March 09, 2010

UK gives South Africa millions of condoms

Posted on 9:21 PM by News and issues

 The UK has donated £1m ($1.5m) to South Africa to buy condoms in a bid to combat HIV and Aids, as the nation builds up to the football World Cup.
UK ministers said South Africa had appealed for one billion condoms.
Last month, South African officials said they were beefing up their condom supply to cope with about 450,000 visitors expected for the World Cup.
More than five million people in South Africa have HIV - more than in any other country.
Last month, South African medical official Victor Ramathesele told a medical conference organised by football's governing body Fifa that the country was preparing for the influx of visitors.
"There's going to be a large number of people who will be descending onto the country," he said.
"There's going to be a spirit of festivity and... there could be a more than usual demand for measures such as condoms.
"So there are measures in place to ensure that the condom supply is going to be ramped up during this tournament."


Last week, South African President Jacob Zuma was on a state visit to the UK.
His government has been credited with giving new impetus to the country's fight against HIV and Aids.
The previous administration had denied the link between HIV and Aids, and suggested eating certain vegetables such as beetroot and garlic could act as natural remedies.
However, Aids activists have recently criticised Mr Zuma, who has three wives, for fathering a child out of wedlock.
They said he was not providing a good example.
The UK's Department for International Development (Dfid) announced the donation at a meeting in London attended by officials from several African countries with high levels of HIV.
Dfid said it was "supporting South Africa's leadership and drive to turn the tide on their epidemic".

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