Zuma's HIV test

By MANDY ROSSOUW


President Jacob Zuma will publicly take an HIV test on World Aids Day, as part of a major new campaign by the government to demonstrate its commitment to the fight against the disease.


Two presidency sources confirmed that Zuma will take the test to signal the shift from the ambiguous messages about HIV/Aids under Thabo Mbeki's administration.

The results will, however, not be made known.

Zuma will also be the face of a nationwide campaign that will encourage citizens to undergo HIV tests, with polling stations used for the 2009 general elections being transformed into testing sites. The campaign is due to kick off in March next year.

This is a significant departure from government's past position on HIV/Aids, where political leaders were not involved in awareness campaigns.

In 2001 Mbeki said in a television interview that he would not take an HIV test because "I don't believe that stunts -- publicity stunts -- help in addressing the health needs of our people".

Zuma will compel his Cabinet to be tested publicly as part of the awareness campaign.

"The president sees HIV not as just a health issue, but as a socioeconomic issue that will be with us for a long time," a government official told the Mail & Guardian. "The mixed messages of the past harmed us; we're trying to reverse the lost years."

The driving force behind the Aids campaign is Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi, who had a hand in Zuma's recent speech to the National Council of Provinces.


Source:  www.mg.co.za