An Israeli medical team has landed in Swaziland in southern Africa. Members of the team will work with local surgeons to fight the spread of the HIV virus through an adult circumcision campaign. The Israeli team has advised infant circumcision as well, but has warned local doctors to talk with their patients and explain that circumcision is only partial protection against the virus.
The World Health Organization and the United Nations UNAIDS group have both recognized male circumcision as a form of partial protection against the transmission of HIV. Scientists have said that a circumcision campaign in sub-Saharan Africa, which currently has a low rate of male circumcision, could prevent millions from contracting the virus. A UNAIDS delegation previously visited Israel to learn about adult male circumcisions, which are relatively common in the Jewish state as circumcision is a crucial part of the conversion ceremony for adult men.