The HIV/AIDS pandemic has reached crisis proportions. Millions of South Africans are infected and affected by the virus. An estimated 200 000 of our people may die of AIDS this year if they do not have access to testing, proper counselling and treatment, adequate nutrition, and appropriate medication, including anti-retroviral medication where clinically indicated. Poor households are being further impoverished by the loss of breadwinners and by enormous medical and burial expenses. Children are being orphaned in their thousands and are being kept out of school by shame, stigma, and financial obstacles. Elderly people are struggling to feed and care for their grandchildren on meagre pensions.

This tragedy is neither inevitable nor irreversible. As Christians, we believe in a loving God who extends the possibility of abundant life to all people. The challenge before us is to use God's gifts wisely, responsibly and equitably. South Africa has the capacity to import - or produce - and distribute low-cost medications to suppress viral load and to treat opportunistic infections. We have sufficient resources to ensure that no one goes hungry or lives in destitution. All we lack is the determination to accomplish these objectives.

Therefore, the South African Council of Churches (SACC):

1. Joins the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) in calling on the South African government to sign the NEDLAC framework for a National HIV/AIDS Treatment and Prevention Plan;
2. Salutes the efforts of those provincial governments that have begun to implement mother-to-child HIV transmission prevention programmes in public health facilities and urges all provincial governments to do so, in compliance with the July 2002 Constitutional Court order;
3. Endorses the Treatment Action Campaign's March to Parliament on Friday, 14 February and encourages its members, particularly those in the Cape Town area, to participate in the march;
4. Calls on all South Africans to observe a twenty minute period of prayer, beginning at noon on Friday, 14 February. We urge people to pray in particular for:
• The health and well-being of all those who are living with HIV and AIDS, including all who are affected by the virus - particularly the partners, family and friends of those infected, as well as health care professionals and other caregivers;
• Comfort and hope for the sick, the dying and all who have been bereaved by AIDS;
• Strength and resilience for children who face stigma, isolation, loss of caregivers and premature responsibility as a result of the HIV/AIDS pandemic; and
• Courage and wisdom for public officials that they may mobilise financial and political resources to ensure that all have access to adequate nutrition, quality health care and appropriate and affordable medication.

Issued by
Dr. Molefe TSELE
General Secretary
13 February 2003