TAFSIRI
Maudhui haya yanapatikana pia katika lugha ya Kiswahili
Press Release
Male circumcision services for PEPFAR funding
March 29, 2007
The U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (PEPFAR) has endorsed WHO/UNAIDS announcement that supports safe male circumcision services. According to WHO/UNAIDS, circumcised males are at lower risk of being infected with HIV infections compared to non circumcised males.
U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator Ambassador Mark Dybul said PEPFAR recognizes the accumulation of scientific evidence and new normative guidance from WHO/UNAIDS that supports safe male circumcision for the purpose of HIV prevention. The Emergency Plan will therefore follow the WHO/UNAIDS recommendations on male circumcision for HIV prevention and listen to terms of each host country governments’ policies and cultural norms.
“PEPFAR will support safe male circumcision services when host country governments include this new HIV prevention recommendation as part of an expanded approach to reduce HIV infections,” said Ambassador Dybul.
He added, “The Emergency Plan looks forward to continuing our collaborations with host governments, the World Health Organization, UNAIDS and other partners to respond to scientific evidence and normative guidance that supports safe male circumcision for the purpose of HIV prevention.”
Emergency Plan funds will be utilized to support the implementation of safe male circumcision under the leadership of host country government, and in consistent with local policies and norms. But PEPFAR emphasizes circumcisions should be performed in clinical settings by trained personnel while conducting or continuing facility and community assessment.
Clinical trainings should be conducted while developing communication and counseling approaches. Host country government will establish quality assurances and medical health standards. This should be supported by integrating male circumcision into surveillance and supply chain management systems.
Recognizing that male circumcision is not 100 percent protective, it is essential for countries that are considering incorporating male circumcision delivery to place it within a comprehensive HIV preventive package, which focuses on an ABC (Abstinence, Be Faithful, and correct and consistent Condom use) approach.
WHO is only recommending the male circumcision services for HIV negative men. This is NOT a recommended procedure for HIV positive men.