Liz Senior
JF-Expert Member
- Apr 19, 2007
- 483
- 53
The secret history of the ANCs response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic
Kama kawaida wakubwa wamegeuza mradi wa kujinufaisha na kuuza utu wa watu kwa tamaa zinazoendelea kuua hata pale ambapo isingelilazimu. Angalia unyama huu wanaofanyiwa Watz!Hii ni baadhi tu ya mistari ya taarifa inayotisha!
The secret history of the ANCs response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic
The involvement by the ANC of Mbeki in the promotion, protection, and development of Virodene - an African solution' for the African HIV/AIDS epidemic - is one of the most important, but least understood episodes in recent South African history. The story sprung to prominence in early 1997 after the South African cabinet announced that a possible cure for AIDS had been discovered. It subsequently dropped out of the public consciousness after the Medicines Control Council blocked trials of the drug in South Africa.
A great deal of new information has trickled out over the past few years about how the Virodene developers then went overseas to have the drug tested - first in the United Kingdom and then Tanzania - and who funded them. Virodene formula contains a highly toxic industrial solvent which may cause irreversible fatal liver damage".
In broad terms the ANC's involvement in the financing of the Tanzanian trials has been on the public record since mid-2002. However, over the weekend Fiona Forde reported in the Saturday Star that much of the money for these trials had been directly "sourced from the Presidency" between 2000 and 2001. The article added that "on numerous occasions, money was collected from the Presidency, in the Union Buildings' in briefcases and always in US dollars, and always $100 bills'."
Even now, with so much material in the public domain, the full significance of the whole Virodene affair seems to escape informed opinion. The main issue is not - as many seem to assume - that procedural short-cuts may have been taken in the testing of the drug in Tanzania. The key question is whether the emotional and financial investment in Virodene by top ANC leaders, contaminated the South African government's response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
Between October 1998 and March 2002 - the exact period in which Virodene was being tested - the ANC blocked the provision of anti-retrovirals through the public health care system in South Africa. This action resulted in tens of thousands of newborns unnecessarily contracting HIV from their mothers.
It was later claimed the drug has been tested on humans in a pilot study, a Phase 1 study (safety in health volunteers), and a Phase 2 study (safety and efficacy in subjects living with HIV/Aids), which appears to have been done in Tanzania in 2000hy he has little choice but to try and hold onto power.
(Later claimed)The Tanzanian government has decided to destroy two consignments of drugs imported from South Africa, Oxihumate, which were used as anti-retrovirals on HIV/AIDS sufferers. The decision was jointly reached by the Pharmacy Board and the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA), local media reported.
The drugs which have been entering the country for several years under the cover of the Chief of the Tanzania People's Defense Forces were being tested on HIV/AIDS victims who offered to undergo clinical trials at the Lugalo General Military Hospital in Dar es Salaam.
Hapa chini ni email ya mmoja wa wenye uchungu na yanayowakumba WaTz
1) Virodene was already banned from trial use in SA, UK and Germany in 1997
> yet it was brought to Tanzania and military people as well as civilians were
> put on trial. This is un ethical to we People living with HIV whom and the
> Government has the right to explain why such a purposely mistake occurred.
> 2) Civilians living with HIV who were on Virodene Trials were taken to
> Chiduduma at Gongolaboto a Hospital owned by ex-IGP Omari Mahita and some
> were accommodated at Mahita's residence for the period of the trial
> 3) What was the link between the Army Chief and the Police Chief to have
> these trials at the latter's Private Hospital?
> 4) PLHIV who undertook the trial were asked to sign a consent form in
> Kiswahili, which was also signed by Colonel Dr Bigambo the current Head of
> Lugalo CTC. My fellow PLHIV were not aware of the side effects of Virodene
> which was abolished 4 years ago in other parts of the World. Where are we,
> Tanzanians??????
> 5) Many people died because of this Virodene. How do we handle this since
> there was financial gain in the name of trials, which caused these deaths???
