Maravi

(NEWZIMBABWE) 40,000 men undergo circumcision

COMMENT - The idea that circumcision can prevent HIV infection is based on junk science. There were 3 trials, in Uganda, Kenya and South Africa, two of which were 'stopped early for benefit', which means that the 'researchers' stopped the trial as soon as they had the results they wanted. In Zambia, a quarter of a billion dollars has been spent on a circumcision drive. This is what the NIH has to say about such trials, from Randomized trials stopped early for benefit: a systematic review.:

CONCLUSIONS:

RCTs stopped early for benefit are becoming more common, often fail to adequately report relevant information about the decision to stop early, and show implausibly large treatment effects, particularly when the number of events is small. These findings suggest clinicians should view the results of such trials with skepticism.

40,000 men undergo circumcision
20/11/2011 00:00:00
by NewZiana

MORE than 40,000 Zimbabwean men have undergone circumcision since the programme was launched in 2010 to help reduce the risk of HIV.

Officials from the ministry of health and child welfare attributed the high statistics to widespread health awareness campaigns carried out in the southern African country.

The government has set a goal of circumcising 1.2 million men by 2015.
Circumcision is said to reduce the risk of HIV in men by approximately 60 percent.

Sinokuthemba Xaba, Zimbabwe`s national male circumcision coordinator, told the New Ziana: "About 11,000 men were circumcised by December 2010 but over 20,000 have been circumcised this year alone."

He said preparations were under way for the launch of a neonatal circumcision programme, where the medical procedure will be performed on male babies right after they are born.

"Neonatal circumcision has not yet been introduced, but preparations are under way. The initial pilot will not be prioritised in the short term due to limited resources but will have long-term plan from 2015 and beyond," he said.

He said the neonatal male circumcision would also be done free of cost.

He urged the people -- men as well as women -- to use condoms meant for both sexes, and remain faithful to their partners to avoid HIV.

Zimbabwe is one of the countries worst affected by HIV/AIDS in the sub-region although transmission rates have been declining in the last few years.

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COMMENT: PS, the three trials on which this junk science and junk policy are based, are:

(South Africa, 2006) Randomized, Controlled Intervention Trial of Male Circumcision for Reduction of HIV Infection Risk: The ANRS 1265 Trial
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16231970

(Kenya, 2007) Male circumcision for HIV prevention in young men in Kisumu, Kenya: a randomised controlled trial.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17321310

(Uganda, 2007) Male circumcision for HIV prevention in men in Rakai, Uganda: a randomised trial.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17321311

Notice that these trials were held very closely together in time. This is what their entire policy is based on. The likelihood of documenting bias is huge, but when the pharma-industrial complex sets it's mind on something, it is going to do it, however thin the justification.

Labels: CIRCUMCISION, FRAUD, HIV/AIDS

posted by MrK @ 5:24 PM