London, England (AHN)-Richard Feachem, executive director of the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria, says research revealing the protective effect of circumcision against HIV is increasingly being seen as a lifesaving procedure which every parent would want for their sons.

According to the report, removing the foreskin is thought to harden the glans (head) of the penis, making it less permeable to viruses, with research conducted in 2005 showing the transmission of HIV from women to men during sex reduced by 60 percent if the men were circumcised.

And a study published last month calculated that if all men in sub-Saharan Africa were circumcised, it would prevent almost six million new cases of HIV infection and save three million lives over the next 20 years.

Dr. Feachem tells the Independent, "...Other things being equal, in a circumcised population you have a low and slowly developing epidemic and in an uncircumcised population you have a high and fast developing epidemic."

Feachem goes on to say, "Circumcision fell out of favor in North America and the UK as an unnecessary operation. Following this research, I think it extremely probable that parental demand for infant male circumcision will grow as a consequence."

Meanwhile, Deborah Jack, chief executive of the UK-based National Aids Trust, believes the research findings were encouraging, saying, "It is clear the promotion of voluntary circumcision can play an important role in reducing the risk of HIV transmission."

But, she cautions, "People who are circumcised can still be infected with HIV and any awareness campaign would have to be extremely careful not to suggest that it protects against HIV or is an alternative to using condoms."