A new study proving that male circumcision may provide effective protection against HIV was welcomed Friday by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the UNAIDS Secretariat.
It follows publication of the findings of two trials undertaken in Kenya and Uganda in the medical journal The Lancet Friday.They support an earlier study by the South Africa Orange Farm Intervention Trial and together all three provided "compelling evidence" of a 50 to 60 percent reduction in heterosexual HIV transmission to men.
"These findings are a very important contribution to HIV prevention science. Male circumcision has major potential for the prevention of HIV infection", said Kevin De Cock, Director of the WHO HIV/AIDS Department.
WHO and the UNAIDS Secretariat are due to hold a consultation in March to assess the implications of the findings and determine future policy on how male circumcision might best be implemented and promoted.
Source-IANS
SRM
