The content on this page is not written by Polity.org.za, but is supplied by third parties. This content does not constitute news reporting by Polity.org.za.

Parliament's portfolio committee on health has heard that the national programme designed to coordinate the research, development and testing of HIV vaccines is currently underfunded by R68 million. The funding received by the South African AIDS Vaccine Initiative (SAAVI) constitutes less than 15% of the amount that is actually required, and the Democratic Alliance (DA) believes that this shortfall is inexcusable, given the crucial nature of the work being undertaken by this programme. A total of R79.8 million is needed in order to continue with clinical trials this year, however only R11.8 million has been received. The data, revealed by the Medical Research Council this past week, shows that despite South Africa's ongoing AIDS crisis, there seems to be little political will to ensure that a crucial initiative, which has long relied on the Department of Health as a primary source of funding, receives adequate assistance. Over five million South Africans are infected with HIV - the highest number of infections of any country in the world, so it goes without saying that the pioneering work of this programme should receive priority treatment from the government. Indeed, the development of an HIV vaccine would be an enormous achievement for South Africa and our efforts to combat the AIDS crisis, so to turn off funding at this stage is simply inexcusable.
Of particular concern is the fact that the funding gap is little more than the total amount spent by the ANC government on ministerial vehicles - currently approximately R50 million - and is entirely trivial compared to the more than half a billion rand that was spent on expanding the cabinet. In addition the South African National Aids Trust (SANAT), which has been dormant for several years, has over R39 million in its trust. We believe the department should investigate whether this money could not be considered for vaccine trials. I will be writing to the Minister of Health and the Minister of Finance in this regard asking them to intervene as a matter of urgency, in order to prevent this crucial initiative from failing altogether