Pretoria - Cabinet has welcomed the study on a vaginal gel which has been found to reduce the risk of HIV infections in women, calling it "groundbreaking news".
Government spokesman Themba Maseko said the antiretroviral microbicide would "arm women to protect themselves against infections".
The results of the study on the gel, which contains the antiretroviral drug tenofovir, were announced on Monday at the 18th International AIDS Conference held in Vienna and was also published in the peer-reviewed journal of science.
According to the study conducted by the South African Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in partnership with associates from the Columbia University in the United States, the use of the gel reduces HIV infection by 40 percent and also reduces the risk of contracting genital herpes by 51 percent.
The study into the gel found that it was safe and acceptable when used once in the 12 hours before sex and once in the 12 hours after sex by women aged 18 to 40 years.
"Sexual transmission of HIV is the most common way that HIV is spread and accounts for about 85 percent of all HIV infections globally. A key driver of HIV infection in Southern Africa is the high rate of new HIV infection among young women and reducing new infections in this category is key to altering the HIV epidemic in the region," Maseko added.
He also welcomed the news that the gel would be manufactured in South Africa for distribution locally and internationally.
The results of the study have also been hailed by the Science and Technology Minister Naledi Pandor.
The minister said the study's findings signalled new hope in efforts to prevent HIV infection and were especially significant for Africa, given the disproportionate burden of HIV infection in women.
"The potential use of microbicides as armour against HIV infection in women is particularly important because women carry a higher burden of HIV. Microbicides can be used in situations where women have little negotiating power to persuade male partners to use condoms," the minister said
