Countries involved in the United States’ President's Emergency Program For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) will now have the opportunity to seek funds to increase access to circumcision procedures in order to reduce HIV transmission, U.S. health officials said on Sunday.
Recent studies have shown that circumcision can reduce the risk of HIV infection by up to 60 percent in some cases. While the funding for such measures would be small at first, officials say that it will likely become an important component of prevention aid.
An estimated 30 percent of men worldwide are circumcised, according to the World Health Organization.
Beth Benne, RN, is HIV negative, but
the virus has impacted her life. She currently supervises a biannual HIV/AIDS awareness week as
the director of the student health center at Pierce College, a
community commuter school in Woodland Hills, California.
Woman of the Month is supported by exclusive advertising from Gilead.
Overheard in the Women's Forum
"I recently met a guy who is negative. I did tell him about my status and he decided to kiss me anyway (we didn't go further than that). But a day later, he called and said that he actually had a mouth ulcer that time when we kissed and he was very worried. Asked if he can get the virus from me that way. For that moment, I felt so insulted and yet I felt so bad. It was my first time having a contact with a "negative" guy."
