Washington, 30 March 2007 -  The World Health Organization and UNAIDS  recommended on Thursday that African males living in the heart of the AIDS pandemic protect themselves against HIV by undergoing circumcision under medical advice.  This shall lead to surgical procedures on tens of millions, from infants to elders.

The health officials said that male circumcision is the most potent scientifically proven protection in years against the AIDS epidemic; one study predicts that circumcision could avert up to 2 million infections over the next decade.

"This is an exciting development, but this is partial protection for men," Catherine Hankins , UNAIDS's chief scientific adviser, told reporters. "It's not to be scoffed at. We haven't had news like this in a long time."

The WHO and UNAIDS aimed the recommendations at men in countries with high rates of HIV prevalence spread heterosexually, mainly in southern Africa and parts of eastern Africa, per the Boston Globe.

Health officials said it was unclear whether circumcision would carry the same protective benefits for men who have sex with men -- a primary driver of the AIDS epidemic in the United States. No scientific studies have addressed that issue.

An estimated 77 percent of US males are circumcised, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is planning to convene a meeting of specialists soon on the matter to determine its next step.

Hankins said that even in countries like the United States, health officials could recommend circumcision for men who face specific risks, such as a relationship with an HIV-positive woman.
But in Africa, the area of greatest need, for all the great potential of circumcision, governments are not likely nor able to provide circumcisions on a large scale, according to health advisers in Africa, Europe, and the United States.

Dr. Raj Baldev, Chairman of National Integration Assembly (NIA) has appreciated the proposed steps of Circumcision and said, “Circumcision is a scientific way of preventing the spread of AIDS infection to a great extent. There are certain communities, who are in favor of it because of their culture differences. In fact,  it does not affect their culture, it is a scientific way of preventing the deadly disease and everyone should come forward to cooperate in this global mission.