This Week in HIV/AIDS News

A Chicago Tribune health column discusses recent findings indicating routine male circumcision could help prevent the spread of HIV, evidence which has “led both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Pediatrics to consider issuing first-ever recommendations on routine circumcision of boys.” According to the Tribune, “Scientists think circumcision can protect against HIV because the tissue of the foreskin has a high number of target cells for HIV infection and is susceptible to tearing during intercourse, providing an entry point for the virus. The higher rates of certain sexually transmitted diseases, such as syphilis, observed in uncircumcised men also may increase susceptibility to HIV infection, studies suggest.” CDC spokesperson Nikki Kay said the agency’s recommendations will address male infants and men at high risk for contracting HIV. The article notes, “Neither the pediatrics academy nor the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists currently recommend routine neonatal circumcision” (Shelton, 8/27).

In related news, PolitiFact‘s “Truth-O-Meter” examines claims made by Rush Limbaugh on his radio show that President Obama “‘wants to mandate circumcision.’ … He cited a Fox News story about an upcoming report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that may recommend circumcision for newborn boys as a way to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS. … The CDC will be discussing what to include in the recommendations at the National HIV Prevention Conference, which is being held in Atlanta this week.” According to PolitiFact, “[W]e could find no connection between Obama and the new guidance [being considered by CDC], and no evidence that Obama had even used the word in a public forum. In fact, the recommendations were under discussion long before Obama took office” (Richert, 8/27)

The CDC also posted a statement this week on the status of its considerations on the issue. On its Web site, CDC said, “It is important to note that the recommendations are still in development and CDC has made no determination at this time about the final content,” adding, “Whatever the content may include, CDC’s final circumcision recommendations will be completely voluntary.” The agency noted that it is “employing a deliberative, evidence-based process for developing the circumcision recommendations. …” CDC said it will also “publish draft recommendations for public comment before the content will be finalized” (8/27).

The HHS department has awarded a $2.8 million grant to the Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, N.J., “to create an electronic system to boost the care of women of color with HIV/AIDS,” HealthcareITNews reports. S. Vincent Grasso — a member of the Stevens Healthcare Information Technology Management Advisory Board and seminar leader for the Stevens Healthcare Educational Partnership — who will serve as the technical lead for the effort, said the project is of particular importance because CDC in 2008 released findings showing that minority women are disproportionately affected by the disease (Monegain, 8/27).

In a separate story, HealthcareITNews reports that the Health Resources and Services Administration awarded the Northwest Pennsylvania AIDS Alliance with a $45,188 grant to develop a new computer network for its providers and clients (Monegain, 8/27).

Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.), who died Tuesday, is being remembered as “the most powerful voice in the Senate for gay rights, as a strong supporter of HIV/AIDS funding, hate crimes legislation and same-sex marriage,” the Associated Press reports. According to the AP, “Kennedy was an early advocate for AIDS research and treatment, securing federal funding so patients could have easier access to experimental drugs, expanded home care and outpatient mental health care” (Lavoie, 8/27). The Los Angeles Times reports that Kennedy “worked with Republicans to gain passage of a number of landmark measures,” including “the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency Act, which his office says created the ‘single largest federal program for people with HIV/AIDS’” in the U.S. (Simon, 8/27).

Michael Weinstein, president of AIDS Healthcare Foundation, said in a press release, “Since the beginning of the epidemic … Kennedy has been a consistent, unwavering leader and architect of enlightened AIDS policy and funding.” Kennedy, he added, “was a true champion of people without a voice, and we mourn him today as one of the most reliable soldiers in the ongoing battle against HIV/AIDS” (AHF release, 8/26).

After visiting several AIDS centers in Atlanta, Jeffrey Crowley, director of the White House Office of National AIDS Policy, said on Tuesday that he is concerned about the city’s efforts to address HIV/AIDS, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. He said, “There is concern in Atlanta about the commitment of elected officials” to address HIV/AIDS, adding, “People say there’s not the urgency there should be.” Crowley continued, “Atlanta is a major epicenter in the HIV crisis in the U.S. We want to engage the American people broadly.” The newspaper reports that “Crowley made the comments during an interview with a reporter prior to speaking at the first in about a dozen HIV/AIDS community discussions, sponsored by the Obama administration” (Schneider, 8/25).

Former National Basketball Association player Earvin “Magic” Johnson gave the opening address of the CDC’s 2009 HIV Prevention Conference in Atlanta, the Southern Voice blog “The Latest” reports. He “spoke frankly about being HIV positive for nearly 20 years,” and discussed the impact black religious leaders have on addressing HIV/AIDS in the black community, according to the blog. Johnson said, “We now have a major problem in urban America, in inner cities — the face of AIDS has changed from a gay white man’s disease to a black and [Hispanic] disease. And if we don’t get the black church involved, there is no way we can bring these numbers (of new HIV cases) down.” The Magic Johnson Foundation “is working to partner with black churches … because African-Americans are disproportionately impacted by the disease,” according to the blog. Johnson said, “We all have to get black churches involved. If we do, we will see change quickly. One constant in the black community is the church” (Bagby, 8/24).

The White House has announced that it will begin holding “a series of community discussions on HIV and AIDS throughout the country,” the Associated Press/Washington Post reports (8/21).

The community forums, called the National HIV/AIDS Community Discussions, “are intended to provide a public venue for input on a national strategy, according to a news release,” the Desert Sun (Palm Springs, Calif.) reports. President Barack Obama said in a statement, “HIV remains a serious challenge to the American people and I am committed to developing an effective National HIV/AIDS Strategy” (Brambila, 8/22).

“The first discussion will be Tuesday in Atlanta in conjunction with the 2009 National HIV Prevention Conference. Others will follow in Washington, New York, San Francisco, Oakland, Los Angeles, Houston, Albuquerque, N.M., Jackson, Miss., Fort Lauderdale, Minneapolis, Columbia, S.C. ; Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, the White House said” (Rhee, “Political Intelligence,” Boston Globe, 8/21).

“Reprinted with permission from kaisernetwork.org. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report , search the archives, and sign up for email delivery at www.kaisernetwork.org/dailyreports/hiv. The Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. © 2009 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.”