One indication of South Africa's worsening mortality rate is the fact that, of the 59% of women who died in childbirth between 2005 and 2007 and were tested for HIV, 79% were found to be infected. This is one of the shocking statistics released two weeks ago by the minister of health, Aaron Motsoaledi, when he announced plans by the government to drive a major voluntary HIV counseling and testing campaign.
The number of South Africans who die each year has leapt from 300000 in 1997 to 756000 in 2008 and is already at 900000 for 2009. The statistics further revealed that our life expectancy has dropped from 63 years in 1990 to 47, and is now equal to the life expectancy in countries at war, such as Afghanistan.
We have reached a stage at which HIV/Aids and tuberculosis account for 35% of deaths in our country. We are effectively in a state of emergency and are held hostage by a pandemic that could have been controlled by providing political and moral leadership to our people. This means that the economy is affected, families are destroyed, children are orphaned, people die young and every South African is at risk of being infected or affected.
Worse still, these figures do not provide a true reflection of the situation because they only take into consideration women attending ante-natal clinics, who are obliged to take an HIV test. The call to hold our former head of state, Thabo Mbeki, accountable for his role in this debacle cannot be reduced to a popularity contest; neither should it be classified as vindictive prosecution by the government. It should be a lesson that one must take responsibility for one's actions. It should also be used as a sign that we are turning the tide and strengthening our war against HIV/Aids.
The health minister concedes that we are in this catastrophe because of our attitude towards HIV/Aids. Mbeki denied pregnant mothers antiretroviral drugs, which could have prolonged their lives and reduced mother-to-child transmission. Mbeki cast doubt on the [scientifically established] link between HIV and Aids. He made a mockery of our country and failed to provide sound political guidance to a nation in distress.