JOHANNESBURG-South African AIDS organisations are fighting with FIFA and the Local Organising Committee to be allowed access to the stadiums to distribute condoms and HIV prevention and health related information.The Department of Health has confirmed that there were more than 71 million condoms currently in distribution and 65 million more were expected to be made available.
FIFA was said to be refusing civil society organisations access to the stadiums. This is despite that FIFA has made available specially designated areas to sell alcohol.
AIDS organisations said FIFA had a moral obligation to partner with local organisations to protect citizens and visitors from HIV infection, TB and the H1N1 virus.
South Africa faced a huge challenge in preventing HIV. The government was targeting to test 15 million people for HIV next year. This campaign had been endorsed by the United Nations AIDS Programme (UNAIDS).
Aids organisations said the World Cup was an opportunity to take forward this campaign and to combine sport with messages about HIV prevention and healthy living that could be heard by millions. They said it would a tragedy to miss the opportunity.
Post published in: Analysis