Nelspruit, South Africa — Mpumalanga's disgraced health department has finally bowed to pressure from Aids lobby groups and began supplying nevirapine to six of the province 's biggest hospitals on Monday.

Health spokesman Dumisani Mlangeni said on Monday that the hospital's superintendents have approached the department and reported that their hospitals were now ready to roll out the drug, which reduces the risk of pregnant woman passing HIV/Aids to their unborn babies.

"As we're talking now, the drugs are being distributed to the hospitals," Mlangeni said.

He said the targeted hospitals were Matibidi in Lydenburg, Philadelphia in Dennilton, Rob Ferreira in Nelspruit, Themba hospital in KaBokweni near White River and Sabie and Barberton hospitals.

Witbank, Standerton and Ermelo hospitals will be stocked in January, said Mlangeni.

Health MEC Sibongile Manana has been severely criticised of late after a national newspaper reported that R6-million of the province's HIV/Aids budget has been spent on soccer matches, prayers and music festivals.

Premier Ndaweni Mahlangu has since ordered an internal audit on the department's expenditure.

The Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) has meanwhile lodged a complaint with the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) against Manana for defying a Constitutional Court ruling in May that binds the department to supply the drug to all hospitals. TAC is also contemplating to take Manana to court for defying the order.

Mlangeni couldn't say how many drugs have been distributed and for the benefit of how many women.

He said that the department's target was to roll out the drug to all hospitals and clinics by the beginning of January next year. The department is currently providing nevirapine at two pilot test sites in Evander and Shongwe.

TAC's national co-ordinator Nonkosi Khumalo said it's not the first time that the department has announced rolling the drugs out at the hospitals, especially at Rob Ferreira and Themba.

"This isn't new, but the fact that there's commitment shows that they're now treating the matter seriously," Khumalo said.

Philadelphia hospital defied Manana's hardline stance immediately after the court's ruling and began subscribing TAC-donated drugs to pregnant women.

The hospital's gynaecologists' pleas for authorisation were not accepted despite assurances that the institution had the capacity to administer the drug.

Newly appointed Philadelphia superintendent Dr Kenneth Mathea refused to comment about the progress that has been made in the hospital.

Acting Rob Ferreira superintendent Dr Pat Saffy said she started writing letters to the department immediately after the Constitutional's Court ruling, but was told the hospital wasn't ready.

"That's great news," she said about the department's announcement on Monday, "but the dispensary hasn't contacted me yet. I think that things will be in full swing by February next year." - African Eye News Service