Britain to donate 42 million condoms to South Africa

Britain to donate condoms to South Africa - World News - Marie Claire

(Image credit: Rex Features)

Britain comes to South Africa's aid as demand for condoms rises with the impending World Cup.

Britain has responded to South Africa's plea to provide 42 million condoms in time for the World Cup. Appeals for British aid, made by the South African president Jacob Zuma during his recent trip to the UK, come as part of a huge HIV prevention drive.

With an estimated 5.7 million South Africans living with HIV, South Africa has more HIV cases than anywhere in the world. With the World Cup just around the corner The Guardian online reports that the demand for condoms is greater than ever.

The South African government estimates that over half a million visitors could descend on the country, sparking fears of an influx of 40,000 prostitutes from neighbouring countries.

"Obviously there's a big focus on the World Cup and a huge increase in the number of people coming into South Africa," said Gareth Thomas, the international development minister.

"The South Africans have identified, themselves, the need to get more condoms in place. South Africa specifically asked for British assistance and we are responding to that request", he added.

South Africa, which hosts the continent's first World Cup this summer, now boasts the world's largest anti-retroviral programme, but there are still millions awaiting treatment.

The £1million funding will be announced today at an emergency summit in London on HIV prevention and treatment.

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Natalia is a health journalist with 14 years experience in the publishing industry. She has worked for a number of well known magazines and websites including Marie Claire, Woman&Home, Top Sante, Boots and The Telegraph. She likes to think she practices what she preaches when it comes to health and fitness. Her athletic prowess began early. A keen fencer for 13 years, she wielded an epée for Olympic Team GB during her teenage years. She likes to think she made sword-fighting cool before Game of Thrones came along! While working on her sporting performance with the team, she also participated in a lot of nutrition and psychology training, When it comes to time off, you’ll most likely find her up a mountain somewhere. It seems holidays have become a time for climbing several thousand feet, rather than chilling out. She’s now hiked eight of the major mountain ranges across four continents – including the Appalachians, the Smokies, the Sierra Nevadas (she spent her honeymoon hiking to the top of Half Dome), as well as hitting the summits of Snowdon, Pen-Y-Fan (Brecon Beacons), Table Mountain in South Africa, the Blue Mountains in Australia and the Atlas Mountains in Morocco. She’s also passionate about all things health, particularly vaccinations, and will happily jump on her soap box at any given opportunity to talk about their benefits to anyone who will listen!