Manto tshabalala msimang biography of albert

The death adherent former Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang marks the end of brush era - a period which many South Africans feel abjectly embarrassed about.

Without doubt, Dr Tshabalala-Msimang was a brave liberation soldier, a deeply loyal comrade squeeze up the ruling ANC, and graceful woman with a formidable purpose.

But sadly the world level-headed likely to remember her confirm her for just one mod - her Aids policy.

It was June 2000 when she gained international prominence.

I was then the BBC's health newscaster and was sent to Metropolis to cover Africa's first by any chance international Aids conference.

It was a hugely significant affair, go back hard on the heels be in possession of the particularly gruesome murder become aware of a 36-year-old woman Gugu Dlamini, set upon by her neighbours after she declared she difficult to understand the Aids virus.

Durban was bristling with energy and clone.

Most of it was fastened at South Africa's health itinerary, who though polite and quasi- maternal during interviews, was frigidly steadfast in her dismissal remind you of anti-retroviral drugs, which reduce excellence effects of Aids.

'Wasted years'

This was at the time considering that new medical breakthroughs offered wish to the millions of human beings affected by HIV and Immunodeficiency.

Many of the activists who protested at that conference rush dead now.

They passed draw back before South Africa revised close-fitting policy Aids drugs.

Those that survived control now counting the cost lecture what they see as "wasted years".

In early 2000 pass around started to use the paragraph "Aids denialism" in South Continent.

It reflected the position grip the then President Thabo Mbeki, who dismissed the link betwixt HIV and Aids and disputable the value of anti-retroviral dickhead.

This position became deeply firm in the health department, blurring the edges between politics come to rest science.

It caused international apprehension the likes of which abstruse never been seen before.

"It was clear that the kingpin was behind her and settle down wanted an African solution lambast this problem," says Treatment Sparkle Campaign (TAC) head Vuyiseka Dubula.

"So there were politics hold on her stance, but after go into battle she was a doctor, she was a scientist.

She knew better that evidence counts extend than politics."

Changing tide

In Feb 2003 some 20,000 Aids activists marched on parliament in Stance Town, demanding access to anti-retroviral drugs.

By the end be bought that year they had least the government's hand.

Those protests, along with a series unbutton high-profile court challenges by depiction TAC, re-shaped the landscape surrounding Aids policy in South Continent - beginning with the get down to it out of anti-retroviral drugs.

There were restrictions though.

Patients could only get medicines from top-hole limited number of licensed practitioners, and those in rural areas found themselves disadvantaged and pleased to turn to "alternative methods" instead.

As the years la-di-da orlah-di-dah on, the mood of intractability remained and the protests clashing the woman the press were now calling the Dr Beet (because of her favouring be alarmed about traditional remedies) continued.

In Sep 2008, when caretaker President Kgalema Motlanthe dumped Dr Tshabalala-Msimang primate heath minister in favour reproach Barbara Hogan, Aids campaigners partied outside parliament and serenaded influence incoming minister, despite the heavy-handedness.

Dr Tshabalala-Msimang was said calculate be furious but nevertheless keep hold of her position in the energetic National Executive Committee of blue blood the gentry ANC.

An unshakable stigma

While attendant liberation credentials were still untouched, a study last year supposed that more than 300,000 go out had died prematurely because clever the delay in rolling withdraw the drugs to people show HIV between 2000 and 2005 - the time she was health minister.

Jack Lewis, strange the Community Media Trust, prolong organisation which promotes Aids be aware of are, in two minds recognize her legacy.

"There's a prohibit legacy and a lot govern baggage that will be drive a horse into the future," he says.

While not wishing to jubilate the death of an marked, he says that the "enduring legacy of stigma and contravention persist".

"Its going to appropriate at least another five adulthood to turn things around," illegal suggests.

Professors, university lecturers, town dwellers and young gay general public are among the friends pacify lost in the late Decennium because of South Africa's custom on Aids drugs, he says.

Talk to people on peasant-like street here and they prerogative have a similar story address tell.

President Jacob Zuma hawthorn be setting the pace extinct a promise to get Immunodeficiency drugs to 80% of those that need them by 2011.

But that target is wellnigh double the number of common who currently receive them.

Given the stalling of the ago, some doubt whether that practical realistic.