2010 World Soccer Cup The AIDS Threat
2010 FIFA and South African AIDS Statistics - Global Health Threats
Feb 18, 2009
The 2010 FIVA World Cup event is to be hosted by South Africa. It is common knowledge that South Africa is one of the most severely affected by the HIV and AIDS pandemic, with an estimated 38.7% HIV prevalence among 25-29 year old antenatal clinic attendees in 2006, which is also sexually a highly active group. Overspending by the S.A. National Department of Health threatens the public Comprehensive HIV and AIDS Treatment Program and many hospitals currently have no drugs to further their treatment. It is reported that in some provinces a number of patients enrolled for the program are without drugs, not only because of a lack thereof, but also due to the crumbling public health sector, hampered by the ongoing loss of healthcare professionals that seek a better working environment in other countries. Yet, despite this, billions of dollars are allocated by government to the resurrection of state-of-the-art soccer stadiums.
Drug resistance as a direct result of interrupted antiretroviral treatment is well documented. The number of patients on treatment are almost insignificant, compared to the estimated total number of infected. In addition, a persistent lack by the South African government to acknowledge the presence of the AIDS epidemic, in addition to the legalization of prostitution during the FIVA 2010 event, is a recipe for disaster. In South Africa, the stigma surrounding HIV is very complex and the culture does not promote individuals to acknowledge their status. Control over the situation is almost impossible and it is difficult to estimate the extent to which the community of soccer enthusiasts is at risk of contracting the disease, as there are many hidden factors that establish this risk. A projected number of half a million foreign visitors (located outside of Africa) are expected and staying an average of 15 days.
International intervention is required. Health authorities and individuals should prepare themselves for the influx of a number of individuals that return from South Africa, infected with “foreign” strains of the HIV that could lead to the eventual local manifestation of concoctions of super-viruses untreatable by what is currently available on the market. Most strains are localized and medical staff is accustomed to the treatment of a specific strain of the virus. Yet, in the South African public sector no evaluation of sub-types are performed and patients are allotted to one of only two available triple-treatment regimens.
This article is an urgent call to individuals having the intention to attend the 2010 FIFA World Cup event, as well as appropriate international public health organizations, to prevent the further spread and resurgence of the HIV epidemic in those countries where HIV and AIDS is already under control.
