Laura Bush Reiterates Support for ABC Model To Prevent HIV/AIDS
First lady Laura Bush on Friday reiterated her support for the U.S. global HIV/AIDS-prevention model -- which promotes abstinence, being faithful to one partner and using condoms -- saying all three aspects are "important," AFP/Khaleej Times reports (AFP/Khaleej Times, 1/20). Bush last week during a trip to Ghana and Nigeria visited people living with HIV and called the U.S. global HIV-prevention effort "a very fair divide." Her remarks came in response to critics who believe the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief fails to put enough emphasis on condoms and relies on the promotion of abstinence (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 1/17). In an interview with the BBC, Bush on Friday said, "It is very important to talk about abstinence, especially in countries where girls feel they have to comply with the wishes of men." She added, "It sort of irritates me when I hear people act like abstinence is not a real choice, because it is, and it is 100% effective" (Davis, BBC News, 1/20).
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