Dial Direct Launches Protection Plus to Combat Aids-HIV

Recent statistics reveal that according to research, there are around one thousand new cases of HIV infections each week. In addition, the startling research reveals that women have a one in four chance of being raped in their lifetimes and that a woman is being raped every 24 seconds. Interestingly, the results also show that three in a hundred men will be raped in their lifetimes, proving that sexual assault is no longer just directed at females.

Dial Direct Insurance, specialising in household and car insurance, has therefore launched Protection Plus, a product which assists people in receiving immediate treatment, should accidental exposure to HIV occur. Says Fabian Angiers , General Manager of Dial Direct, "According to research, we are at least a decade away from finding a cure for HIV/AIDS. However, should a client of ours be exposed to the virus, it is vital that they contact our Care Centre within 72 hours, in order to receive immediate attention. By receiving immediate post-exposure prophylactics, the treatment has a 98% success rate!"

Protection Plus offers those clients who do test HIV positive, services such as lifelong phone-in advice, ongoing phone-in counselling and the patient will be given the opportunity to enrol into an HIV/AIDS Disease Management Programme. Should the patient test HIV negative, he/she will be monitored over a three month period, and receive prophylactic therapy to prevent sexually transmitted diseases.

Protection Plus also offers a counselling benefit of R3000 for the patient and immediate family, R1000 of which may be used by the patient for alternative therapy. "What is really special about Dial Direct's Protection Plus, is the fact that we furthermore offer an additional R2000 to the patient, which he or she may use for reasonable security improvements within and around their home after a rape related incident," adds Angiers.

"We also want to make people aware of the fact that there are many ways that one could become infected, not just through sexual assaults. Syringe attacks, which often take place in public places, have a 90% success rate in infecting people and fights at schools or in bars, where infected blood is exchanged, are also dangerous. This is why Protection Plus could make such a difference in the lives of so many people," concluded Angiers.