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POLICE fired rubber bullets at a crowd of about 1500 Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) members marching on Frontier Hospital, in Queenstown, this week.
Ten people were shot at and about 30 more injured as the crowd dispersed, according to TAC spokesperson Sikhumbule Hambani. They were marching on the hospital on Tuesday to demand that more people living with HIV be put on anti-retroviral (ARV) treatment. "The hospital is enrolling only one person every month. We need at least 20 enrolled for ARV treatment every month," said the TAC's Phillip Mokoena. Hambani said police were called after protesters had entered the outpatients section to look for the hospital's ARV team co-ordinator who had declined to speak to them. Hambani said police had chased them and had sworn at them. "They used minimum force, rubber bullets and smoke grenades, to disperse the crowd. There were no injuries." He said the protesters had refused to leave and were "demanding immediate answers". He was not sure if force had been necessary, but said Health MEC Monwabisi Goqwana had instructed the hospital CEO to submit a report on the matter. Since the treatment was introduced last year about 5600 people have been receiving ARVs at 16 dispensing sites in the province. Frontier Hospital is the only accredited treatment site for the Chris Hani District Municipality and has five feeder clinics assisting with dispensing treatment. The TAC plans to hold a second mass protest in Queenstown on July 26 to campaign for anti- retroviral treatment and against unnecessary deaths, the advocacy group said yesterday.Chiel Letters to the Editor Leader Page Today's Columns Features Motoring Farming Arts & Entertainment Television Radio Weather Tides Tenders Aircraft |
