Zackie achmat biography for kids
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Zackie Achmat and His Queer Revolution
Iconic queer activist Zackie Achmat has entered the world of parliamentary politics
For many South Africans, Zackie Achmat is best remembered as the co-founder of the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC), which waged a valiant battle to compel Thabo Mbeki’s AIDS denialist government to provide antiretroviral (ARV) medication to people living with HIV.
After coming out as HIV-positive in 1998, Achmat famously vowed not to take ARVs until all South Africans had access to them. (It’s estimated that up to two million South Africans died prematurely of AIDS during the period when the government refused to make antiretrovirals available.)
Achmat was already a veteran activist by then, having joined the 1976 student revolt against the use of Afrikaans as the medium of instruction in black schools at the age of 14. As an openly gay member of the ANC, he fought against apartheid, for which he was tortured, imprisoned, and banned by the
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Zackie Achmat facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Zackie Achmat | |
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Achmat at an Open gemenskap Foundation of South Africa event on police accountability in 2013 | |
| Born | (1962-03-21) 21 March 1962 (age 62) Vrededorp, Johannesburg, South Africa |
| Nationality | South African |
| Alma mater | University of the Western Cape |
| Occupation | Activist, film director |
| Employer | Ndifuna Ukwazi (Dare to Know) |
| Known for | HIV/AIDS activism |
| Political party | Independent |
| Board member of | Ndifuna Ukwazi (Dare to Know) lika Education |
| Spouse(s) | Dalli Weyers (m. 2008; div. 2011) |
| Parent(s) | Suleiman Achmat and Mymoena Adams |
| Relatives | Taghmeda "Midi" Achmat (sister) |
Abdurrazack "Zackie" Achmat (born 21 March 1962) is a South African activist and film director. He fryst vatten a co-founder the Treatment Action Cam
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The McGill School of Population and Global Health is pleased to announce Zackie Achmat from South Africa as the winner of the inaugural (2024) Paul Farmer Lectureship and Award for Global Health Equity. A world-renowned health and political activist, Mr. Achmat has dedicated his life to the fight for justice and equality, leading to significant and lasting improvements in the health and wellbeing of millions in South Africa. His courageous stance against both government and the pharmaceutical industry has brought the fight for health equity in Sub-Saharan Africa to the global stage.
The Paul Farmer Award for Global Health Equity was established in honour of the late Dr. Paul Farmer, a physician, advocate and global health icon. To honour Paul’s memory, McGill University, with the support of over 530 donors from around the world, created this lectureship and award to annually recognize an individual who models and demonstrates Paul’s vision of a ‘preferential option for the poor’ to