Originally posted by the Voice of America. Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America, a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in the public domain. AIDS Groups Barred from Distributing Condoms at World Cup Stadiums Joe DeCapua 04 June 2010 South African AIDS organizations have had limited success in getting FIFA to allow them to distribute condoms and HIV education materials during the World Cup. FIFA has refused to allow them to operate at football stadiums, but they will be allowed at some other locations. The AIDS Consortium and other groups had called on FIFA to allow full access, saying it was the organizationâs âmoral obligationâ to do so. Rhulani Lehloka, communications manager for the AIDS Consortium in Braamfontein, says, âBasically, one of the issues really is that if we are going to be pushing for HIV prevention, then we need to look at it as a holistic approach, part of which includes condom distribution.â The AIDS Consortium, the Southern African HIV Clinicians Society and others say that holistic approach should include access to World Cup football venues. âSo the issue really was that we need to make condoms as available as possible and in as many places as possible,â she says. Front line of the AIDS fight Itâs estimated that 5.7 million people in South Africa are living with HIV/AIDS. âThe (HIV) prevalence rate in our country is the highest in the world. And we have the interests of the visitors at heart, but weâre also having the interests of the people of South Africa at heart,â she says. As a result of the groupsâ formal request to FIFA asking for stadium access, the world football governing body has responded. But not in the way the groups wanted. AIDS groups says condoms should be widely distributed at World Cup âThere are a few places that have been allocated now,â she says, âThere are places that will be serving as fan parks during the World Cup. And some of those places have been earmarked to have a health center or wellness center in them. And soâ¦we can distribute condoms in those places.â She says theyâll do everything possible to distribute condoms, short of setting up shop at the stadiums, as âvigorously as we can.â Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to travel to South Africa for the World Cup. âI think itâs not really only a problem for the people who will be coming for the World Cup, but the people that are within the country still. So it really is a concern. I wonât shy away from that,â she says. The fear is that ground will be lost in slowing the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Lehloka says, âSo far, weâve made such strides in responding to HIV. And that it really is pulling us back in terms of responding to HIV. I think so far weâve done so well with government showing leadershipâ¦(and) the response that we want to see involving different sectors in responding to HIV.â But she adds, âNow, here, I think is an issue that we really need to fight.â Awareness and prevention When it comes to the World Cup, Lehloka says, âThe issue about it is safety first. Soâ¦when you do distribute condoms, then you are sending a particular message. And the message that you are sending is that people should really look after themselves.â She says condoms should be made readily available for those âengaging in sexual activities.â âSo it would make it easier to make (condoms) accessible at the stadiums,â she says, âBut failingâ¦we must make (them) available in other places.â .