Nursing union Denosa on Sunday said there is a need for more education around the use of HIV prevention measures.

The trade union has hailed the breakthrough of a vaginal gel that is reported to be capable of reducing women’s risk of contracting HIV infection by 39 percent.

It said it noted with delight that the microbicidal gel can prevent 500,000 Aids-related deaths.

“As we have not yet found a cure to this disease that is killing our nation, I think this is a huge breakthrough in HIV/AIDS prevention and in the continuing fighting against the spread of the disease in our country,” said Denosa’s spokesperson Asanda Fongqo.