Bush Needs to Relearn his ABCs
Bush Needs to Relearn his ABCs
When his administration isn’t pushing the dangerous drug nevirapine, President Bush touts an abstinence first ideology, both here and abroad, when it comes to dealing with the HIV/AIDS epidemic. One of his favorite examples is the country of Uganda:
“I think it’s really important for us to focus on prevention. We can learn from the experiences of other countries when it comes to a good program to prevent the spread of AIDS, like the nation of Uganda. They’ve started what they call the A-B-C approach to prevention of this deadly disease. That stands for: Abstain, be faithful in marriage, and, when appropriate, use condoms. That’s what A-B-C stands for. And it’s working. I like to call it a practical, balanced and moral message. I say it’s working because Uganda has cut its AIDS infection rate to 5 percent over 10 years. Prevention works.”
Fellow conservatives joined him in this rhetoric and went so far as to liken the use of condoms to playing Russian Roulette:
“Condoms also do provide 85 percent protection against the HIV/AIDS virus, or roughly the odds one has of escaping unscathed when playing Russian roulette with a six-shooter with one chamber lethally loaded — if you’re interested in playing Russian roulette.”
Now, a decade-long study by several reputable health researchers on what’s really going on with condoms, abstinence education, and the country of Uganda presents a completely different story:
“Abstinence and sexual fidelity have played virtually no role in the much-heralded decline of AIDS rates in the most closely studied region of Uganda…Instead, the deaths of previously infected people, not dramatic change in human behavior, represent the main engine behind the ebbing of the overall rate, or prevalence, of AIDS in southern Uganda over the past decade…”
And far from the risky business that conservatives would want us to believe, in fact, “only condom use has kept the deadly [HIV] virus in check” in Uganda.
Topic Cloud
ArchivesBlog Roll
I’m guessing the Ugandan AIDS educators didn’t start off their presentation on condoms with, “Now, remember, these break 30% of the time and don’t prevent pregnancy.”
February 25th, 2005 at 3:36 pm…and I heard somewhere that 1/3 of the funding for the anti-AIDS program in Uganda MUST go to abstinence programs that are now proven to be ineffective.
It’s interesting that the “D” that’s not usually talked about (people who have already Died from AIDS) is more effective than Bush & Co.’s abstinence-heavy ideas…
February 25th, 2005 at 3:42 pmYou refer to nevirapine as a “dangerous drug” “pushed” by the Bush admininstration and link to a Fox News story about it.
February 25th, 2005 at 6:30 pmNevirapine is commonly used in HIV treatment in the US and elsewhere. It is safe and effective.
Rarely, there can be a temporary severe reaction to the drug, which patients need to watch for so that they can stop the drug if the reaction begins (and the reaction then stops).
Nevirapine has also been found to be safe and effective in preventing transmission of HIV from mother to child during birth, saving newborns from beginning life with HIV infection. I’ve seen some healthy babies come into the world this way.
Drug “resistance” that the Fox article mentions develops with any antiviral drug and is not unique to this one and does not preclude future treatment. Resistance is reduced if drugs are taken on a regular schedule. Those who have fought the effort to bring HIV treatment to Africa have implied that Africans are incapable taking their drugs on a proper schedule, which is nonsense.
As far as HIV drug controversy in Africa, the South African government fomented this through their opposition to HIV treatment, including nevirapine as well as the other standard HIV drugs, leading to countless unnecessary deaths.
Bush makes big promises about helping the African AIDS disaster, but far from “pushing” drugs, he does not follow through – and people die.
I heard the Catholic church over there has put out pamphletts telling people that condoms actually help spread AIDS.
February 26th, 2005 at 1:46 amAnd I heard that Bush is committed to stopping the spread of AIDS, curbing global warming and balancing the budget.
You can’t believe all that you hear.
That said, yes: the Catholic church has been accused of saying that condoms don’t prevent the spread of HIV. I found a BBC News article about it if you’d like to read it.
February 27th, 2005 at 2:56 pmOn the other hand, using a huge publicity campaign and a 100% condom use campaign Thailand was able to reduce their infection rate by 15% between 1991 and 2003. I think the people prefer condoms.
February 27th, 2005 at 6:41 pmhttp://www.avert.org/aidsthai.htm
מקלחונים
מקלחונים with others from around the world. Look at מקלחונים for rules and tips. מקלחונים – made for winners…
July 12th, 2005 at 5:18 amגולן
When you use us to write and send a press release for you about גולן, you are guaranteed that it will be published. Thanks for your interest in גולן. The Page You Just Searched For Does Not Exist! on our …
July 12th, 2005 at 11:29 amverizon ringtones
verizon ringtones To every progressing religion the planlessness is so natural, that no acoostic shiliang is constrained to co
October 5th, 2005 at 8:47 amReplica Rolex Watches
Swiss Replica Rolex and Japanese Rolex Replica Watches. Premium Quality Rolex Replicas.
October 24th, 2005 at 11:37 pmcash money
bauble Timonize:spectrography ex scoffer disclosed!proliferated auto loans http://auto-loans.conjuratia.com/
December 3rd, 2005 at 7:50 pmHello, What a beautiful and awesome site. I adore what you’ve done with your setup and graphics. Thanks you so much.
February 27th, 2007 at 11:03 am