Britain to send 42 million condoms to South Africa to fight HIV spread during World Cup...

Britain is shipping 42 million condoms to South Africa to help prevent the spread of HIV during the World Cup.

Up to a half a million people are expected to flood the country for the month-long soccer tournament in June.

Officials are worried about the spread of the virus, especially after news broke that 40,000 prostitutes were being sent there just for the event.

"Obviously there's a big focus on the World Cup coming up and a huge increase in the number of people coming into South Africa," said Gareth Thomas, Britain's international development minister.

British officials will announce the shipment of $1.5 million worth of prophylactics on Tuesday, according to the Guardian newspaper.

"South Africa specifically asked for British assistance and we are responding to that request," Thomas said.

An estimated 5.7 million South Africans are living with HIV.

That's about one in every five adults. There are about 1,400 new infections diagnosed every day.

Nearly 1,000 South Africans die from AIDS each day.

But ironically, it's the progress the country has made in fighting HIV that has health officials worried.

They fear those advances may have created a false sense that the disease can be easily managed.

South African President Jacob Zuma recently touted his country's progress in fighting HIV and AIDS during a speech on World Aids Day on Dec. 1

"President Zuma made two far-reaching statements on World Aids Day," South African Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi said.

"He made a strong statement about prevention and a strong statement about treatment regimes.

But after World Aids Day, South Africans were only talking about the (treatment)."

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Comment by abram bodo on March 16, 2010 at 3:12am: DOES THIS MEAN THAT SOUTH AFRICANS LOVE SEX SO MUCH THAT THEY NEED 42 MILLION CONDOM?? THEN IT'S GONNA BE A SEXY WORLD CUP FULL OF AIDS

Comment by Tes B on March 13, 2010 at 11:32am: send the cure not the con- demns. condenms are just another excuse to have Inappropiate sex.

Comment by Jah Child Graham on March 12, 2010 at 4:42am: Condom use still far from the norm in South Africa

Denialism and hypocrisy from leaders is failing to help in the fight against HIV and aids, say critics

An estimated 5.7 million South Africans are living with HIV, about one in every five adults. There are about 1,400 new HIV infections and nearly 1,000 Aids deaths every day. Television adverts ask viewers to "imagine the possibility of an HIV-free generation" by being cautious. But condom use is still far from a social norm.

Critics accuse South Africa's leadership of undermining the fight with denialism and hypocrisy. Former president Thabo Mbeki's unwillingness to act has been blamed for the premature deaths of 300,000 people.

President Jacob Zuma, while being tried on charges of raping an HIV-positive family friend in 2006, was ridiculed for testifying he took a shower after sex to lower the risk. He was acquitted of rape. Earlier this year he again did not use a condom when having sex with the daughter of a family friend, who subsequently gave birth to his 20th child.

Comment by DJ KARIM on March 10, 2010 at 9:09pm: prevention is always better than CURE!!!!!!!!! as in prevent it instead of curing it!!!!!

Comment by Natty Nel on March 10, 2010 at 6:37pm: 40000 prostitutes vs expected 500000 visitors or gosh like d pom pom made from rubber lol thats a lot to service

Comment by dave wright on March 10, 2010 at 1:18pm: wat u tryin to say if u need to get condoms in jamaica there aint any to purchase?......it has been a stigma jamaican dont really lik uring condoms(boots) during sexual intercourse anyway.....jamaica really need a influx of condom in the country to prevent the spread of deseases ....."PINCH A INCH AND ROLL"

Comment by DJ 14 on March 10, 2010 at 9:50am: Wish Jamaica Was Getting Some A dat Boots, Thats Alotta Boots, And Dem Nag Go Use It.........Me Will Use Dem, Send Dem Come!!