Someone who remained silent during the decade of denialism has got a mouth now!
Every quack in the world was allowed to promote their deadly, untested potions with impunity.
I remember, and so many of you in this House remember that. We must never again be intimidated into silence as we were during the decade of denialism. Never again! [Applause.] So, I am glad to hear hon Turok has found his voice.
We are now witnessing, at first hand, the consequences of this denial in the 1 000 deaths per day, and the increased child and maternal mortality rates. Our health system is creaking under the additional pressure placed on it, and it is simply not coping.
In addition, we now have, according to the government's own report, 2,1 million maternal orphans. I know the Minister mentioned a figure of 1,3 million. Whether it is 2,1 million or 1,3 million, the figure is a disgrace!
We have 870 000 double orphans, meaning that they have lost both mom and dad, in this country. While nothing will bring back the hundreds of thousands of people who have died from Aids, an apology and recognition of our failures would be a start. There is great relief that the decade of denialism is over and that sound, proven scientific evidence is the order of the day.
While recognising the immediate past, we must now as MPs and society as a whole, join hands in combating the scourge once and for all through supporting the efforts that the Minister has mentioned here today, and what the department is trying to achieve in breaking down the walls of stigma and ignorance. As I have said, we must never again be intimidated into silence.
Minister, the DA welcomes the initiatives announced by the President on World Aids Day last year, and would encourage the department to look at the recommendations of the latest report, which we alluded to, that suggest that by hitting hard and hitting early, we can combat the scourge of HIV/Aids.
Another consequence of the HIV pandemic is that of tuberculosis, TB, which the Minister has also mentioned. It has become the biggest natural killer in South Africa. Today we have one of the highest rates of TB in the world, with over 74 000 people dying of TB in 2008, up from 22 000 dying of TB in 1995; that is a 339% increase.
It is estimated that over 480 000 South Africans are infected with TB and that we have 28% of the world's population with dual HIV and TB infections. In general, South Africa is not succeeding in getting TB under control, which is clearly demonstrated by cure rates which remain below the World Health Organisation, WHO, target of 85%.
A progressively increasing incidence and prevalence of multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis, MDR-TB, and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis, XDR-TB, are also reported. If cure rates are not at least 85%, then the residual untreated TB that exists in communities will spread to more people. Rather than seeing that it is brought under control, what we are doing by not having a cure rate of 85% is basically breeding TB! We are not curing it.
There are many factors that need to be addressed in order to improve cure rates. One important one that South Africa is addressing quite well is the detection rate, which the Minister has alluded to. South Africa also has good treatment regimes and good approaches to the isolation and treatment of TB, and MDR-TB and XDR-TB.
Where we are weak is in treatment adherence support. The WHO gold standard is Directly Observed Treatment, DOT, which South Africa has implemented relatively well. However, despite good DOT coverage, we are not seeing improved outcomes. Many agree that this is because patients do not take their medication correctly and do not complete their courses.
Government has invested heavily in infrastructure development, for example, the new TB hospitals which the Minister mentioned. However, these hospitals focus on treating the failure of TB control and do little to improve broader cure rates.
The DA believes improving cure rates rests primarily on improving treatment adherence, which requires two fundamental areas of investment: better, which is not only training but far more regular, meaningful mentoring; and building better relationships with patients.
In conclusion, I reiterate the DA's commitment to fighting HIV and the associated consequences. I thank you very much. [Time expired.] [Applause.]