African Leaders at International AIDS Conference Call for Scaling up Services in East and Southern Africa for Male Circumcision, an Evidence-based HIV Prevention Intervention

"Over the next five years, enough men can be circumcised through voluntary medical male circumcision to prevent 3.4 million new HIV infections and save billions in care and treatment costs," said His Excellency Mr. Benjamin Mkapa, former President of Tanzania and Champion for an HIV-Free Generation. "Scaling up this intervention is an urgent priority. Although it means an upfront investment, the results are significant long-term cost savings."

In December 2011, UNAIDS, WHO, PEPFAR, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the World Bank and the Ministries of Health from 14 priority countries (Botswana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe) committed to a five-year action framework to accelerate scale up of VMMC, and in turn reduce new HIV infections and free-up resources for other crucial interventions. The framework's immediate "catch-up" phase is designed to quickly achieve coverage of adolescents and adult men who are most likely sexually active. The second phase—"sustainability"—will expand the framework's reach to finally integrate VMMC into infant health programs.

Her Excellency Dr. Speciosa Wandira, former Vice President of Uganda and Champion for an HIV-Free Generation, emphasized that men need not be the missing link in HIV prevention. She added that political, traditional and community leaders must lead the charge in changing men's attitudes about their role in HIV prevention.

"I'm proud of the men of Uganda for accepting the good science behind VMMC and stepping up for male circumcision," said Dr. Wandira. "Women, in their role as sisters, mothers, wives and partners also play a pivotal role in supporting men to make this decision. VMMC is consistent with our values and shows how we, as men and women and as nations, are able and willing to do all we can to protect our health."

The United States President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)
PEPFAR is the U.S. Government initiative to help save the lives of those suffering from HIV/AIDS around the world. This historic commitment is the largest by any nation to combat a single disease internationally, and PEPFAR investments also help alleviate suffering from other diseases across the global health spectrum. PEPFAR is driven by a shared responsibility among donor and partner nations and others to make smart investments to save lives.

Anjana Padmanabhan
Email: [email protected]
Phone (Office): +1 (202) 663-3419
Phone (Mobile): +1 (240) 505-3531

AVAC
Founded in 1995, AVAC is a nonprofit organization that uses education, policy analysis, advocacy and a network of global collaborations to accelerate the ethical development and global delivery of AIDS vaccines, male circumcision, microbicides, PrEP and other emerging HIV prevention options as part of a comprehensive response to the pandemic.

Kay Marshall
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +1 (347) 249-6375

Champions for an HIV-Free Generation
Champions for an HIV-Free Generation is a group of former African presidents and other influential personalities with an aim to mobilize high-level leadership in renewed and revitalized responses to HIV and AIDS in Sub Saharan Africa. The Champions transcend political partisanship to speak freely and independently about the issues that need to be discussed, both publicly and behind the scenes.

Rebecca Aaku
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +1 (267) 369-7292
Phone: +1 (267) 7476-1663 / +1 (267) 7233-1488

SOURCE AVAC