Treatment Action Campaign
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The Treatment Action Campaign is a South African grassroots pressure group which was founded by Zackie Achmat, an HIV-positive activist who refused anti-retroviral treatment (ARV's) until they were universally available. He eventually began to take ARV's when it became clear that the government was soon to capitulate an implement nationwide treatment. ARV's began to be available at a national level in public hospitals in March 2004, yet the rollout is still incomplete.
The Treatment Action Campaign was launched on 10 December 1998, International Human Rights Day. Its main objective is to campaign for greater access to HIV treatment for all South Africans, by raising public awareness and understanding about issues surrounding the availability, affordability and use of HIV treatments.
The TAC sued the South African government for not ensuring that mother-to-child-transmision (MTCT) prevention was available to pregnant mothers. It won and the government was ordered to provide MTCT programs in public clinics.
The TAC has received widespread support from many sectors of South African society, including Supreme Court Justice Edwin Cameron, former President Nelson Mandela, Medecins Sans Frontiers, church groups, and many of the powerful South African trade unions.
TAC Officials
Chairperson - Zackie Achmat Vice-Chairperson - Mandla Majola National Secretary - Sipho Mthathi National Manager - Nathan Geffen National Executive Secretary - Rukia Cornelius National Women's Coordinator - Nonkosi Khumalo
External link
- Treatment Action Campaign (http://www.tac.org.za/)
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