The National Aids Helpline is being inundated with calls about whether taking a shower after unprotected sex can minimise the risk of contracting HIV.
This is as a direct result of the "misleading" statements relating to HIV prevention made by Jacob Zuma during his rape trial last week.
The former deputy president told the Johannesburg High Court that he took a shower - after having sex with the HIV-positive complainant without a condom - as he believed this minimised his risk of contracting the disease.
Speaking to The Star on Sunday, Hope Mhlongo, the counselling manager of the National Aids Helpline, said that since Zuma's statement, the number of callers querying the validity of taking a shower to prevent HIV infection has increased.
"It has caused a huge problem. People seem to be very confused now," she said, adding that while they had not seen the number of actual callers increase, the variety of questions relating to prevention had increased.
"Women have also been calling to find out whether they should take a shower after being raped to reduce their risk of HIV infection. We have to explain to them that this not only does nothing to reduce their risk but instead gets rid of vital evidence that they would need when they laid a rape charge," she said.
In a bid to minimise the effects of Zuma's statements, Aids activists and scientists are embarking on damage control. The South African HIV Clinicians Society hopes to reduce the damage by reiterating that:
The most effective protection from HIV that a person can use during sex is the correct and consistent use of condoms;
'It has caused a huge problem' |
Showering or bathing will not prevent HIV transmission and in the case of women, douching (washing of the vagina) may even increase the risk of HIV transmission;
Not using safe-sex practices, including the use of a condom when one has multiple sexual partners, shows reckless disregard for your partners' health; and
All South Africans who are sexually active should find out their HIV status regularly. It is taking responsibility for your own health.
"Our perception is that there has been significant confusion sown in the minds of the public. We call on public figures to show responsibility when making statements on HIV prevention, especially when these are in conflict with current scientific and government messages," the president of the clinicians' society, Dr Francois Venter, said.
He added that the "dreadful" consequence of Zuma's statements was that more people would be rationalising their risky behaviour by saying they would "have a shower after sex if they didn't have condom".
The CEO of loveLife, David Harrison, said: "The Human Sciences Research Council of South Africa has shown that knowledge of HIV prevention in people over the age 50 is the poorest. This is an opportunity for the leaders in this country to stand up and unequivocally say that condom use is the only way to prevent HIV infection."
Jenny Marcus, the founder of Community Aids Response, said South Africa was still suffering from the effects of some leaders' denial around HIV, and to have Zuma make such statements was "horrendous".
Meanwhile, the rape trial resumes on Monday with Zuma's lawyer, Michael Hulley, taking the witness stand. He will be questioned and cross-examined on at least three issues:
The exculpatory statement that Hulley drew up with Zuma at his Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal, home and gave to senior police officers Commissioner Norman Taioe and Superintendent Bafana Peter Linda on November 10, and which makes no mention of consensual sex.
The visit of Taioe and Linda to Zuma's Forest Town home in Johannesburg on November 14, at which Hulley was also present.
The interview Hulley gave to Cape Talk radio on November 14, in which he denied knowing for certain that a rape complaint had been made.
Hulley will be followed by some of the men alleged to have raped or to have tried to rape the 31-year-old complainant when she was a minor and as an adult.
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But,It Is Typical Of Human Beings To Cover Up Ones Caught With Their Pants Down...PS: How Could 1 Not Want To Take Shower,i.e. Cleanze The Mind If Not Body...
TRASK
Birgit and Roger
The internet is having a feast, he is cartooned mercilessly.
Below are just a few of the jokes on him:
ZUMA is an acronym for
Z = ZERO
U = UNDERSTANDING FOR
M = MINI SKIRTS AND
A = AIDS
>>>A man died and went to heaven.
>>> As he stood in front of St. Peter at the Pearly Gates, he saw a huge
>>>wall of clocks behind him.
>>>
>>> He asked, "What are all those clocks?"
>>> St. Peter answered, "Those are Lie-Clocks. Everyone on Earth has a
>>> Lie-Clock. Every time you lie the hands on your clock will move." "Oh,"
>>> said
>>> the man, "Whose clock is that?" "That's Mother Teresa's. The hands
>>> have never moved, indicating that she never told a lie." "Incredible,"
>>> said the man. "And whose clock is that one?" St. Peter responded,
>>> "That's Abraham Lincoln's clock. The hands have moved twice telling us
>>> that Abe told only two lies in his entire life."
>>>
>>> "Where's Jacob Zuma's ?" asked the man.
>>> " Jake's clock is in God's office. He's using it as a ceiling fan."
We have an outcome, no surprise, but is he innocent or guilty?
The best thing to do is to quit having sex..... period these days
Multiple partners seems to be the norm in this crazy world now !!!
Peter