Thursday, July 12, 2012

South African president to take HIV testAA

South African president to take HIV test

South African President Jacob Zuma has promised to lead by example and take an HIV test himself as the government tries to sweep away its failed AIDS policies of the past.

South Africa continues to battle with the highest AIDS rate in the world. More than 10 per cent of the population has HIV - about 5 million sufferers.

Mr Zuma has announced that all pregnant women and babies with HIV will receive treatment.

About 60,000 children were infected with the virus this year.

Presently anti-retroviral drugs are only available to people whose immunity has been severely affected by HIV.

However, as well as expanding government support, Mr Zuma used World AIDS Day to encourage South Africans to act more responsibly and practice safe sex.

"Let this be the start of an era of openness, of taking personal responsibility," he said.

"I have taken HIV tests before and I know my status."

Mr Zuma says he will take another test soon.

The president has struggled for credibility on the issue in the past.

Three years ago, while he was head of the National AIDS Council, he admitted that he had had sex with an HIV-positive woman.

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