Jacob Zuma shares his HIV status with the world to promote openness. Has the controversial head of state become sensible?
South Africa's president is HIV-negative. Jacob Zuma had himself tested four times before he informed the world of his HIV status on Sunday. "After careful consideration, I have decided to share my results with all South Africans to promote openness," said the holder of the highest office in the land at Natalspruit Hospital near Johannesburg. He was there to launch a new campaign against HIV/Aids.
The Cape of Good Hope has ambitious plans: 15 million South Africans are to be tested by June 2011 and the number of condoms distributed to the population is to be increased from the current 450 million to 1.5 billion per year.
The new openness of the statesman from the ANC party is remarkable. Zuma explicitly expressed his solidarity with his HIV-positive compatriots at a press conference. According to UNAIDS estimates, 18 per cent of 15 to 49-year-olds in South Africa are infected with HIV.
In the first year of his new term of office, Jacob Zuma has clearly shed his old views and learnt something new. As recently as 2006, he had caused worldwide horror. The father of 20 children, who was married to three women, was on trial for rape. During the trial, he stated on record that he had had unprotected sexual intercourse with an HIV-positive woman. Afterwards, however, he had showered very thoroughly - that was enough to protect himself from HIV.
(Paul Schulz)
