SOUTH AFRICA: HIV-positive pupil commits suicide

JOHANNESBURG, 3 Jun 2004 (PLUSNEWS) - A 19-year-old South African matric pupil in the KwaZulu-Natal province's port city of Durban hanged himself after discovering he was HIV-positive, the South African Press Association reported.

Police spokeswoman Captain Gugu Sabela said Sifiso Luthuli was found hanging from a tree in the backyard of his home. A note to his parents said he had decided to kill himself after finding out his positive status.

South Africa's Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) recently revealed that people living with HIV/AIDS required greater psychological and emotional support as they were more likely to commit suicide.

Although SADAG welcomed the government's decision to begin an intensive anti-AIDS drug rollout campaign, it noted that drug therapy was only one aspect of tackling the pandemic.

[ENDS]