THE global HIV and Aids awareness and charity campaign, Goal for South Africa, has stepped up its operations to increase awareness of the pandemic in the country and beyond.

Its campaign is set to focus attention on the Fifa World Cup and highlight challenges posed by the disease.

Goal for South Africa (GFSA) is a private initiative started in 2009.

The campaign aims to raise as much money as possible in donations to fund educational projects designed to stem the spread of the disease.

GFSA indicated in a statement it had joined forces with the South African National Aids Council to fight against the spread of HIV-Aids.

It had met Sanac chief executive officer Nono Simelela to discuss government's measures to alleviate the Aids situation in the coming years . They had also discussed special measures to reduce the risk of HIV infection for tourists during the World Cup activities. Simelela said the government had a comprehensive programme which covered prevention interventions such as mass communication, social mobilisation and information.

"We also have a programme to detect and manage sexually transmitted infections and the provision of large numbers of male and female condoms free of charge in the public sector," she said.

Simelane said they had embarked on a massive HIV counselling and testing campaign to encourage citizens to know their HIV status and seek care.

She said the government welcomed support.

But those who fund us need to understand that there is a country plan, one monitoring and coordinating framework and that we must also adhere to the Paris Declaration."