Tens of thousands of South Africans have lost their lives because of former South African health minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang’s “ridiculous policies”, says Democratic Alliance spokesperson on health, Mike Waters.
Writing in the party’s monthly health newsletter Health Matters, Waters said Tshabalala Msimang should have been fired nine years ago.
Waters welcoming the decisiton by new president Kgalema Motlanthe to replace Manto Tshabalala-Msimang. He said former minister’s ridiculous policies should have seen her fired because “tens of thousand of South Africans” died because of it.
He said he hoped that the new minister, Barbara Hogan, would bring a breath of fresh air to this ministry. “We look forward to a constructive and fruitful relationship with her. “
Referring to Tshabalala-Msimang, Waters said to undo some of the damage she has done, the DA wants Hogan to address various critical issues urgently.
The first would be to actually tell people that HIV does cause Aids. But that Aids is not a death sentence, and that people can lead normal and productive lives while taking ARVs.
“The Minister also needs to ensure that our new president expresses these sentiments and is also seen as the champion of the HIV/Aids campaign.
He also called on the new minister to release the full report on the 142 babies that died in the Eastern Cape earlier this year.
