Africa to incorporate male circumcision in HIV/Aids

[Guest guest]

Africa to incorporate male circumcision in HIV/Aids

2006-06-15 12:21:34

By Beatrice Bandawe, Windhoek

Five southern African countries hard-hit by the HIV/Aids pandemic

have resolved to encourage men to go for circumcision following a

study that has shown that the ritual dramatically reduces the risk

of infection.

Tanzania, Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland and Zambia are in talks with

the UN Aids agency on making circumcision more accessible to men as

part of their HIV prevention efforts, said UNAIDS adviser Tomas

Lundstrom.

A media release from International Labour Organization (ILO) said

the new strategy followed the results of a three-year study in a

South African township that showed that circumcision reduced the

risk of contracting HIV by 60 per cent.

It mentioned the study involved some 3,274 men, aged from 18 to 24.

''What we showed was a dramatic effect.

Those who were circumcised were protected against acquiring HIV,''

said Purven, the deputy director of South Africa's Institute

for Communicable Diseases and the principal investigator in the

study.

He added: ''By removing almost completely the foreskin, you are

removing areas where the HIV virus could hide or gain access to the

main circulation.''

The deputy director said so conclusive were the results that South

African and French researchers conducting the study at Orange Farm

Township halted it in July for ethical reasons and offered

circumcision to all the men taking part.

He said UNAIDS officials have now launched two similar studies in

Uganda and Kenya involving nearly 8,000 men.

Interim results are expected later this month which could establish

the use of male circumcision in fighting against Aids.

''This could be revolutionary for prevention but it is important to

say this is not the silver bullet,'' Lundstrom said stressing that

condoms still offer the best protection against HIV.

He continued: ''Where circumcision is a practice, we would want to

make it safe for young boys, affordable and accessible.

He said talks with the five countries on making circumcision a more

widespread practice are proceeding with caution, given the cultural

sensitivities.

According to him, less than 20 percent of men are said to be

circumcised in southern Africa where HIV prevalence is the highest.

Estimates show that 3.7 million infections and 2.7 million deaths

could be averted over the next 20 years by resorting to male

circumcision as a means of prevention.

The latest UNAIDS report on the global epidemic showed that HIV

remains high in southern Africa, contrary to the rest of the world

where the incidence of new infections appears to have stabilised for

the first time in the 25-year history of Aids.

SOURCE: Guardian

[Guest guest]

Africa to incorporate male circumcision in HIV/Aids

2006-06-15 12:21:34

By Beatrice Bandawe, Windhoek

Five southern African countries hard-hit by the HIV/Aids pandemic

have resolved to encourage men to go for circumcision following a

study that has shown that the ritual dramatically reduces the risk

of infection.

Tanzania, Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland and Zambia are in talks with

the UN Aids agency on making circumcision more accessible to men as

part of their HIV prevention efforts, said UNAIDS adviser Tomas

Lundstrom.

A media release from International Labour Organization (ILO) said

the new strategy followed the results of a three-year study in a

South African township that showed that circumcision reduced the

risk of contracting HIV by 60 per cent.

It mentioned the study involved some 3,274 men, aged from 18 to 24.

''What we showed was a dramatic effect.

Those who were circumcised were protected against acquiring HIV,''

said Purven, the deputy director of South Africa's Institute

for Communicable Diseases and the principal investigator in the

study.

He added: ''By removing almost completely the foreskin, you are

removing areas where the HIV virus could hide or gain access to the

main circulation.''

The deputy director said so conclusive were the results that South

African and French researchers conducting the study at Orange Farm

Township halted it in July for ethical reasons and offered

circumcision to all the men taking part.

He said UNAIDS officials have now launched two similar studies in

Uganda and Kenya involving nearly 8,000 men.

Interim results are expected later this month which could establish

the use of male circumcision in fighting against Aids.

''This could be revolutionary for prevention but it is important to

say this is not the silver bullet,'' Lundstrom said stressing that

condoms still offer the best protection against HIV.

He continued: ''Where circumcision is a practice, we would want to

make it safe for young boys, affordable and accessible.

He said talks with the five countries on making circumcision a more

widespread practice are proceeding with caution, given the cultural

sensitivities.

According to him, less than 20 percent of men are said to be

circumcised in southern Africa where HIV prevalence is the highest.

Estimates show that 3.7 million infections and 2.7 million deaths

could be averted over the next 20 years by resorting to male

circumcision as a means of prevention.

The latest UNAIDS report on the global epidemic showed that HIV

remains high in southern Africa, contrary to the rest of the world

where the incidence of new infections appears to have stabilised for

the first time in the 25-year history of Aids.

SOURCE: Guardian