7 Feb 2012

Circumcision urged in Papua campaign against AIDS

2:00 pm on 7 February 2012

The provincial administration in the Indonesian province of Papua is reportedly planning to require male residents to undergo circumcision in an effort to cut HIV/AIDS transmission rates.

The Jakarta Globe quotes an administration spokesman, Edison Muabuay, as saying the programme has been spurred by numerous studies worldwide that found circumcision to be an effective tool against the spread of HIV/AIDS.

The World Health Organisation has said male circumcision can reduce the risk of HIV infection by 60 percent.