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Department of Health needs to explain why it has not released survey from information collected in 2009
Survey needed for shaping health policy in South Africa
DA to submit Promotion of Access to Information Act application





The Democratic Alliance (DA) will be submitting an application in terms of the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) for a copy of the 2009 National Antenatal Sentinel HIV & Syphilis Prevalence Survey. The Survey is released annually, and is an important indicator of the prevalence and trends of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases in South Africa. While in previous years it has been released in March or April, the trend in recent years has been to release it later and later, making the information it contains more and more out of date.

The Department of Health should explain why it has not yet released this important document, considering we are already close to the end of 2010, and the information for this survey was collected in 2009. The Survey is the only comprehensive review of infection rates in the indicator group of pregnant women across the country and in the past, it has revealed important statistics and trends relating to South Africa's HIV/AIDS prevalence. In fact, in the previous year, it revealed that the country's prevalence rate amongst pregnant women had stabilized at 29%. The absence of the 2010 survey thus is deeply problematic in light of its role in shaping policy and determining priorities in the fight against HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases.

In addition to the PAIA application, I will be submitting parliamentary questions enquiring as to why the survey results have been so delayed, and what steps the Minister of Health, Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi, will take to ensure that these problems are overcome so that the information released is more relevant.