FIFA accused of blocking condom distribution, safe-sex information during World Cup

South Africa has taken huge strides to get condoms into the hands of soccer-worshipping fans and locals — because a lot of sex is expected during the World Cup.

But efforts to maximize HIV prevention and AIDS awareness during the games, where many have said over a billion condoms will be needed, may have hit a snag in the most AIDS-ravaged country in the world.

The AIDS Consortium and other prevention and awareness groups recently accused FIFA, the body governing world soccer, of banning condom distribution and information material at World Cup stadiums and fan parks, according to The Guardian.

The groups added that FIFA was acting hypocritically by allowing alcohol advertising, noting that Budweiser is a corporate sponsor of FIFA.

But FIFA countered the accusations and praised the government’s HIV prevention efforts, according to The Washington Post. FIFA said it would broadcast information about Durex-brand condoms during the matches.

The AIDS groups countered that Durex condoms were far to expensive and out of reach to most South Africans. Hundreds of millions of condoms have been purchased by the government, and many more millions have been donated to South Africa from many nations.

Awareness campaigners have long wanted to use the World Cup as the ultimate venue to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS and condom usage in South Africa and around the world.

Hundreds of thousands are expected to pour into the nation for the month-long event along with over 40,000 prostitutes from around Africa and Europe, according to a Newsdesk report. Alcohol-fueled revelry across the nation is expected to lead to increased sexual encounters.

South Africa has been decimated by HIV/AIDS. About 3 million have already died and about 350,000 are expected to die each year.

The average life expectancy of South Africans has fallen from 65 in 1994 to just under 50 based on 2005 – 2009 estimates, according to The Economist.

In the same time period, the prevalence of HIV/AIDS in 15- to 49-year-old South Africans has risen to nearly 20 percent in some parts of the country.

The disease also disproportionately impacts black South Africans. The Economist report showed 14 percent of blacks were infected versus 1.7 percent of mixed race and 0.3 percent of the white population.

But the government has been getting praise lately for its efforts to stamp out the killer.

President Jacob Zuma launched a program in March to test about a third of the population for HIV by June 2011. It’s an effort to identify HIV-positive men and women in order to supply effective antiretroviral medication and also stem the transmission of HIV from mothers to children.

But efforts to get out the word about a condom’s effectiveness in stopping HIV transmission in Africa has sometimes come under attack.

On his first trip to Africa in March 2009, Pope Benedict XVI said condom usage increased the problem of HIV transmission. He said marital fidelity and abstinence were the only solution to the problem, according to the BBC.

But others are taking a more proactive attack against HIV/AIDS during this World Cup.

A group of Cape Town hotel owners will be distributing free condoms at their hotels throughout the games in a campaign called “play it safe,” according to news.com.au.

“We thought one of the best places for condom use might just be in the bedrooms,” said Kai Crooks-Chissano, 2010 project manager at the South African Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS. “Good sex is safe sex.”

—Don Clyde/Newsdesk

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