After going through a phase that was filled with dissents, finally circumcision has managed to get approval from the World Health Organization too. Actually, World Health Organization (WHO) has taken an official stance in favor of male circumcision by touting it as a prolific method that lowers the risk of HIV transmission. Researchers from the U.S. were the first to dub it (circumcision) as an effective tool to stem the spread of HIV/AIDS, which was later much criticized by some people. Here it is important to note that several studies, aimed at knowing the effectiveness of circumcision against HIV/AIDS, have shown that circumcision helps curbing the spread of HIV/AIDS. And this very factor has prompted WHO to come for its support. WHO firmly believes that male circumcision should be part of a comprehensive HIV prevention package that includes: � The provision of HIV testing and counseling services. � Treatment for sexually transmitted infections. � The promotion of safer sex practices. � The provision of male and female condoms and promotion of their correct and consistent use. WHO believes that more study is essential to know the way circumcision protects from HIV transmission. Moreover, it (WHO) thinks that circumcision should be adopted as a prolific tool against HIV/AIDS. In addition, it has also emphasized that other methods, including safe sex, condom use, etc. should also be given due importance as circumcision provides just partial protection and considering it a full shield against HIV/AIDS would be a great mistake. Image Via: Daily News Central
WHOTag Archives
Only 19 pc of the needy in Asia get AIDS drugs: WHO
May be there has been noted a significant growth in access to HIV treatment in the year of 2006. However, most of the Asian countries still have a long way to go before cheering up as a report by World health organization reveals that only 19 per cent of Asians who need AIDS drugs receive them. This revelation really points to a bad portent, especially for the ongoing war against HIV/AIDS because according to an estimate, there are 7.8 million people living with HIV out of the world’s total of nearly 40 million cases, alone in the east, south and southeast Asia. Here it is worth mentioning that India is one of the countries with multi-billion-dollar AIDS prevention program. However, it is quite unfortunate that in spite of this high-profile AIDS prevention drive; hardly three per cent of the HIV-positive pregnant women in India have access to drugs that are used for prevention of viral transmission from mother to child in 2005. Moreover, countries like India, which in the recent years, has emerged on the world-map due to her march towards economic progress is having 5.7 million people living with HIV/AIDS. This report about Asian countries may blur the goal that aspires for achieving the target of universal access to comprehensive prevention programs by 2010 because achieving this goal by keeping in view the report about Asian countries, seems to be a tough target. As the report states: Universal access by 2010 will require a steep increase in the number of people starting treatment every year. More worrying is the fact that performance shown by Asian countries, in this regard, is surprisingly nastiest than many Caribbean and Latin American countries, as the figures show that that overall treatment coverage in these Caribbean and Latin American countries is 72 per cent. And unfortunately, this difference is there despite the fact that economically these Caribbean and Latin American countries are weaker than many Asian countries. After pondering over the HIV/AIDS situation, prevailing in Asia, it could be said that merely erection of multi-billion-dollar AIDS prevention program doesn’t ensure complete fight against HIV/AIDS, so long as they carry several loopholes. Therefore, such plans need to be revamped; otherwise, they would just prove like mammoth-sized ships having rips. Image Source
Cameroon offers free treatment for AIDS patients
The health department of Cameroon has pledged free treatment to all patients suffering from AIDS. The drugs will be funded by the government and other NGOs like Clinton Foundation and Global Fund. The program is expected to cost about $11.9 million to the government to treat about forty seven thousand AIDS patients. Earlier the Cameroon government had given free treatments and AIDS screening tests to vulnerable groups like prisoners, TB patients, pregnant women and children. It is estimated that Cameroon has AIDS rate of 5.5% and a monthly treatment of $14 for an AIDS patient is considered quite steep where majority of the population are poor farmers. The government of the Republic of Cameroon has decided today that there will be free treatment with antiretroviral (drugs) for all people living with HIV/AIDS eligible for this type of treatment says Minister Urbain Olanguena Awono While countries like Brazil, Senegal, Ethiopia, Tanzania and Zambia have already started offering free AIDS treatment in their countries, Nigeria and Congo are expected to follow according to WHO. Image Source