"In It to Save Lives" Launches

On June 22nd, at the National Press Club in DC, over 170 people turned out for the launch of "In It to Save Lives", a new film I did with USAID and PEPFAR on male circumcision and its impact on reducing men's risk for HIV infection, particularly in East and Southern Africa. Read about the launch here.

A few days following the launch, Richard Branson (Founder of Virgin) posted it on his blog. You can read his post here. His posting has helped the video get widely circulated with nearly 800 views in two and a half days. I'll be writing a blog post for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation next week. Keep your eye out for it!

And below, you can watch the entire 16+ minute film. It comes with a resource packet at www.aidstar-one.com/vmmc. Feel free to share.

Wrapped new HIV/AIDS film

Greetings from Kenya!

Yesterday I finished my last shoot for a new film I'm doing on male circumcision and its impact it has on reducing HIV infections by 60%!  Initially, I had reservations doing the film, knowing it would be a controversial topic but the more research I've done and now after filmming in Swaziland and Kenya, I see how important this procedure is to compliment efforts to reduce new infections primarily in Southern Africa.

The untitled film is one I'm doing with AIDStar-One, an initiative of JSI which was funded by USAID.  I filmmed in Swaziland in August and in Western Kenya over the past week.  The film is intended to reach policymakers - National AIDS coordinators, USAID missions, etc - who make decisions about AIDS programming and funding.  Very important film!

Look for it in early 2011.  Learn more about male circumcision and HIV/AIDS by visiting the Male Circumcision Clearinghouse