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DA leader Helen Zille has accused HIV/Aids activists of acting like an Aids Gestapo , a report has said. Photo: Melinda Stuurman
If you could win R50 000 by having an HIV test, would you have one?
Premier Helen Zille thinks so.
But some experts say Zille’s lucky draw “Get Tested To Win” competition smacks of “cheap publicity”, and that the money could have been put to better use.
Zille teamed up this week with Harvard University professors in a “think-tank”. Together they came up with a competition that offers locals R100 000 in cash prizes if they are tested for HIV during the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women.
Zille, who was also recently criticised for suggesting that HIV positive men who had multiple sexual partners and refuse to use condoms be charged with attempted murder, on Friday launched the competition as the provincial government’s official contribution to mark the nationwide 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women that runs until December 10.
Speaking at the unveiling of the plan, she said the scheme was conceived earlier this week with Harvard University professors and intended to encourage locals to test for HIV.
“We had a workshop on Monday, brainstormed it in the week and came up with this. It points to the kind of turnaround in government,” she said.
The Western Cape government and the provincial health department are running the competition from Monday until December 10.
To enter, locals must have an HIV test at specific provincial health sites. These sites are listed on the provincial government website and a R200 000 marketing campaign will also list testing venues.
A R50 000 first prize and five R10 000 runner-up prizes will be awarded on December 10. Names will be placed in a lucky draw, but winners’ names will only be made public if they give the go-ahead.
Zille said the competition was a “pilot project” and that similar initiatives could follow.
“Persuasion has not particularly worked. We have done everything. We would rather use incentives to ensure that all adults regularly test their status. We are not going to push and coerce. We are going to incentivise people to take responsibility,” Zille said at the launch on Friday.
The Western Cape government spent around R661 million on its HIV/Aids programmes in the 2010/2011 financial year.
Zille said 1 042 942 people had been voluntarily tested for HIV in the province in the past year, while 103 000 were on antiretroviral treatment by the end of October.
HIV testing was vital because Aids was part of the “suffering and hardship of women”, she said.
“Often women and young girls become infected as a result of being coerced into having unprotected sex with men who are ignorant of their HIV-positive status and who believe it is their right to have inter-generational sex with multiple concurrent partners,” said Zille.
“This is violence against women and young girls. Their choice is taken away from them and they are exposed to risk and harm.”
HIV/Aids experts and child rights groups are not convinced by Zille’s new intervention.
“Questionable,” was the description given to the competition by Mark Heywood, director of Section 27 which promotes the right of access to healthcare services.
“It causes concern that this could cause people to test for HIV without taking seriously the counselling. It could be counter-productive,” said Heywood. “It would be better to spend R100 000 on community-based campaign that encourages behaviour change.
“This competition will not overcome the real reason for people not testing for HIV. It’s creating an artificial incentive. There should be an ongoing campaign around HIV testing for 365 days and not just 16 days.”
Patric Solomons, director of child rights group Molo Songololo, said that he was “taken aback by the competition”.
“This is strange. It smacks of cheap publicity. We need to spend this money to roll out testing services to people in areas where there is a lack of services.” – Additional reporting by Sapa
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Mandi, wrote
who was also recently criticised for suggesting that HIV positive men who had multiple sexual partners and refuse to use condoms be charged with attempted murder - I would love to see this happen!!! I think this is a brilliant idea, not that it makes any difference to the guys who do have aids they just keep going on giving it to whoever they sleep with. These people don't care that they have aids it means nothing to them.
Bonzo, wrote
'Questionable' says the man from TAC. So what? Just do it! It's a tiny fraction of the W Cape AIDS budget. And yes, people are incentivised by cash. Good idea, Zille!
Desmond, wrote
Why again when there's questionable issues raised about the DA and Me Zille, then the commentators defend her. This is stupid, arrogant and cheap politics on the part of the Premier. She is missing the point completely. There are so many organisations dealing with HIVAIDS who are struggling to provide support in communities where this money could have bee allocated as these organisations are struggling to secure funding for their projects, yet the Premier rather would havea lucky draw. This is aimed at the poor and as people are hungry,etc, they will fall for this cheap trick. Shame on you Premier, your time is up!
