SAHARI STATEMENT: AFRIFORUM COURT JUDGMENT, HCW RIGHTS, AND LEGAL ACTION. [3 FEBRUARY 2021]
SAHARI has invested time to consider the implications of the judgment by Judge Peter Mabuse yesterday, as well as understand the position of its 66 000 membership. At the outset, we record acknowledgement to Afriforum. While this is not the victory that our country deserves, it is a step forward. The significance of the judgment is that there is now a court order binding SAHPRA to its own processes - processes that are irrational, and ethically repugnant.
We are painfully aware of the violence inflicted on the poor and working class via SAHPRA’s Section 21 process, masked as a compassionate access programme. We repeat, there is nothing compassionate about a programme that reduces human beings to beggars, pleading for their lives, dignity and sanity. SAHPRA and by extension the Department of Health and government, do not know, or do not care that it will cost the average person under R1000 to access Ivermectin - R350 for a S21 application, +-R300 for a doctor visit, plus transport, food, and possibly day care for children. The majority of our people cannot even afford to spend R1000 on food, rent, and electricity. Furthermore, there are no bulk Ivermectin supplies (except in SAHPRA’s confiscated control), which means most people will have to wait months to access treatment. [Meanwhile, since April last year, the Gates Foundation (which has interests in vaccines and which funds SAHPRA) is funding Ivermectin injection research by Medincell. How did SAHPRA not know this too? Or is SAHPRA waiting to approve injections by their favourite philanthro-imperialist?]
To the Department of Non-Health, we declare that we will not tolerate abuse of our health workers. The horrific conditions under which they work is an act of violence against them, and us. YNITU leader Lerato Mthunzi is clear “We have overworked health care workers, who are not trained and developed. The vaccine will push us over the edge. They don't want people to have informed choice. When we ask questions, government say they will figure it out. Yet they don’t want to look at alternatives like Ivermectin? It is absurd. They have no conscience.” Meanwhile, India rolled out Ivermectin directly to her people, and saw a steep decline in infection, hospitalisation, and death.
SAHARI will be launching legal action on behalf of the masses of people of our country, the majority of whom are unemployed. Our position is clear, in our petition of over 52 000 signatures, and our previous statements:
1. Ivermectin must be made available at no cost, at our hospitals, clinics, and staffed community centres.
2. People with co-morbidities can access Ivermectin via doctors, or at pharmacists nearest to them.
3. The supply of Ivermectin must be local, via our compound pharmacies, to avoid unethical delays.
Democracy means the participation of people in health care decisions. We therefore invite interested groups to join our legal action.
* We advise the public that SAHPRA will finally appear in front of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Health, 9am - 1pm today.
For Transformative Health Justice
THE SAHARI MEMBERSHIP
Contact:
Shabnam Palesa Mohamed
SAHARI Founder and Spokesperson
Activist, Journalist, Mediator (LLB)
FULL PDF HERE: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VeTPxUXD6qLCvnvJwFDsZO-3Ib8wbQEY/view?usp=sharing