Mbeki visit buoys Aids activists

South Africa's government took another step away from its controversial policy on Aids at the weekend when President Thabo Mbeki publicly associated himself with the provision of the anti-retroviral drugs that keep people with HIV/Aids alive.

He visited a clinic in Johannesburg which provides the drugs to pregnant women and infants and posed for photographs while cradling a sick boy, reportedly the first time Mr Mbeki had signalled approval for anti-retrovirals in such a way.

Aids activists welcomed the visit as further evidence that the government had decided to drop its opposition to the drugs. After criticism that the estimated 4.7 million South Africans living with HIV were being left to die, the cabinet said in April that it endorsed the use of anti-retrovirals.

Zackie Achmat, a spokesman for the Treatment Action Campaign, which has lobbied for the drugs to be distributed, welcomed Mr Mbeki's visit.

"It was PR, but it was a fairly substantive move. It was a sign that they are serious about changing the policy. We are very cautiously optimistic."