Circumcising men ‘may slow the spread of Aids’

WITH people dying of Aids in far greater numbers than those who have access to treatment and prevention, male circumcision could be a promising tool in the prevention of transmitting HIV, an international Aids conference in Toronto, Canada, has heard.

Others cautioned that the procedure could give men a false sense of security and may not protect women from contracting the disease.

Former US President Bill Clinton said earlier in the week that while two clinical trials under way in Africa were showing promising results, it would be a “headache” to implement, due to the medical and religious debates surrounding the surgical removal of the foreskin from the penis.

In June, the US National Institutes of Health announced that, following an interim review, two ongoing trials in Uganda and Kenya should continue examining the link between male circumcision and the risk of getting the virus that 40 million people are living with today.

Tests have shown that the male foreskin is rich in blood cells that are favoured targets of HIV.

The virus — for which scientists have yet to develop a vaccine — has killed an estimated 25 million people since the first cases were reported 25 years ago.

Data from the trials, scheduled to conclude next year, could validate findings reported in July 2005 from a South African trial, known as the Orange Farm Intervention Trial, which showed a reduction of 60% in the risk of acquiring HIV among circumcised men.

Mr Clinton, whose foundation is heavily involved in Aids programmes, told reporters that while current studies indicate circumcision may be effective, it could lead to a whole new set of personal debate and medical problems.

“I think for men the most promise is in the circumcision studies,” Clinton said, “but it’s going to be a total headache trying to help them.”