Scientists have found conclusive evidence that male circumcision actually lowers the chance of getting infected with the HIV virus by 51 to 60 percent after a study conducted in Kenya.

Two separate studies were conducted. The first was held in Uganda with 4.966 men. 2,474 were circumcised while 2,522 were not. The other study was in Kenya where 1,391 circumcised men were compared to 1,393 uncircumcised men. The subjects were then tracked for two years and the results that followed were amazing.

World Health Organization (WHO) AIDS Department director Dr. Kevin de Cock remarked "This is an extraordinary development. Circumcision is the most potent intervention in HIV prevention that has been described."

The news gives renewed hope that over 2 million AIDS cases could be prevented in the next 10 years. More importantly, 300,000 lives can be saved.

However, this landmark discovery isn't without a hitch. Male circumcision will not be easy to apply on a massive scale in Africa because of two problems. First, religious and ethnic gridlocks will have to be dissolved in order for circumcision to be implemented. The practice of cutting off the foreskin of the male reproductive organ is primarily a Jewish/ Christian-originated practice and may very well be shunned by ethnic groups. Second, health services in Africa are already overworked and will need heavy planning, financial aid and manpower.

Dr. Catherine Hankins, scientific advisor for the United Nations AIDS agency (UNAIDS) describes the situation is "a tricky one" and explains "Male circumcision is such a sensitive religious and cultural issue that we need to be careful."

UNAIDS and WHO officials will meet in Switzerland next month with African leaders to discuss possible measures on how to best apply the new knowledge.