Israeli Surgeons Helping Swaziland in Drive to Curb HIV

A series of studies conducted in the past several years finds that circumcised men are 60 percent less likely to contract HIV than their uncircumcised counterparts. In response to these results, Israeli doctors, well-versed in the procedure, reach out to areas afflicted by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. In countries such as Swaziland, with the world’s highest reported rate of HIV infection, the problem is often a lack of supplies and manpower rather than know-how. With plans to circumcise 200 men per day, Swazi doctors need to increase speed without compromising safety. Israeli doctors have that experience: After the fall of the Berlin Wall, numerous immigrants from the former Soviet bloc sought circumcisions. The WHO reports that wide availability, low cost and safe surgical conditions could prevent 5.7 million HIV infections over the next 20 years. For this reason, men continue to line up for the procedure, and Swazi doctors welcome Israeli colleagues in the campaign to slow the spread of the devastating disease. – YaleGlobal