So Congress voted today to discontinue funding a program that was making a measurable difference on the continent of Africa. The program was called A-B-C because it promoted sexual abstinence, encouraged people being faithful to one partner and as a last resort the use of a condom. Because of this program AIDS and HIV were on the decline in Africa. According to the Demographic and Health Survey, the number of males in Uganda age 15 to 25 reporting premarital sex decreased from 60 percent in 1989 to 23 percent in 1995. The decline for females was from 54 percent to 16 percent.
Edward Green, a researcher at Harvard University who was initially opposed to the ABC model, particularly abstinence. Green changed his opinion on the matter after he saw the success of the model in Uganda."Many of us in the AIDS and public health communities did not believe that abstinence, or delay and faithfulness were realistic goals. It now seems we were wrong," Green said in testimony before the House Energy and Commerce Committee.The ABC model also was responsible for a decrease in HIV/AIDS in Kenya, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Namibia, Tanzania and Zambia, a fact Pitts asked the House to consider. But unfortunately our representatives in Congress said no because Democrats disliked the programs focus on Abstinence. Democrats could learn a thing or two from abstinence. Maybe the Democrats in Congress need to abstain from showing up for work.
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