POLOKWANE – The post from the official Limpopo Department of Health account stated: “Those who die of HIV/aids today, it’s by choice. Government availed various preventative measures and medication in management of HIV”.
This caused an outrage from the public who found the statement offensive and hateful.
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This led to the department taking down the post and making a public apology in which they said the tweet lacked sensitivity and the necessary context.
Anele Yawa from The Treatment Action Campaign (TTAC) described the tweet as an insult to people living with HIV/aids, adding South Africa has an estimated eight million people living with HIV/aids while only about four million are receiving Anti-retroviral (ARV) treatment.
By the time of going to print, the Department had not yet replied to our request for comment on the matter despite numerous attempts.
