Concentrating on the workforce is like the drunk who lost his keys in an alley looking for them under a lamppost because there's more light there. It is people without jobs who are less likely to know how to protect themselves from HIV, more likely to sell sex, and less likely to be able to afford condoms.

"She told the conference that circumcision was not an answer to reducing HIV, but when used with condoms effectively and consistently it reduces the chances of contracting the virus."

A traveller came to a farmhouse and offered to make the occupants Nail Soup in return for a night's shelter. He threw a large iron nail in a pot of boiling water and said - “A Magic Nail is not an answer to making delicious soup, but when used with herbs, spices, vegetables and meat effectively and consistently, it increases the chances of a succulent flavour." The farmer's wife accepted this, and In the morning the traveller went on his way, refreshed after a night in a comfortable bed, minus the Nail, with some gold coins in his pocket and the thanks of the family ringing in his ears for the wonderful Magic Nail that made such delicious Nail Soup.

In the same way, it may well be that a circumcision campaign as Dr Nkole describes will be followed by some fall in the HIV rate, and circumcision will get all the credit, but it will be the meat, vegetables and herbs of "condoms used effectively and consistently" that will have really made any difference. The money and effort spent on circumcision would be better spent on promotion of ABC - and zero grazing, one partner at a time, and testing between them.

As your figures show, women are more at risk of HIV, and a study in Uganda was stopped after 18% of the women with circumcised HIV+ partners turned HIV+ while only 12% of the women with non-circumcised HIV+ partners did. The result was not statistically significant, but if circumcision does increase the risk to women that could more than undo any benefit to men.

There is so much wrong with this article it is hard to determine where to begin.

This emphasis on the workplace is wrong. Unless sexual intercourse is a part of the employees job, it is not the domain of the employer. However, there have been attempts to enforce circumcision policies such as the attempt by a school master to require circumcision for a student to attend school. These cases have always failed in court.

Circumcision does not prevent HIV/AIDS. If it did at anywhere remotely close to the claims, it would be conspiciously absent from circumcised populations. This effect is not seen anywhere in the world.

Condoms are the "fall back." Condoms are known to be 99%+ effective and along with testing, could eliminate the disease in a single generation. By knowing your partner's HIV status and using condoms every time with the exception of when conception is desired, HIV could be virtually eliminated from the African continent in a single generation. The much trumpeted HIV studies are known to be false and fraudulent by their authors and thus the emphasis on condoms. They are desperately trying to make actual conditions on the continent match their studies with this emphasis on condom useage.

Indeed, studies have shown that circumcised men are more resistant to using condoms. The mechanics of this is the belief (backed by studies going back almost a century) that circumcision removes parts important to the sexual experience and dulls the penis to sexual sensation. Circumcised men who have used condoms will attest to the reduced enjoyment of the act. The belief is that condoms reduce the enjoyment of the act to below acceptable levels making these men less prone to use condoms and engage in risky sexual practices.

All studies purporting to show an increase in STDs are refuted by other studies contradicting the claims. By no means is the issue resolved.

Actual statistics have shown that male circumcision has virtually no effect on penile cancer. The incidence of penile cancer is 1 in 109,000 males, very rare but it is always brought up by circumcision promoters. Male circumcision has also shown to to have absolutely no effect on cervical cancer but is also used as an excuse by circumcision promoters.

I don't now where Zulu came up with the high blood pressure issue but male circumcision has absolutely no effect on blood pressure.

I can see that some over zealous employers could try to make male circumcison a requirement for employment. This is a violation of the employee's rights and dignity. Circumcision is not the business of the employer and will not affect the employer or his business.

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