New York City Health Gurus Considering Circumcision Push

With all the recent concern about restaurant health safety, an issue that affects millions of New Yorkers and visitors, one would think that the New York City Department of Health would concern itself with ensuring that it takes the job of investigating and inspecting restaurants for health code violations and not take up issues that are little more than a diversion.

City health officials are considering a program to urge circumcision for men at high risk of AIDS, noting studies that the procedure can reduce the chances of getting the disease.

The city Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has sought feedback from gay rights groups and community organizations, and it approached the agency that runs city hospitals and health clinics about possibly offering the procedure for free to men without health insurance, The New York Times reported in Thursday editions.

Health department spokeswoman Sara Markt confirmed Thursday that the agency was in discussions "with the community about the possibility of increasing access to the service and educating the public about the risks and benefits of circumcision."

Food poisoning affects millions of people annually. Thousands die from food poisoning, some of whom are actually in New York.

Yet, the City Health Department thinks that they should interpose themselves in the ongoing debate over whether circumcisions should be mandated or made available for free (to the men in high risk groups) to reduce the chances of the spread of AIDS. There are studies from Africa showing that circumcized men are less likely to contract the disease and spread it to others.

Since the City has a limited budget, does it not make more sense to prioritize where the money is spent? Fund more inspectors to ensure food safety for millions of people or fund a new program that may provide some protection against AIDS.

Frieden is continuing to pursue the wrong priorities, and Mayor Bloomberg seems to have no problem with this, despite the bad press that comes from having rats running through restaurants. Frieden responded with a ticket blitz that either shows that the Department wasn't doing its job before the rat videos surfaced or it was overcompensating for being caught with its pants down, or both.

It's far easier to take up a sexy subject like circumcisions for men to reduce the possible spread of AIDS than to do the heavy lifting of ensuring food safety for patrons of New York City restaurants, which is about as unglamorous as it gets.