Nozizwe challenges Mbeki and Manto on HIV
It’s refreshing to see someone taking a proper stance on the whole HIV/AIDS issue. Congratulations to Deputy Health Minister Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge who recently criticized both President Thabo Mbeki and Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang on their shortcomings in dealing with the crisis.
She has always been outspoken and a voice of reason within the government and I was quite impressed with what she had to say recently. Nizizwe was recently interviewed by a British newspaper where she took issue with those who promoted traditional medicine as an alternative to regular medicine.
She was also critical of the appointment of Professor Herbert Vilakazi as chairperson of a “task team” on traditional medicine. Why this man was invited to join, let alone lead the “task team†is beyond the reasoning of most straight thinking people. This is the man who claims to be able to cure AIDS with his “Ubhejane†product. This without ANY scientific testing whatsoever! The man should be censured for false advertising at the very least.
She also told the paper “Now I’ve not been gagged formally. It’s not like there’s a letter telling me not to talk about HIV and Aids, but I’ve been sanctioned because I’ve spoken in parliament and been told I may lose my job. I must only say what she says and this is official. For me that is gagging but I’ve not observed the gag. I’ve just said what I think ought to be said and nobody has told me to shut up. So I think, I’ve taken this to mean, what the government has wanted done from the point of view… that there have to be clear and consistent messages. This is what I’m doing, contributing to that.”
One can only wonder when she will lose her job for criticizing the powers-that-be! I hope not, as she seems to be the only one there with her head screwed on right! As she once said: “We beat apartheid so we must be able to beat AIDS.â€.
For more on this story, surf on over to the IOL website by clicking on this link.
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