Friday, April 20, 2012

BOTSWANA: US heavily funds circumcision

The Botswana Gazette
April 19, 2012

Botswana prioritises circumcision

By

Safe Male Circumcision (SMC) is cited as a priority for Botswana and [sic should it be "of"?] the United States of America, the Daily News reports.

Speaking during the handing over of the P8 million [$US1.07 million] SMC medical supplies and vehicle to the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) recently, US Ambassador to Botswana Michelle Gavin said they prioritised SMC as it is “one of the strongest weapons in their arsenal in the fight against new HIV infections.” [A crazy exaggeration.]

Gavin reportedly stated that the US government is proud to contribute to Botswana’s HIV prevention strategy and that its supports evidence-based programmes like PMTCT, HIV testing and counselling as well as care and treatment.

However, she said despite [or because of?] the successful programmes, new HIV infections ’ rates continue to escalate hence efforts made by her government to assist Botswana in achieving its goal of zero infections by 2016.

She urged Batswana men to choose SMC pointing out that if majority of them choose the strategy, they will reduce their own chances of infection hence the entire country will benefit.

1 comment:

  1. Lovin' all the clarifying buzzwords... "safe"... (because safe female circumcisions are so much better than just your plain ol' female circumcisions...) "Evidence based"... (Shouldn't everything be? Let's actually examine the evidence instead of assuming it exists...)

    How is a "choice" men are being made to feel like they can't say "no?"

    What are the alternatives?

    If a man isn't even promiscuous and faithful to his wife, and/or wears condoms, doesn't the entire country still "benefit" anyway?

    Genital mutilation in the name of "disease prevention."

    Were the sex female, there would be a world outcry against the US for providing such "help."

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