Sexual Habits Must Change, Says Doctor (Press, 11 June 1985)
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Summary: Sexual Habits Must Change, Says Doctor (Press, 11 June 1985)
On 11 June 1985, Dr Ron Barker, the Director-General of Health in New Zealand, emphasised the urgent need for Kiwis to modify their sexual practices to help contain the spread of A.I.D.S. His recommendations included practising monogamy or using condoms following the announcement of three new A.I.D.S. cases, raising the total number of reported cases in the country to ten. Of these, five individuals have died, and one has returned to the United States. All ten cases involve males aged between 20 and 55, who reportedly contracted the virus while overseas. Dr Barker warned against complacency, stressing the imminent risk of infections within New Zealand. He highlighted the alarming statistics from the United States, where over 10,000 A.I.D.S. cases have been reported, and in Australia, the number is nearing 100. He indicated that while New Zealand has not yet experienced such high levels of infection, the situation could worsen without significant changes in sexual behaviour among the population. He pointed out that the disease spreads through various means, including multiple sexual partners, the exchange of bodily fluids between individuals, and intravenous drug use. To mitigate the risk of transmission, Dr Barker advocated for individuals to limit themselves to one sexual partner. In cases where this is not feasible, he recommended the consistent use of condoms. For intravenous drug users, he urged that they abandon drug use entirely; if that is not possible, they should avoid using dirty or second-hand needles. The discussion surrounding A.I.D.S. was also marked by controversy, as Fran Wilde, the sponsor of the Homosexual Law Reform Bill, condemned an advertisement that labelled A.I.D.S. as a "homosexual disease." She strongly refuted the implication that the disease originated from homosexual behaviour, asserting that it is a sexually transmissible infection that has long affected the heterosexual population in certain regions of Africa. Ms Wilde explained that while A.I.D.S. is currently more prevalent among homosexual males in both the United States and New Zealand, it is increasingly affecting the broader community. This call to action highlights the critical importance of awareness and education regarding the transmission of A.I.D.S. and the need for responsible sexual practices, as the virus poses a rising threat to public health in New Zealand.
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