Following an announcement about the death of former Minister of Health, Manto Tshabalala Msimang, on Wednesday evening, her political allies on Thursday offered praises, just as her many detractors muted their criticism and offered condolences to her family instead.
As minister of health she contributed effectively in the enhancement of government programs with regards to child and maternal health, which were her particular interests, as well as in responding to diabetes and other chronic diseases,” the presidency said in a statement from Pretora, the seat of government.
“Despite the controversies in the media during her tenure as health minister, South Africa scored impressive improvements in putting systems in place for the fight against HIV and Aids,” the statement added.
While she was health minister, Tshabalala-Msimang had been criticized by Aids activists for her stance on the distribution of anti-retrovirals in the public health system, particularly to block the transmission of HIV from mother-to-child.
Tshabalala-Msimang was accused of downplaying the importance of ARVs while extolling nutrition, often in the form of beetroot, garlic and olive oil as a treatment for HIV.
Though many were loudly critical of her position, most of her opponents avoided mentioning their disagreements while offering their condolences.
The members of the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) were among her most ardent foes and participated in a legal action against her to force the government to provide anti-retrovirals as part of the public health system.
Despite this antagonistic past, the TAC said it wished her no ill will.
The former minister, who worked in the presidency at the time of her death, reportedly died from complications of a lung transplant she received two years ago.
Source African Press Agency
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