In advance of the UN General Assembly’s Special Session on HIV/AIDS at the end of May, the New York Times takes a cut at lessons to be gleaned from Kenya’s apparently successful efforts in curtailing new HIV infections. The editing of the piece is a bit confusing – there are a couple of lines that suggest abstinence-only policies are a big part of Kenya’s suggest, but the bulk of the text reinforces the wisdom of a comprehensive approach.

Rewire is clear in its condemnation of abstinence-only policies. Comprehensive approaches to sex education should include abstinence information; it is the adherence to a strict abstinence-only policy that endangers so many. The New York Times reports that programs in Kenya that stress a comprehensive approach to education that includes a strong abstinence message, but does not forgo the protection of condoms, are important factors in that nation’s reduced HIV infections. Other factors indicated include that AIDS deaths have already significantly reduced the populations of HIV positive people, and that in neighboring Uganda, increased condom use has been important.

Advocates of abstinence-only policies are sure to hail this as proof we should put more money into abstinence-only programs. But the article also points out that the real contribution in Kenya has been testing and educating people that HIV is no longer a death sentence, helping people understand how to protect themselves and others and get access to medication. The Bush Administration has already put a disproportionate share of resources into funding abstinence-only programs – even as some organizations who have been implementing the policies are moving toward more comprehensive approaches.

Lucile Scott writes in POZ that Christian Aid, the UK based nonprofit, has abandoned the so-called ABC, (Abstinence, Be faithful, use Condoms) calling it “not well suited to the complexities of human life.” The replacement: SAVE (Safer Practices, Available medications, Voluntary counseling and testing, Empowerment), a less-pithy but — Christian Aid believes — more practical approach.

Significant numbers of people living with HIV/AIDS have chosen sexual abstinence and few regret disclosing their HIV status. "We can tell HIV-positive men that others in their position rarely regret the fact that other people know their status," said one public health advocate. That gives hope to those who chose to continue to be safely sexually active safely, and to the public health officials working so hard against this epidemic.

So why — with this good news that a comprehensive approach of education, prevention, protection and medication work to dramatically slow the spread of HIV and give those living with the disease hope — wouldn’t Congress stop the partisan bickering and disproportionate distribution of funds for abstinence-only programs in favor of common sense, proven approaches?

With such an enormous challenge facing the world, and perhaps a glimmer of hope and common ground within our grasp – and world leaders about to convene in New York at the UN May 30 to review progress on HIV issue globally – isn’t this the moment to put partisanship and ideology aside and do the right thing by not imposing one set of values on anyone, but rather learning from each other what works and applying the right tools, in the right places and the right time. The empirical evidence is clear – the comprehensive approach works.