Zambia: Sister says 'condoms not solution to Aids'

Sr Luzia

A Catholic Missionary Sister dedicated to HIV/Aids prevention in Africa has condemned the widely-held view that the Church's ban on condoms is responsible for the spread of the virus. Sister Luzia Wetzel, coordinator of the Zambia's Youth Alive HIV/Aids prevention programme, told Aid to the Church in Need that the effectiveness of condoms at preventing the spread of the virus is highly overrated.

The Sister, who has been working in Africa for 40 years, said: "Condoms are not the solution to Aids."

She said that rather than concentrating on condoms - which she stressed do not provide 100 percent protection - other issues, such as behaviour change, are key to tackling the problem. The Youth Alive programme, which has been running in all of Zambia's dioceses, emphasises abstinence from pre-marital sex and faithfulness in marriage.

Sister Wetzel said: "We want to empower young people to recognise how precious human life is. They learn how serious Aids is. Based on this knowledge they understand that their lives are affected by their own decisions. This means they can refuse if someone wants to tempt them to any action that violates the sacredness of human life."

But when Youth Alive was introduced to Zambia in 1996, problems getting funding exasperated Sister Wetzel.

She said: "Every new programme is endowed with massive funding, while Youth Alive always had to struggle for survival."

However, despite initial problems finding funds, Sister Wetzel told Aid to the Church in Need that she had never signed contracts with organisations that wanted her to distribute condoms.

Sister Wetzel said: "What is being said about [promoting condoms] in Europe and the U.S. has no effect on our specific work in Africa, because we are on site doing what we believe is right."

The Youth Alive programme is run by the Catholic Church but it is open to people of all faiths.

Aid to the Church in Need has supported Youth Alive activities in various countries since the programme was set up in Uganda in 1994.

Earlier this year the charity supported a formation course for programme leaders from across Africa which was held in Nairobi with a grant of €14,000 (£12,250).

Sister Wetzel's comments echo those of Sister Maria Crucis Beards who helped set up Our Lady's Hospice, a centre for people with HIV in the east of the Zambian capital, Lusaka.

In an interview with Aid to the Church in Need, Sr Crucis said: "I believe telling people about the importance of chastity and fidelity is the only way to tackle the [HIV/Aids] crisis. Condoms have been freely available for 10 years or more and yet there's been no obvious change in HIV levels. Clearly condoms don't work."

According to UN estimates, Zambia has one of the highest HIV prevalence rates in the world. Zambia's HIV prevalence in adults was 21.5 percent in 2003. Figures from 2009 reveal a drop to 13.5 percent.

A national strategic plan developed in 2002-2005 prioritised promoting behaviour change, reducing mother-to-child transmission, ensuring safer blood transfusions, and providing care and support for people living with HIV/AIDS, especially orphans.

The southern African nation has a population of 14 million, of whom 7.5 million are Catholic.