plan in relation to shaping this report.

Other members commented on the need for further groundwork and research in rural areas.

The deputy chairperson, Ms Themba, suggested the immediate adoption of the report, rather than continuing to debate it now.

The chairperson explained that it would have to be tabled in both houses of parliament to be followed by a debate in both houses.

Ms Themba said that the committee must table the report before the end of the year. Other members said that it is preferable for the report was tabled at the same time that it was debated.

 
Ms J  Kgoali said that the presence of the media at the meeting suggested that the committee adopt the report now, even though strategically it made more sense to debate and table simultaneously.

The decision was taken that the committee would adopt the report now, and debate it next year.

The Chairperson suggested that members draw up a questionnaire and some guidelines for post report hearings.

Dr. Benjamin suggested that the discussions should not be called hearings but 'report backs'.

There was further discussion concerning popularising the report in rural areas, in other words of having hearings with MP's in these areas.

Ms S Maine said that the committee must be realistic, ensuring it is equipped to achieve such proposals. A request was made for a breakdown of the financial resources of  Provincial Population Units (PPU's) by next week.

The report on violence against women would be circulated next year.

The meeting concluded with a farewell and thanks to Ms S Dawood, who is moving to the NCOP. The committee also thanked Ms S Pauw, committtee clerk; and Ms C Rustin, committee researcher, whose experience in the health sector was invaluable in organising the HIV/AIDS hearings.

Sophie Maine thanked the media for the exposure of the committee's work. She also thanked the opposition. Ms B Sono (DA), thanked the ANC members. Finally the chairperson thanked the Parliamentary Monitoring Group (PMG).

The meeting was adjourned.