New D.C. AIDS
administrator wants condoms in schools

Marsha Martin, the newly appointed director of the District of Columbia's HIV/AIDS Administration, is calling for the availability of condoms in schools and the establishment of needle-exchange programs in Washington to combat the spread of HIV, the Washington Examiner reports. "We want condoms everywhere," she said at a panel discussion on Monday. "We have already had conversations with the public schools. I want them everywhere."

Washington has the highest HIV incidence level of any major U.S. city. A report released earlier this year found that the district's efforts over the past 20 years to control the spread of HIV and treat those infected with the virus have been woefully inadequate. Martin was named AIDS director in August after former director Lydia Watts was fired amid questions about the agency's handling of federal AIDS funds and in the wake of the report criticizing the city's AIDS response.

In addition to condom distribution programs in schools, Martin also says the district needs needle-exchange programs to help prevent the spread of HIV among injection-drug users who share needles and other drug paraphernalia. (Advocate.com)