JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, Nov. 19 (UPI) -- South Africa, long criticized for failing to fight AIDS vigorously, announced Wednesday a plan to give free AIDS drugs to more than five million patients.
"I don't want to raise false hopes, but a decision has been made. There is hope," said Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, South African health minister.
Under the new initiative, the government will establish a network of centers to distribute anti-retroviral drugs to fight the disease, According to South Africa's News 24.
Members of South africa's political parties welcomed the announcement, but said it should have come years ago, before millions died.
Mike Waters of the Democratic Alliance welcomed the decision, but said it should have been done years ago.
"We urge the government to immediately release the complete Aids plan, with specific reference to target dates and the clinics which will be part of the rollout of antiretrovirals," said Mike Waters of the Democratic Alliance.
About 12 percent of 5.3 million South Africans is infected with AIDS. About 600 South Africans die of AIDS-related ailments every day.
