[Ip-health] Treatment Action Campaign Update and Appeal

[Christina Villegas]

NATIONAL: 34 Main Road, Muizenberg, 7945. Tel: 021-788 3507 Fax: 021-788
3726
EMAIL: info@tac.org.za  WEBSITE: http://ww.tac.org.za


APPEAL TO SUPPORT THE TREATMENT ACTION CAMPAIGN!!
UPDATE AND CONTINUING SUCCESS


Dear IP List,

In South Africa, 800 lives are lost to AIDS and 1000 new HIV infections
occur on a daily  basis. This is despite a government promise to provide
comprehensive AIDS treatment and prevent new infections. The destruction and
social dislocation resulting from this is tragic and unacceptable for a
country that has the resources to do better. Continued failure to
acknowledge HIV and AIDS as a crisis and to take decisive action has forced
the TAC to step up pressure for the government to respond properly to end
this crisis.
800 deaths a day should be intolerable in any society and we will not
tolerate it. This is why we called on the President to convene a national
crisis meeting on AIDS. Since the TAC's Global Call to Action was initiated
Government has begun to show will and new commitment to tackle the crisis of
HIV/AIDS. The country's AIDS plan is being reviewed and effort is underway
to restructure the country's coordinating body on AIDS (SANAC).

TAC welcomes these positive change steps and is participating in these
processes. However, we believe that continued public pressure is necessary
to ensure implementation of existing policies, including the scaling of
treatment.  In view of this, TAC is scaling up its campaigns and programmes
including scale up of treatment and prevention services, gender based
violence which is linked to high rates of HIV infections in SA, TB including
XDR TB and community mobilization to promote HIV testing.

We believe that the lives of millions of depend upon our success.  It is
with the support of individuals like you that has allowed us to move toward
positive lasting changes in how HIV/AIDS is addressed in South Africa.

If you support this campaign we appeal to you to help us by donating to
TAC's Campaign Fund. If you are employed donate via our website Donate Now
and encourage your friends, family and comrades to do the same. Every
donation will be recorded and audited. TAC's audited financial statements
for previous years are publicly available. To find out more about the work
of TAC and how you could become more involved, please visit our website
www.tac.org.za or contact our National Office on +2721 788 3507.

For Financial Contributions speak to bongekile@tac.org.za +2731 304 3673 and
deborah@tac.org.za +2711 339 8421.


Thank you.

Sipho Mthathi      Zackie Achmat
TAC General Secretary     TAC Chairperson