The new face of health

 

October 03, 2008

Zululand OBSERVER

	The new face of health South Africa's newly appointed Health Minister - Barbara Hogan Ronelle Ramsamy SHE has promised 'real change' and plans on 'getting the health system back on track'. Activists, professional bodies and political parties have hailed her appointment as the country's new Health Minister last week. Barbara Hogan, who is the wife of Rivonia trialist Ahmed Kathrada, said she felt honoured being appointed to President Kgalema Motlanthe's Cabinet on Thursday. 'I am energetic about the challenges that are ahead. The public is expecting to see real change. We need to see our health system back on track. There has been some astonishing work done in the AIDS programme and in the anti-retroviral roll-out and I am sure we will be making changes from our predecessors,' said Hogan. She took over from the controversial Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, who is now Minister in the Presidency. But who is Barbara Hogan and why has she been picked for the job? Responsibilities Being a Member of Parliament since 1994, Hogan was appointed Minister of Health on 26 September. She joined the African National Congress shortly after the 1976 uprisings once the organisation had been declared illegal and had moved its activities underground. Her responsibilities in this movement were to mobilise the white political left, participation in public political campaigning and supplying the ANC underground in Botswana with information about trade union and community activity in South Africa. Hogan was detained in 1982 for 'furthering the aims of a banned organisation' and after being interrogated, ill-treated and held in solitary confinement for a year, she was found guilty of high treason and sentenced to 10 years in prison. Hogan was released in 1990 with the unbanning of outlawed organisations, together with other political prisoners, most notably Nelson Mandela. Upon release, Hogan played a pivotal role in restructuring the ANC in her capacity as secretary of the PWV regional office. Hard work Shortly after her appointment to Cabinet last week, Hogan said she would work hard at boosting the morale of health workers and to create a functional and responsive health system. She said HIV/AIDS and the strains it placed on the health system was the biggest challenge yet. All eyes are on Hogan as the Treatment Action Campaign, Democratic Alliance and Members of Parliament, among others, say they are looking forward to a big difference in the Department of Health in the next seven months.