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In a Department of Health and Mental Hygiene two-fer, the DOH announced that 5 million NYC Condoms were given given away between February 14 and March 14, while the Times reveals that the DOH is also working on a campaign to promote circumcision.
The condoms, which the city handed out to the public on Valentine's Day and distributed to community organizations and stores, are a "sensation" according to Health Commissioner Thomas Frieden. Frieden said, "I commend them for doing their part to prevent sexually transmitted diseases and unplanned pregnancies, and I urge anyone who wants an NYC Condom to visit www.nyccondom.org or call 311." Local businesses also say the condoms are great (being free and having a cute design work!).
And after the World Health Organization's recommendation that "Male circumcision should be part of a comprehensive HIV prevention package," the DOH is working on its own policy. The Times says that the DOH is asking the Health and Hospital Corporation, "which runs city hospitals...to perform the procedure at no charge for men without health insurance," while asking community and gay rights groups to discuss circumcision. There's some question whether data from African populations that the WHO used for its recommendation can be used to make assumptions about NYC's population.
Peter Staley, a longtime AIDS activist and co-founder of ACT-UP New York, the Treatment Action Group and AIDSmeds.com, said he was “intrigued” by the idea of offering circumcisions but worried because those in the studies supporting it bore little relation to New York’s risk groups.Frieden emphasized that NYC is the epicenter for the AIDS epidemic in the U.S. Here's the DOH's website on AIDS/HIV in NYC; the city has free and confidential STD clinics in all five boroughs.“Should we proceed when we don’t have hard data yet on the population here?” he asked. “On the other hand, if we wait the three years it would take to answer that question, how many will be infected in the meantime?”
Also, after reading many postings on gay Web sites about the Africa trials, he said he feared a backlash among black and Hispanic men to endorsements of circumcision from white public health officials or gay activists.
“I’m white, Frieden’s white,” he said. “It’s going to sound like white guys telling black and Hispanic guys to do something that would affect their manhood.”
The graphic is from the Department of Health - really
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i applaud the city for giving my penis so much thought.
There is absolutely no scientific evidence that circumcision prevents any disease of any kind. The whole idea is so insultingly ludicrous... it's completely demoralizing.
agreed...if I ever have a son there's no fucking way I'm about to let that happen, for so many reasons.
I am circumcised and I don't have AIDS. Itsofacto.
What's the tagline for the circumcision campaign? "Keep the cheese on your Shake Shack burgers"?
My sons are not circumcised. I did go to school with a kid who had a circumcision at age 13. His parents wanted him to be clean.
He did mention it was very very painful.
my wife did some research on the net about circumcision and it's a very heated subject in the urban baby forums. (that means your UWS types)
"There is absolutely no scientific evidence that circumcision prevents any disease of any kind."
Maybe, maybe not, but there is solid statistical evidence that it does indeed slow the spread of HIV within some populations.
i'll tell you like my midwife said when i was discussing circumcision for my son (which i didn't opt for).... "if having ears means you might get an infection, you don't cut them off, you learn how to keep them clean."
ignorance, lack of education and quality healtcare are far greater risk factors for HIV infection than being uncircumcized. although the recent study is compelling, i have yet to see the published work on the methodology. they should definitely be concerned about a selection bias. i mean shit, if i was a grown ass man and i just got circumcized- i don't think i'd be out getting a$$ as much as the intact guys. hm?
i'll tell you like my midwife said when i was discussing circumcision for my son (which i didn't opt for).... "if having ears means you might get an infection, you don't cut them off, you learn how to keep them clean."
ignorance, lack of education and quality healtcare are far greater risk factors for HIV infection than being uncircumcized. although the recent study is compelling, i have yet to see the published work on the methodology. they should definitely be concerned about a selection bias. i mean shit, if i was a grown ass man and i just got circumcized- i don't think i'd be out getting a$$ as much as the intact guys. hm?
don't believe the hype!
This is why I will have my daughter's breasts removed when she's born. Zero chance of breast cancer.
Kojak: That's the best they can offer heterosexual Africans? ADULT CIRCUMCISION? Please.
"This is why I will have my daughter's breasts removed when she's born. Zero chance of breast cancer."
Brilliant response. The ear removal one as well.
I am so relieved to read some of these comments. I am 6 months pregnant and we just found out we're having a boy. I can't believe they would suggest such a thing to people. Teach your children (sons) about hygiene and safe sex.
I'm absolutely amazed that they're even considering this tactic.
I agree -- they're giving lip service to the cultural issues but still going ahead with the campaign, so it doesn't look like they take those issues seriously.
More broadly I think the NYC Condom campaign is so great and long overdue. The condoms are really high quality.
Thanks for covering it and I hope you keep covering it!
circumsion is child abuse. and there are too many castrated men anyway.
"solid statistical evidence"
Three words that should never be in the same sentence, let alone one after the other.
Do not underestimate the power of Statistical Analysis! If done correctly, its findings can yield valuable data on most subjects, especially the impact and prevention of disease on groups of people.
"That's the best they can offer heterosexual Africans? ADULT CIRCUMCISION? Please."
I agree, they can do a lot better than that (Like increasing the amount of free medication to the affected populous), but if a certain course of action is proven to slow the spread of a particularly deadly disease, is it not worth looking into?
although in favour of male circumcision there is a glaring irregularity here. The majority of males in the US are circumcised - particularly in the older age groups - yet the HIV rate is far higher in the States than in Europe where, apart from Britain, circumcision is rare. This simply contradicts these findings.
I can't believe this is a topic of discussion ! Circumcisions are for safety reasons, Think of it this way . Do you all want to have an infection anywhere near your manhood ? Do you all want to see your manhood fall off? That's what could happen if you don't keep the fold of skin on the penis clean and clear of bacteria . Even though urine is sterile coming out the body you have to think why the hell is it yellow ? Because that's waste your emptying into the toilet do you want any of that waste to collect in the fold hiding your opening ? Circumcisions are for the best .