U.S. Will Spend $24.5M to Circumcise Men in Swaziland

The United States Agency for International Development is planning to spend $24.5 million to circumcise an estimated 150,000 to 200,000 male infants and males aged 10 to 49 in the kingdom of Swaziland by 2018.

The Kingdom of Swaziland has the highest rates of HIV in the world, accounting for 31 percent HIV prevalence among adults, the grant said.

“While the data suggest that the rate of new infections is stabilizing, HIV and AIDS remain the most important health burden and impediment to socio-economic development for Swaziland,” the grant said. “As a result, there is an urgent need to scale up the HIV prevention response in Swaziland.”

The Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC) and Early Infant Circumcision (EIMC) Service Delivery and Support to Government of the Kingdom of Swaziland (GKOS) will be funded through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).

“PEPFAR’s global targets for 2013 include preventing 12 million new HIV infections,” the grant said.

{snip}