South Africa Aids Muddle Highlighted

Nearly 40% of South Africa's public sector workers believe HIV/Aids can be cured, a survey revealed this week, underlining what critics say is the ignorance and disarray in the country's fight against the pandemic.

The report said it was shocking that two out of five respondents thought the disease, which infects more than 5 million South Africans and kills at least 600 daily, could be remedied.

Anti-retroviral drugs can boost the immune system and extend life for years, even decades, but there is no cure for the virus and no vaccination against infection.

The survey, released to parliament by the public service commission, was the latest sign of muddle in South Africa's response to the crisis. "That even a minuscule proportion of the public service believes there is a cure for HIV and Aids should be viewed gravely," it said.

The survey was based on interviews with 98 officials responsible for implementing HIV/Aids programmes, 20 focus groups and 1,680 questionnaires. Those who mistakenly believe in a cure are deemed more likely to become infected by having unprotected sex.

The government says its record is exemplary. Spending on HIV/Aids has increased tenfold since 1994 and with 210,000 people on anti-retrovirals South Africa boasts the world's biggest treatment scheme. But critics say those statistics mask confusion and missed opportunities stemming from President Thabo Mbeki's controversial views in querying the safety of anti-retrovirals as well as the link between HIV and Aids.

After a deluge of criticism the president stopped making public comments on the subject but with his tacit support the health minister, Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, has championed a diet of olive oil, garlic and lemons as an alternative to anti-retrovirals, which she branded toxic.

Nozipho Bhengu, 32, a politician's daughter and one of the country's best known HIV sufferers, died of an Aids-related illness last month after shunning the drugs in favour of the special diet. Treatment activists said she fell victim to the ruling African National Congress's confusion.

In April Jacob Zuma, the party's deputy president and a former head of the national Aids council, testified at his rape trial that he had consensual but unprotected sex with a woman he knew had HIV but showered afterwards to reduce the risk of infection.

The admission baffled and appalled Aids experts who said showering would have no effect on reducing the likelihood of infection. Mr Zuma was acquitted of rape and hopes to succeed President Mbeki.