01/05/03

South Africa gets adviser who doubts HIV/AIDS link

By: S Thembiso Msomi and Ranjeni Munusamy

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<h1>South Africa gets adviser who doubts HIV/AIDS link</h1>
<h4>By: S Thembiso Msomi and Ranjeni Munusamy</h4>
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<p>South African health minister, Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, has caused outrage among AIDS activists by inviting a controversial scientist who denies that HIV causes AIDS to advise the government on nutrition.<BR><BR>Roberto Giraldo, a US-based scientist, reportedly believes that AIDS is caused by nutritional deficiencies, not HIV. He also argues that antiretroviral drugs induce rather than treat AIDS.<BR><BR>Tshabalala-Msimang said that she decided to invite Giraldo to advise the government following the release last month of a manual by the World Health Organisation and the Food and Agriculture Organisation recognising the relationship between infection and nutrition. <BR><BR>But, according to the South African Press Association, she confirmed in a radio interview on Monday (10 March), that Giraldo is simply being consulted by the government for his advice on nutrition and HIV/AIDS, and will not be appointed formally as a ministerial adviser.<BR><BR><a href="http://www.sundaytimes.co.za/2003/03/09/news/news01.asp" target="_blank" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/tracking/external/'+this.href);" rel="noopener noreferrer">Link to news story in <em>Sunday Times</em> (South Africa)</A><BR><BR><B>Related external links:</B><BR><BR><a href="http://www.who.int/mediacentre/releases/2003/pr18/en/" target="_blank" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/tracking/external/'+this.href);" rel="noopener noreferrer">Press release on manual for people living with HIV/AIDS</A></p>

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<p>This article was originally published on <a href="https://www.scidev.net" target="_blank">SciDev.Net</a>. Read the <a href="https://www.scidev.net/global/news/south-africa-gets-adviser-who-doubts-hivaids-link/" target="_blank">original article</a>.</p>
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South African health minister, Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, has caused outrage among AIDS activists by inviting a controversial scientist who denies that HIV causes AIDS to advise the government on nutrition.

Roberto Giraldo, a US-based scientist, reportedly believes that AIDS is caused by nutritional deficiencies, not HIV. He also argues that antiretroviral drugs induce rather than treat AIDS.

Tshabalala-Msimang said that she decided to invite Giraldo to advise the government following the release last month of a manual by the World Health Organisation and the Food and Agriculture Organisation recognising the relationship between infection and nutrition.

But, according to the South African Press Association, she confirmed in a radio interview on Monday (10 March), that Giraldo is simply being consulted by the government for his advice on nutrition and HIV/AIDS, and will not be appointed formally as a ministerial adviser.

Link to news story in Sunday Times (South Africa)

Related external links:

Press release on manual for people living with HIV/AIDS