Does male circumcision confer any protection for women from HIV?
We currently have an ongoing trial to answer that question. It won’t be finished until 2008. The results will be of paramount importance. If there is a benefit in both sexes, this intervention could have a much bigger impact. Question: Will we see male circumcision become policy? Answer: The World Health Organization (WHO), other health agencies and foundations are trying to meet in January to review all of the evidence and come up with policy. There will be policy guidelines that come out of the WHO, but the ultimate decision will be up to each country. We’re hoping that a policy can be agreed upon internationally. We’ve already heard that a number of major funding sources like PEPFAR (President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) are looking at investing in scaled-up circumcision programs. We have to focus on adult circumcision now in order to get short term reductions in HIV. The ultimate goal would be to provide neonatal circumcision. Question: Now that the trial has stopped early, w
