South Africa's new health minister Barbara Hogan vowed on Thursday to make AIDS a top priority, after years of controversy over her predecessor's unconventional support for treatments like beetroot and garlic.

Hogan replaced Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, who was removed from her post when President Kgalema Motlanthe formed a new cabinet last week after Thabo Mbeki resigned as head of state.

Africa's biggest economy faces one of the world's heaviest HIV caseloads, but AIDS activists have accused the government of dragging its feet while the disease ravages millions.

Hogan said awareness about HIV and AIDS was improving among young South Africans, but "persistent and consistent work and political leadership" was needed to get the message across about prevention and treatment.

Hogan said that she would press for more funds for the roll out of antiretroviral treatment. However, she said there was no need for a fundamental shift in policy, as a programme was launched last year aiming to give 80% of HIV-positive people access to antiretroviral therapy by 2011.

[5 Oct 2008 12:11]

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