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Mar 22, 2009 News
‘The Pope is wrong when it comes to HIV’ – Dr. Ramsammy
Minister of Health Dr. Leslie Ramsammy has condemned the recent statement made by Pope Benedict XVI, who during his visit to Africa recently, said that the distribution of condoms only increases the problems of HIV.
At a press conference held at his Brickdam office yesterday, Minister Ramsammy said “the Pope is wrong when it comes to HIV… I am not hesitant in what I say. HIV is a monster killer and contributes significantly to poverty in Africa. We cannot ignore that fact.
“But by reiterating the statement that condoms do not help and that he believes that condoms are one of the reasons why HIV is spreading so rapidly in Africa. I think the focus contributed negatively in the fight against HIV.”
Minister Ramsammy reiterated that condoms play a significant and positive role, therefore the statement by the Pope is inconsistent with science; it’s inconsistent with the experiences and it is not in sync with what Catholics have experienced and believe.
“Such messages create confusion and impede the work that the ministry needs to do now…I believe that the statement by the Pope was ill-advised, inappropriate and I would hope that while we all want to listen to the Pope that this is a message that we do not want to embrace. Condoms work and I want to make it quite clear,” the Health Minister said.
He explained that the scientific evidence is clear and that leadership has embraced a comprehensive response, as this is evident among pregnant women and commercial sex workers.
A survey confirming the data from the Ministry of Health indicated that 48 percent of commercial sex workers (CSW) tested positive for HIV.
In 2005 – 2006, it was found that amongst CSWs, that figure had dropped by
25 percent. Last year, it was also found that there is another significant reduction in HIV cases involving CSWs.
According to Dr. Ramsammy, this is because the ministry has been promoting safe sex and has educated the general public on the prevention of various strategies.
Also condemning the Pope’s statement recently was the UNAIDS Secretariat for Guyana and Suriname which came out with a strong statement in support of “combination HIV prevention”
The agency said that with more than 7400 new HIV infections each day the world could not stop the AIDS epidemic without stopping new HIV infections.
According to UNAIDS, condoms are an essential part of combination prevention which includes, among other elements, access to information about HIV, access to treatment, harm reduction measures, waiting longer to become sexually active, being faithful, reducing multiple partners and concurrent relationships, male circumcision, ensuring human rights and the reduction of stigma.
On his first African tour, the Pope is reported by international media as telling an audience in Cameroon that the “AIDS tragedy cannot be overcome by money alone, cannot be overcome through the distribution of condoms, which can even increase the problem”.
His comments have sparked an international debate among those working to fight the spread of the epidemic. (Fareeza Haniff)
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