Media sensationalised Zuma's HIV shower statement

Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, the health minister, and Thami Mseleku, her director general, have accused the media of sowing confusion in the wake of Jacob Zuma, the former deputy president's statement, about showering after sleeping with an HIV positive woman.

Zuma told the Johannesburg High Court during his recent rape trial that he took a shower to reduce the risk of HIV infection after having sex with his accuser. The statement was widely reported in the media. Asked at a media briefing today whether Zuma's statement had undermined government's campaign to combat HIV/Aids, Tshablala-Msimang said the media had "sowed a lot of confusion".

The media was fully aware of government's comprehensive HIV/Aids plan and strategy, but instead of highlighting this, it had "sensationalised only that bit" - Zuma's statement. This had confused the public about HIV/Aids prevention, which was very regrettable, she said. Mseleku said it was not Zuma's statement "per se" that undermined the strategy, but rather the media's "hammering" on it.

Both said it was important now for the media to emphasise the right message to counter the perceptions created by Zuma's statement. Government had a comprehensive HIV/Aids plan and strategy, and "we must stick to it not be influenced by things that come on the side", Tshabalala-Msimang said. - Sapa