As I noted in my previous post, much to the frustration of NACWOLA staff, the USAID funded programme called STAR EC had excluded the use of condoms from its prevention programme. This was despite Obama lifting the gag rule on his second day in office. This meant that no longer would 40% PEPFAR funding have to go to faith based organisations that were inevitably anti-abortion, anti condom and anti-homosexual. The issue was raised by lone NACWOLA staff member who spoke out at the last meeting with STAR EC, on 15th sept. She was shot down by the other participants.
A letter from STAR EC today however, confirms that, having finally read the new PEPFAR priorities for prevention, they will now be looking at a more comprehensive ABC (Abstinance Be faithful and Condoms approach). They will also now be looking at extending and target services to MSMs (men who have sex with men.
It's absurd this has taken so long.
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