> 6) One Berege now the RC of Shinyanga was acting on behalf of his bosses to
> ensure that the trials are conducted
Kama kawaida wakubwa wamegeuza mradi wa kujinufaisha na kuuza utu wa watu kwa tamaa zinazoendelea kuua hata pale ambapo isingelilazimu. Angalia unyama huu wanaofanyiwa Watz!Hii ni baadhi tu ya mistari ya taarifa inayotisha!
The secret history of the ANCs response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic
The involvement by the ANC of Mbeki in the promotion, protection, and development of Virodene - an African solution' for the African HIV/AIDS epidemic - is one of the most important, but least understood episodes in recent South African history. The story sprung to prominence in early 1997 after the South African cabinet announced that a possible cure for AIDS had been discovered. It subsequently dropped out of the public consciousness after the Medicines Control Council blocked trials of the drug in South Africa.
A great deal of new information has trickled out over the past few years about how the Virodene developers then went overseas to have the drug tested - first in the United Kingdom and then Tanzania - and who funded them. Virodene formula contains a highly toxic industrial solvent which may cause irreversible fatal liver damage".
In broad terms the ANC's involvement in the financing of the Tanzanian trials has been on the public record since mid-2002. However, over the weekend Fiona Forde reported in the Saturday Star that much of the money for these trials had been directly "sourced from the Presidency" between 2000 and 2001. The article added that "on numerous occasions, money was collected from the Presidency, in the Union Buildings' in briefcases and always in US dollars, and always $100 bills'."
Even now, with so much material in the public domain, the full significance of the whole Virodene affair seems to escape informed opinion. The main issue is not - as many seem to assume - that procedural short-cuts may have been taken in the testing of the drug in Tanzania. The key question is whether the emotional and financial investment in Virodene by top ANC leaders, contaminated the South African government's response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
Between October 1998 and March 2002 - the exact period in which Virodene was being tested - the ANC blocked the provision of anti-retrovirals through the public health care system in South Africa. This action resulted in tens of thousands of newborns unnecessarily contracting HIV from their mothers.
It was later claimed the drug has been tested on humans in a pilot study, a Phase 1 study (safety in health volunteers), and a Phase 2 study (safety and efficacy in subjects living with HIV/Aids), which appears to have been done in Tanzania in 2000hy he has little choice but to try and hold onto power.
(Later claimed)The Tanzanian government has decided to destroy two consignments of drugs imported from South Africa, Oxihumate, which were used as anti-retrovirals on HIV/AIDS sufferers. The decision was jointly reached by the Pharmacy Board and the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA), local media reported.
The drugs which have been entering the country for several years under the cover of the Chief of the Tanzania People's Defense Forces were being tested on HIV/AIDS victims who offered to undergo clinical trials at the Lugalo General Military Hospital in Dar es Salaam.
Hapa chini ni email ya mmoja wa wenye uchungu na yanayowakumba WaTz
1) Virodene was already banned from trial use in SA, UK and Germany in 1997
> yet it was brought to Tanzania and military people as well as civilians were
> put on trial. This is un ethical to we People living with HIV whom and the
> Government has the right to explain why such a purposely mistake occurred.
> 2) Civilians living with HIV who were on Virodene Trials were taken to
> Chiduduma at Gongolaboto a Hospital owned by ex-IGP Omari Mahita and some
> were accommodated at Mahita's residence for the period of the trial
> 3) What was the link between the Army Chief and the Police Chief to have
> these trials at the latter's Private Hospital?
> 4) PLHIV who undertook the trial were asked to sign a consent form in
> Kiswahili, which was also signed by Colonel Dr Bigambo the current Head of
> Lugalo CTC. My fellow PLHIV were not aware of the side effects of Virodene
> which was abolished 4 years ago in other parts of the World. Where are we,
> Tanzanians??????
> 5) Many people died because of this Virodene. How do we handle this since
> there was financial gain in the name of trials, which caused these deaths???
> 6) One Berege now the RC of Shinyanga was acting on behalf of his bosses to
> ensure that the trials are conducted