Scientists Pushing For Better AIDS Prevention Strategies

Boston (dbTechno) - Scientists have come out and stated that it may be time to use AIDS funding on more proven prevention strategies rather than on distributing condoms and working on new vaccines. Scientists argue that these approaches are simply not effective enough.

Researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health and the University of California have published in articles in the journal Science that it is becoming too costly to waste money on vaccine development and distribution of condoms.

They cited the failure of last year’s Merck & Co. AIDS vaccine as an example.

The researchers believe firmly that the World Health Organization should be putting more money into circumcision of men, which has proven to be effective in slowing the spread of AIDS.

The belief is that through circumcision, men’s chance of contracting HIV is cut by as much as 60%. This equals the effectiveness that Merck was going for with their vaccine.

The other simple thing which they believe can act as a preventive tool consists of reducing multiple sexual partnerships.

They stated currently only 1% of total prevention funding from the United Nations AIDS Program is for male circumcision.