Treatment Action Campaign

On 10 December 2010 (International Human Rights Day) TAC had the honour of accepting the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Human Rights Award. TAC Chairperson, Nonkosi Khumalo, and Lusikisiki District Coordinator, Noloyiso Nthamehlo, accepted the award on behalf of TAC. To see photos of the awards cermony click here.

To hear the audio interview with Nonkosi Khumalo please click here.

TDF-based regimens are now being sold at prices that are competitive with d4T-based regimens. If accessed, these competitive prices will allow the DoH to improve regimens without the need for additional financial resources. The steps laid out in this policy brief must be taken to ensure that these competitive prices are available in South Africa, so that first line d4T-based regimens can be phased out and replaced with TDF-based FDCs.
 

TAC’s General Secretary, Vuyiseka Dubula, and Chairperson, Nonkosi Khumalo, will be presented with the John M. Lloyd Award in recognition of their leadership in HIV/AIDS. They will be presented the award on 5 March 2010 in Los Angeles, USA. The award, presented by the John M. Lloyd Foundation, is intended to recognize, develop and empower HIV/AIDS advocacy leaders that have not yet been extensively recognized.
The award recognizes the remarkable work of these two women in two preeminent HIV/AIDS organizations in South Africa, the Treatment Action Campaign and the AIDS Law Project (ALP). The John M. Lloyd Foundation hopes that the award will amplify the impact of their work.

The Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) expresses condolence to the family, children and the ANC on the death of Manto Tshabalala-Msimang. Although we had differences with the former minister of health, we do not wish ill-health or death upon anyone. She played a critical and courageous role in the struggle for liberation. Only history will judge all of us on what we have done to save the lives of thousands of people living with HIV.

Here is an article by Jonathan Berger of the AIDS Law Project on the death of the former health minister.

I would like to take the opportunity today, International Human Rights Day, to salute our comrades in the struggle for access to treatment.

First I want to salute some of our fallen comrades - Oupa Fazi, Nkosinathi Magwala, Nomfundo Somana, Edward Mabunda, John Vollenhoven, Dr Steve Andrews, Dr Ivan Toms, Dr Sarah Ann Christianson, Violet Seboni, Thandokazi Kweta, Nandipha Makeke, Lorna Mlofana, Thabisile Mabuya and others.

Also, I salute our comrades who have committed and dedicated their youth and adult life to the struggle for access to treatment for people living with HIV.

TAC staff and members in the Mopani, Limpopo picketed at Giyani in Kholehala Village as part of events to commemorate World AIDS Day.

The picket was organized to follow up on the memorandum handed over to the Mopani Department of Health in July of 2009 as part of  TAC's resources for health campaign to meet the targets of the National Strategic Plan (2007-2011) for the treatment and prevention of HIV and TB. Click on the video to watch footage of the picket and listen to the statements of TAC Limpopo Provincial Coordinator, Lawrence Mbalati.

10th December is marked globally as an International Human Rights Day. On this day the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) celebrates its eleventh anniversary. We are celebrating 11 years of hard work to ensure that every person living with HIV has access to quality comprehensive prevention and treatment services to live a healthy life. It is befitting that on this day the TAC will be receiving the Human Rights Award of the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Foundation.

TAC is also carrying out a week of action as part of our birthday celebration and to sustain activism arould World AIDS Day. See the full list of activities attached.

             
International agency Oxfam today welcomed the prestigious Human Rights Award given to the South African HIV and AIDS organization the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) by the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung/ Foundation.

The TAC has been an Oxfam partner in South Africa for several years.

Oxfam ambassador and TAC supporter Annie Lennox said: "I am absolutely delighted that the TAC have been awarded the prestigious FES Human Rights Award 2009 for the extraordinary achievement they have accomplished so far."
 

Following on other important speeches in recent months, President Zuma’s World AIDS Day address reaffirmed government’s new-found commitment to fighting HIV/AIDS in an open, serious, and evidence-based manner. TAC welcomes the president’s call for people to get tested and his public admission of having taken HIV tests himself.

TAC messages for World Aids Day

“South Africa is taking responsibity”

Resources for health to meet the National Strategic Plan (2007-2011) targets: towards universal access to treatment now!

Click on the link to read TAC's statement and see events planned for World AIDS Day.