South Africa's message: "Always use condoms with all your partners"

Dec 1, 2008, 12:27 GMT

Johannesburg - South African Deputy President Baleka Mbete told people at a World AIDS Day event in Durban on Monday they should use a condom with each partner and each time they have sex.

Speaking at the Sahara Stadium to some 2,000 people, she said 'always use condoms with all your partners.'

Mbete said that having sex under the influence of alcohol increased the risk of infection, the SAPA news agency reported.

She said women should insist that their partners take HIV tests before they start a sexual relationship.

She said that the South African government had tackled the problem of HIV/AIDS, which is still prevalent in the country.

'We have the largest ARV (antiretroviral) treatment programme in the world, and we distribute millions of free male and female condoms across the country.'

Doctor Peter Piot, executive director of UNAIDS, the organization that deals with AIDS, said more than 500,000 people were alive in South Africa because they were receiving ARV drugs.

UNAIDS estimates that just over 18 per cent of South African adults were infected with HIV in 2007.

Mbete said the government planned to halve new HIV and tuberculosis (TB) infections within three years.

'As a government, we say we need the help of every citizen to prevent HIV and TB ... and together we shall overcome,' Health Minister Barbara Hogan said at the event as she called on all the men in the stadium to stand up and pledge be tested for HIV.

Meanwhile, the South African Transport and Allied Workers' Union on Monday called on members to be tested for HIV as workers marked World AIDS Day with 15-minute work stoppages.

Congress of South African Trade Unions also planned a public HIV testing event.

The Youth League of the African National Congress called on young people to abstain, be faithful or use condoms, the so-called ABC of HIV prevention.

The league called for more condom distribution and more regulation of alcohol.

The United Democratic Movement called for an information campaign and criticized the government for issuing 'contradictory messages' on HIV and AIDS.

The Federation of Unions of South Africa said the world had to 'sit up and take note of the essential links between violence and HIV and AIDS,' adding that fear prevented many women from seeking information on HIV and from getting tested and treated.