Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Zuma launches HIV testing in South Africa

Zuma launches HIV testing in South Africa

South African president Jacob Zuma revealed he was HIV-negative Sunday as he launched a scaled-up counselling and testing campaign in the world's worst affected country.

"After careful consideration, I have decided to share my test results with South Africans," Mr Zuma said.

"The purpose is to promote openness and to eradicate the silence and stigma that accompanies this epidemic."

Mr Zuma, who told a court in 2006 when charged with raping a HIV-positive woman that he had showered rather than worn a condom to ward off the risk of HIV, revealed he had been taking regular HIV tests.

"My April results, like the three previous ones, registered a negative outcome for the HI virus," Mr Zuma told thousands of people who attended the event at Katlehong hospital east of Johannesburg.

However, Mr Zuma said that by disclosing his status, his aim was not to put pressure on any citizen to do the same.

"Anyone's HIV status is private and confidential," he said.

"Disclosure is an individual decision. We must respect the decisions of those who choose to keep their status confidential, whether positive or negative."

The campaign, which hopes to test 15 million people by the end of June 2011, is aimed at providing anti-AIDS drugs to 80 per cent of South Africans in need of treatment in the world's worst affected country.

An estimated 5.7 of 48 million South Africans are HIV positive, according to the UN AIDS agency, with South Africa now boasting the world's largest treatment program after years of failure to roll out life-saving drugs.

Mr Zuma, who is 68 and has three wives, came under pressure earlier this year when it emerged he had fathered a child out of wedlock with opposition parties accusing him of undermining efforts to fight HIV and Aids.

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