The first world cup in Africa - South Africa 2010 -  will be starting in the next few hours from now and one very important issue in enlightened minds is the high prevalence rate of  HIV/AIDS in this part of Africa.

An estimated 5.7 million people were said to be living with HIV/AIDS in South Africa in 2009, more than in any other country. The government of South Africa is however, committed to the fight against HIV/AIDS as it has launched a major counseling and testing campaign (HCT) aimed at reducing the prevalence rate by 50% by June 2011.

My concern is that for the next one month (June11-July11) when the World Cup tournament will be held in South Africa, so many risky behavior will be going on among the millions of football fans who have travelled from far and wide to witness the first World Cup in the African continent. Prostitution will account for a high percentage of business transaction that will take place during this period and there should be concern about the possible consequences of this situation to Africa and the world.

The rate of new infection will surely go very high during this period. Reinfection rate will also go up and this will amount to some new statistics in South Africa and that of the world. What baffles the most is that FIFA's concern about this possible pandemic is very low as there has been no visible behavior change communication in the form of jingles and messages on HIV/AIDS. May be the South Africa government has put some strategies in place but surely it is beyond the government of the host country alone because of the influx of people from all over the world.

The media, development partners and footballers are expected to use this historical festival to campaign and educate the football fans in South Africa and also the rest of the world about the HIV/AIDS pandemic. In the home front here in Nigeria, the National Agency for the Control of AIDS has put together series of jingles on electronic media to send some important HIV/AIDS messages to the football fans who are expected to glue their eyes and ear to the television and radio respectively throughout the period of this mundial.

It is imperative that all hands must be on deck by both FIFA and the South African government to avert a possible pandemic that may become a health burden for Africa and the rest of the world if more stringent measures are not taken. First in Africa should be the best and not a haven for risk behavior.