Zimbabwe's Hairdressers Join Hiv Fight

Zimbabwean hairdressers will offer counselling and condoms to their clients as part of an innovative programme to reduce HIV infection, backed by a £20m grant from the British government. The donation will help fund a five-year campaign to reduce new infections by increasing testing and encouraging safer sex.

Due to the British government's policy of withholding funds from President Robert Mugabe's government, the grant will go to the non-governmental group Population Services International (PSI), which also gets funds from the US. The grant will enable the campaign to increase its condom sales from 160m to 250m.

More than 1,000 hairdressers have been trained to give advice to their clients about sexual matters and to sell male and female condoms. "The salons are conductive environments where women can feel free to speak about HIV-related issues. Our hairdressers are very enthusiastic about the positive social role they can play," said Yasmin Madan, of PSI in Harare.

Last year more than half of all female condoms were distributed through the network of 700 beauty salons in low-income areas. The demand in Zimbabwe for female condoms has increased by 240% since 2001. It is one of few countries with a successful female condom programme.

Zimbabwe has one of the world's highest HIV rates, with one in five adults estimated to be infected. Of these, 80% are unaware of their status. The campaign aims to provide testing and counselling for 800,000 people. It also offers support groups for those who test positive.