The other six members all stood in the 1994 elections, and all did poorly. The charismatic and outspoken Ripua is much better known than his party. In the 1994 presidential election he came third - with 2.87 per cent of the vote. This is the second opposition coalition to declare its intention of fighting this year's elections. Medical staff believe this is shown both in the increased demand for condoms and in the use of confidential counselling services.
Confidentiality is guaranteed.
Nonetheless, a great deal still needed to be done, particularly among those many Mozambicans who are not reached by the mass media. The total number of AIDS cases diagnosed in Mozambique up to June 1998 was 8,678. But this figure in no way represents the real extent of the disease, since most AIDS cases have not been diagnosed. Not enough statistical data is available to give a full picture of the AIDS situation in Mozambique, but one alarming figure comes from the Maputo Central Hospital blood bank. This aid was originally designed to help victims of the drought which it was feared might hit the southern provinces of Maputo, Gaza and Inhambane.