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Vatican slammed over AIDS comments

    JOHANNESBURG

    The World Health Organisation (WHO) has condemned comments by the Vatican on the use of condoms for preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS.

    The BBC recently reported that members of the Roman Catholic clergy were advising people worldwide that condoms were permeable enough to allow HIV to pass through.

    Despite scientific consensus that condoms were effective in preventing HIV transmission, the Vatican has refused to encourage condom use to prevent HIV transmission and instead advocates behaviour change.

    WHO said the Catholic Church's "incorrect statements about condoms and HIV are dangerous when we are facing a global pandemic which has already killed more than 20 million people and currently affects around 42 million".

    Research has shown that consistent and correct use of condoms can reduce the risk of HIV infection by up to 90 percent.

    This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

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