New South African government shows commitment to HIV/AIDS, health care, editorial says

Sep 2 2009

"The new government of President Jacob Zuma seems to have a clearer-eyed view of the [HIV/AIDS] problem, its remedies and the need to improve the overall health care system" in South Africa, according to a New York Times editorial. "Fixing what's broken will not be easy, but we are encouraged by signs of a commitment to do so," the newspaper writes, pointing to health minister Aaron Motsoaledi's acceptance of last week's Lancet examination of South Africa's health system. 

"South Africa's leaders must espouse sensible, scientifically based advice about AIDS and put in place programs that seek to both treat and prevent the disease," according to the editorial. "The problem is bigger than AIDS. The government must work to improve the quality of health care, ensure that all South Africans have access to the system and fire incompetent staff," writes the New York Times (8/30).