Lionel, wrote
R100000 is chicken feed when compared to the R4 million the ANC will be spending on their centennial celebrations next year or the R160000 a government Minister spent of tax payers money to visit his ex girlfriend in a prison in Switzerland and still has not been asked to pay this money back. I commend Zille for trying something new and different and shows she is thinking outside of the box, not like the flock of sheep one finds in the ANC. Look at the millions the poor contribute to the Lotto every month, only to see the Lotto donating a large proportion of this money to wasteful and uncharitable organisations and events.
WiseDarkie, wrote
@Poqo...agreed, this is"Just cheap publicity.", by your ANC standards at least. A campaign like this should cost at least a billion for ANC... and you know why it's like that? We'll remind you... SOME TENDERPRENEUR HAS TO MAKE A KILLING on any initiative you guys dream up.
markings, wrote
'Questionable' and some speculation is the best the opponents can come up with? I would be more concerned about how one excludes people who already know their status from the draw. Some HIV+ people may just get tested again, with the only purpose of getting into the draw. The aim is to encourage people who do not know their status to get tested.
G, wrote
Good work Helen! The HIV awareness which this has created so far (for a measly few thousand Rand) can't be bought otherwise. Zille for president!
David, wrote
Something needs to be done so this sounds like a good start. It's better than what other local governments are doing; nothing! If all you negetive people out there have better ideas let Helen know. Something needs to be done.
Jannie, wrote
Of the over one million who were tested how many are HIV positive?
Anonymous, wrote
This is a good idea.The more people test, the more they can be able to protect themselves.What are you doing to help this country.Criticizing zille without coming with alternative ideas is useless.help Mzansi move forward.Go test.
Poqo, wrote
Just cheap publicity. Testing is everyone's responsibility. Her prize is not linked to life style change...you can still test negative irrespective of the numbers of sex partners you have. What is she rewarding now? Mncx! Cheap little girl. Wonder who Havard professors smoked on such a skewed logic? Importing solutions from overseas would not work here! Why are these professors putting their "brainstorming" sh*t to test in the USA? Kak and cheap talk. I think all these rubbish are aimed at President Zuma. Sies.
Anonymous, wrote
Ive been working in marketing for all my life. If you want people to do something, incentivise them. This WILL work. Well done once again Zille.
Anonymous, wrote
Brilliant Zille, keep up the goof work !!
Charl, wrote
Follow the money. Taking a chance that R100,000 may tap into a different motivation, namely greed, and deliver a first point of contact, compared to an annual R661 million spent, seems like a massively worthwhile investment. We have politians spending tenfold that on luxury accommodation due to inefficient Public Works preparation of their homes. And let's face it, the political leadership in this country has set greed as the tone for society, so perhaps we should see if at least something good may come from it. I second the person who suggested we rather wait and comment once we have seen the results.
Anonymous, wrote
Zille has evidently not heard of "volenti non fit iniuria". This means that a willing participant cannot complain of injury. If you have have consensual sex without using a condom, how can you complain about getting infected. By now everyone knows that unprotected sex may lead to hiv infection; Don't cry foul if you participate voluntarily and choose not to use condoms; We all know people can lie about their stautus or simply does not know. Treat every partner as if they are hiv+ and protect yourself.
Anonymous, wrote
Gr8 idea bt why not have a prize for everyone like a food voucher, Or school uniform. How many people have food on their table for xmas because they don't have a income next year kids have to go back to school a few for the first time but now they don't have uniforms.The prizes you give is only for 6 people how many people you think gona get tested.Some people gona think they will neva win one of your prizes.But people do care about their kids so they can choose to have food on the table or make the kids happy.
Anonymous, wrote
If you dont like the competition you dont have to enter. Unless you are in a monogonous relationship it should be illegal to have sex without a condom.
TigerLily, wrote
It's a bit of a strange idea but hey, at least it's innovative. Better than setting an example of taking a shower. @Sando - what is the ANC's policy on HIV? Beetroot and garlic?
Claudia, wrote
I am in the non-profit sector, I see nothing wrong with this campaign in essence. Awareness raising workshops to create behaviour change has been running by many organizations including mine for many years. It is imperative and has had positive results. However, despite all the information out there on HIV, people still have unprotected sex (I'm now not talking of those in abusive relationships, particularly women, that often cannot negotiate safe sex). I believe we're at the stage of information overload - people switch off when they see information on HIV. So yes, use this money to incentive testing. At least people will know their status, can get treatment and hopefully won't infect others. This is a far better use of resources than holding jazz concerts for the youth.
Jane, wrote
Good initiative. If the ANC had come up with the idea first it would be hailed as a brilliant plan by those who are now criticising it.
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