Mandela emphasises importance of preventing vertical transmission of HIV

Former president Nelson Mandela stepped boldly into South Africa's AIDS policy crisis last week ensuring that his would be the voice that carries a rational policy forward—sidestepping president Thabo Mbeki if necessary. He had presented the Henry J Kaiser Family Foundation Human Rights award to Professor James McIntyre and Dr Glenda Gray, both experts in the field of prevention of HIV transmission from pregnant mothers to their babies.

In presenting the award, Mr Mandela said the importance of preventing mother to child transmission was “beyond argument or doubt” in fighting AIDS. He said the argument on fundamental issues around the disease “unfortunately continues to rage in manners that detract attention from what …