Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2006. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
 |
Mail & Guardian (Johannesburg) - April 8, 2006
Dan Strumpf
Zuma told the court on Tuesday that he was HIV-negative and that he had unprotected sex with an HIV-positive woman because the risk was not great enough to warrant concern.
"I had made a decision at that time," Zuma said. "I knew the risk I was facing, but I believed it was small."
But the message that this defence sends is a harmful one, especially to young men, according to activists and organisations working in HIV/Aids prevention. It disregards the risks associated with HIV/Aids and contradicts the messages that Zuma has given out in the past.
"Zuma really doesn't understand his risk," said Susan Goldstein, senior manager for research at Soul City, an NGO that works in health and development. "He may be less at risk than women by not using a condom, but he is still at risk."
The fact that Zuma has multiple sexual partners - a key risk factor in the spread of HIV/Aids - makes his risk of contracting HIV even greater than it might first appear, she said. While it's true that the risk of infection in one individual case of unprotected sex is small, this risk becomes magnified as one's number of sexual partners grows.
Zuma's history in the fight against HIV/Aids is also troubling in light of his testimony. He was head of the moral regeneration campaign and chairperson of the South African National Aids Council. In these capacities he repeatedly spoke about the risks of HIV/Aids.
Said Jonathan Berger, researcher at the Aids Law Project: "The fact that he has a lot of support and that he's known to be someone who is generally more knowledgeable about HIV than many - that's where the danger lies."
Still, the message is out there. Said David Harrison, CEO of loveLife: "We're going to have to move into damage control mode."
060408
MG060403
Copyright © 2006 - Daily Mail & Guardian. For information about the content or for permission to redistribute, publish or use for broadcast, contact the publisher.
AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted grants from Boehringer Ingelheim, Bridgestone/Firestone Charitable Trust, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Elton John AIDS Foundation, the National Library of Medicine, Roche and Trimeris, and donations from users like you. Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 2006. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.
AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.
Copyright ©1980, 2006. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content. .