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Former President Nelson Mandela and the Nelson Mandela Foundation are calling on all South Africans to participate in the National 2004 HIV/AIDS study. On Monday, 8 November 2004, the Nelson Mandela Foundation/HSRC 2004 National Survey on the prevalence of HIV/AIDS in South Africa will be launched. This survey is the second to be undertaken in two years and is aimed at establishing the levels of HIV infection in the country. The study will also identify the social and economic factors that are related to HIV infection and will provide a better understanding of individual behaviour and practice, related to HIV/AIDS. Both the first survey as well as the 2004 survey were commissioned by the Nelson Mandela Foundation. The Nelson Mandela Foundation commissioned the Human Science Research Council (HSRC) in partnership with the Centre for Development, Research and Evaluation (CADRE), the Medical Research Council, the French Agency for AIDS research (ANRS) and the Swiss Agency for Development and Co-operation (SDC). The Nelson Mandela Foundation aims at providing the statistical information that are obtained through this survey to inform policy, strategy, care, support and rights on HIV/AIDS. The 2004 study builds on the findings of the 2002 study, which Mr Mandela described as "a watershed in our fight against HIV/AIDS". The data from the 2002 survey provided useful information that informed the policies and strategies of government and other organisations dealing with HIV/AIDS. "I am proud to say we now have the data to tackle the epidemic more vigorously", said Mr Mandela of the 2002 survey. Prior to undertaking the 2004 survey the HSRC met with a number of organisations, including government, to determine the structure of the survey but also to determine the best processes that would best elicit responses to inform improved prevention strategies, better health care and other facilities. "High participation in the study will increase the country's understanding of HIV/AIDS as well as enable us to tackle the challenges brought about by the disease", said Dr Olive Shisana, the Executive Director of the Social Aspects of HIV/AIDS and Heatlh at the HSRC. Households expected to participate in the study have been selected on a random basis. A total of 22 000 households have been selected throughout South Africa from all provinces, rural and urban areas. The survey includes people of all races and economic standing. Mr Mandela, the Nelson Mandela Foundation and the HSRC, in conjunction with other HIV/AIDS organisations, call on the public to participate and co-operate in this survey. Participation is not compulsory but co-operation would enable the study group to calculate informed information that are critical in fighting the deadly disease. "I appeal to all South Africans to participate in this study becasue if we get the correct information we as a countr will be able to plan our destiny, our future better", said Shisana. "We honestly believe that by allowing members of your household to participate in this study, the information gathered will assist us to develop effective strategies and campaigns to combat the HIV/AIDS epidemic in South Africa", she added. Persons participating in the survey will remain completely anonymous. The information will be gathered through undertaking two activities: a questionnaire, which is the primary focus of the study, and a dry blood spot sample. Qualified nurses will administer the questionnaire and they have taken an oath to maintain and protect the confidentiality of all the responses o questionnaires. "They will not share any information with anyone", said Shisana. She added: "All samples obtained during the dry blood spots test will be sealed and set to a laboratory for testing so the nurses visiting households will not know the HIV result of the sample obtained". "I know that many people are afraid of giving specimen for HIV/AIDS because they fear the information will fall into the wrong hands. I can assure you that the information otained cannot be shared", concluded Shisana. Mr Mandela and the Nelson Mandela Foundation emphasized the fact that we should never forget that HIV/AIDS is an assault on human rights. It is therefore the right of every person and in particular every citizen of South Africa to have access to correct information when dealing with the disease. Every person who receives the questionnaire and is asked to participate, should consider it his/her duty to co-operate with the study as a respresentative of our population. It is an obligation of any patriotic South African to protect not only his/her own human rights, but also that of its fellow citizens.
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