Share

World cup may boost HIV infection

HIV/Aids infection rates may increase during the 2010 World Cup, the South African National Aids Council said on Friday.

"2010 is going to come with good things but it may also come with dangerous things," Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi said after a Sanac plenary meeting. "Of course the concern is: what will be the effect of 2010, which everybody is waiting for? Are we going to find the rate of infection accelerating because of 2010?" he asked.

"I mean, we will be having lots of visitors here... we know there will be lots of visitors who come here for sex, you can't hide that. It happens, and what will be the effects on this country?"

Platform to focus on HIV
Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe, who is the Sanac chairman, said its sport and entertainment sector would hold talks in September to examine how the sporting spectacular would be used to focus on HIV/Aids. It would also aim to ensure the "event itself does not result in increased transmission", Motlanthe said.

Sex workers more vulnerable
Sanac noted that commercial sex workers were vulnerable to sexual abuse and violence making it difficult to protect themselves from HIV infection.

"It was in this context that sectors were requested to consult on this matter with specific reference to the possibility of the decriminalisation of sex workers," Motlanthe said. Decriminalising sex work to protect women has been raised by various government departments ahead of the 2010 Fifa World Cup, when demand for the services of prostitutes might increase.

Sanac resolved to invite sex workers to its next plenary meeting to discuss their problems.

Motsoaledi said decriminalising sex work was a very involved issue and Sanac had not decided whether to support this. "The issue is very emotive in terms of morals, culture... We took a decision that in the next plenary... we want the sex workers to be here... they will be here to talk for themselves," Motsoaledi said.

Integrate TB-HIV services
Motlanthe said the World Health Organisation conducted an "external review" of the country's tuberculosis (TB) control programme last month.

It resolved that greater integration of TB and HIV services was needed, given the high co-infection rates. There was also a need for resources for TB programmes.

While Sanac recognised that male circumcision did not provide full protection from HIV transmission, it directed the health department to find out how to expand access to voluntary male circumcision and the costs, Motlanthe said.

After the plenary Sanac deputy chairman Mark Heywood, pointed to the differences in the organisation since the departure of former health minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, whose stance of HIV/Aids was widely criticised.

In 2008, more than five million South Africans were infected with HIV. The government hopes to halve infections by 2011. – (Sapa, August 2009)

Read more:
Govt probes HIV funding
HIV/Aids Centre

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE