Lancet Recommends use of Condoms in US foreign AID
In the April 15 Lancet an editorial focuses on the US AIDS/HIV prevention package, PEPFAR, provided through the WHO. PEPFAR hopes to secure US$15 billion in funding between 2004 and 2008. 15 countries that are especially badly affected by HIV will receive $9 billion between them: 12 countries from Africa, plus Guyana, Haiti, and Vietnam. PEPFAR will also spend $5 billion on ongoing bilateral programmes in 105 other countries and will donate $1 billion to the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria.
The cornerstone of PEPFAR's prevention strategy is the ABC approach—Abstain, Be faithful, use Condoms—with a strong emphasis on A and B, over C, in most settings.
Because of ambiguity on what is high risk and who can use a condom in this package the editorial, correctly in my opinion, suggest a reversal to CAB. US morality should not be used to bludgeon other countries, that Condoms are still the best protection in most parts of the world.
Comments
You have to love the convoluted logic of us bureaucracy sometimes. Abstain, but use condoms ... huh? lol. the administration should decide whether they want to impose the morality of repression or save lives. The priority should be on the latter but they cheap themselves by emphasizing the former.
Posted by: Condom Man Condoms | September 22, 2007 4:14 AM