Chairperson, I want to tell her exactly what I'm talking about. The hon member accessed the internet and read half-baked information. The internet can be "garbage in and garbage out", if information is not synthesised.
What you have done is like shouting "Fire!" in a tree that is packed with children. There are examples of that all over the world. The issue of the side effects of medicine - I said this that day - is not something that is debated in Parliament. It is something that is decided upon by scientists who have been well trained, because these are very sensitive issues.
Two weeks ago I was with Lord Nigel Krisher at the British embassy. He was bemoaning the fact that one of these "internet scientists" posted an incorrect statement on the internet that the measles vaccine caused autism. Parents got scared; deadly scared. And the rate of immunisation in Britain, a developed country, fell by 15%. There was a measles outbreak because they believed that person.
As I'm standing here, let me tell you what happened in Nigeria. I thought you belonged to a Christian church, but it looks like there is a church called Scientology. One of their members said exactly the same thing about the side effects of vaccinations. In Nigeria they spread the story that the police vaccine caused infertility and would spread HIV/Aids. People boycotted it. Do you know what happened? In 2003, the rate of children with polio increased by more than 100% in Nigeria. You can go and check that because you like browsing the internet. It increased by more than 100% because of this issue.
As if that was not enough, a drug that was being tested for meningitis - not related to immunisation - caused certain side effects in some people. They related this again to vaccination. Then the religious leaders encouraged people to boycott vaccination. There was a health breakdown again.
When they lifted the ban in 2007, the number of children who had polio - remember that polio is a disability - declined by 80%. I am mentioning these facts because people believe. Lord Nigel told us that in Britain they even tried to call doctors to speak on TV to reverse the destruction, but they failed. People listen to you if you are a leader in government.
How do I describe a statement that a body like the World Health Organisation can be bribed? Do you know what that will lead to? This is the body which in 1970 eliminated smallpox from all corners of the world through immunisation. The allegation that it is being bribed to take wrong decisions will kill humanity. That is what was just said; it's murder. If people lose confidence in the World Health Organisation, believe that it can be bribed and will send wrong vaccinations out into the whole world, what will happen to us? What will happen to us?
That is what I'm saying, because these things come from the World Health Organisation. We learn from them and we emulate everything from them. If a statement is made by a Member of Parliament, people out there might believe it because they believe that if one is a Member of Parliament, one has something between one's ears. Then they will start believing and listening to you. That is why I said such irresponsible statements will lead to murder.
If we started talking about side effects here, do you know what would happen to human beings? Why don't you leave that to doctors? Even aspirin has very serious side effects, but is still given to people and doctors explain that to them. You don't stand up in Parliament and tell people that there are side effects here and this might happen to you. If they listen, it will lead to what happened in Nigeria and Britain. I don't want it to happen in South Africa. I don't want it. [Applause.] That is why I feel this is out of order. It's like saying, can somebody stand here and say an Act has been passed because Parliament has been bribed. Would you agree? Can you bribe Parliament? [Interjections.]
I am not talking about former President Mbeki; I'm talking about what that lady said. I'm not sure why you are involving him in this. All I'm saying is, if a member of this Parliament stands up, or somebody from outside said this or that Act has been passed because Parliament was bribed, what would happen to the country? Do you agree as Members of Parliament that you can't be bribed?
However, you'll say that about the World Health Organisation; an organisation that is caring for the life of our people. Do you know how it works? They bring in scientists from all walks of life. How do you bribe them? I think these wild statements must be stopped. Please, with due respect, this must be stopped. [Interjections.]
I don't want to bring up again what happened to the people of Nigeria, but I think maybe we need to see a child with polio, measles, etc. How can this be said just after I have launched these campaigns? Just after I've launched such very big campaigns, statements like these are being made. [Interjections.] No, it's unacceptable.