 Nurse Zamandlovu takes a blood sample from actress Hlubi Mboya.
|  Olympic swimmer Natalie du Toit takes her turn too. |
The research component of the 3rd South African National HIV, Behaviour and Health Survey has been launched this morning (Tuesday, 27 May 2008) in Pretoria, Cape Town and Durban. The survey will be undertaken by a consortium of research institutions led by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) and will reach about 28 000 people in 15 000 randomly selected households from all parts of the country over a period of about 4-5 months. The study aims to find out the levels of HIV infection in South Africa, and to learn what South Africans know, believe and feel about HIV/AIDS. Says Dr Olive Shisana, CEO of the HSRC: "This survey is a key instrument in our understanding extent of the disease and the reach of HIV prevention messages in our country. If we cannot reliably ascertain the extent of the disease in the country, we cannot plan accordingly. We need reliable figures so that a host of health and social interventions in response to HIV in the public, private and NGO sectors, can be targeted and implemented accurately." The survey involves asking participants to be pricked on a fingertip or heel (in the case of babies) using a small pin known as a lancet, which will yield a few drops of blood that will be collected on special paper. Those aged 12 years and older will also answer questions about their health and sexual behaviour. Participation is voluntary and all participants will remain completely anonymous. The point is not to give participants their results, but rather to gain a clearer understanding of the extent of HIV/AIDS in South Africa and people's responses to the epidemic. Many high profile individuals in South Africa have given their support to this important study and have agreed to promote participation in the survey. These calls for participation are aimed at all South Africans - old and young, of all races, able-bodied and disabled, and people from many different backgrounds. In Pretoria, Hlubi Mboya, who plays HIV-positive Nandipha in the SABC soapie Isidingo, gave a blood sample for the survey. "My dream", she said, "is to see an AIDS-free generation". The 5fm morning show team, hosted by Gareth Cliff, who gave a blood sample on air this morning, called on listeners on air to participate in the study if they are selected for giving a blood sample and the accompanying questionnaire. And at the HSRC office in Cape Town, Olympic swimmer Natalie du Toit has also joined in the call for participation of young, and especially white South Africans, in the survey. She also gave a blood sample to illustrate the anonymous nature of the survey. Information from this survey will inform policy makers about the HIV/AIDS situation in our country. It will also help to inform HIV prevention campaigns and contribute to the expansion of services for people and families infected and affected by AIDS and people living with HIV/AIDS. For further information, contact:
Ina van der Linde
Tel: 0823310614
E-mail: ivdlinde@hsrc.ac.za
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