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News
Male circumcision has been shown to protect against HIV infection
Flickr\International Women's Health Coalition
A device that takes the cut out of male circumcision is to be rolled out in Rwanda as part of its quest to circumcise around two million men within the next two years, according to IRIN/PlusNews.
The PrePex system circumcises men without the need for a sterile environment or anaesthetic, and men can be back at work within a few hours, rather than taking several days to heal.
"In Africa, where we lack medical infrastructure, we feel it is the best way to go," Agnes Binagwaho, permanent secretary in Rwanda's Ministry of Health told IRIN/PlusNews.
The device has an elastic mechanism that fits closely around an inner ring, trapping the foreskin, which dries up and is removed after a week.
But the device is being put into use before it has been approved by the WHO, which said it was waiting to see data demonstrating the device's efficacy, safety and acceptability.
"If the promise of the device is borne out by the data, we would be very keen to approve it," said Tim Farley, a scientist with the WHO's department of reproductive health and research.
Comments (4)
ml66uk ( United Kingdom )
16 February 2011
Circumcision is a dangerous distraction in the fight against AIDS. There are six African countries where men are *more* likely to be HIV+ if they've been circumcised: Cameroon, Ghana, Lesotho, Malawi, Rwanda, and Swaziland. Eg. in Malawi, the HIV rate is 13.2% among circumcised men, but only 9.5% among intact men. In Rwanda, the HIV rate is 3.5% among circumcised men, but only 2.1% among intact men. If circumcision really worked against AIDS, this just wouldn't happen. We now have people calling circumcision a "vaccine" or "invisible condom", and viewing circumcision as an alternative to condoms. The South African National Communication Survey on HIV/AIDS, 2009 found that 15% of adults across age groups "believe that circumcised men do not need to use condoms".
The one randomized controlled trial into male-to-female transmission showed a 54% higher rate in the group where the men had been circumcised btw.
ABC (Abstinence, Being faithful, and especially Condoms) is the way forward. Promoting genital surgery will cost African lives, not save them.
Mike ( Rwanda )
19 February 2011
We Africans should be very cautious when it comes to all these methods of prevention of HIV infections. The issue is not about methods of prevention but its the lifestyle we choose. Traditionally, sex was strictly between married couples. Children born out of marriage were not acceptable in society and as such, girls remained virgins until marriage. Purity for the young should be promoted more than condoms. Sticking to one healthy partner should be preached, promoted and encouraged for the adults. Condoms and circumcision should only be for those who are unable to uphold the values of sexual morality and being faithful to our partners. Currently in Africa condoms and circumcision are emphasised more than good values and this is wrong. What if in future, a virus that is able to penetrate the condom and attack the body crops up? What shall we do? Lets talk to our children daily, imparting in them values of sexual morality, being faithful to our partners, good morals. We have to do this as many times as we can so as not to allow peer pressure to overwhelm our children and to force them to become sexually immoral.
Clara Franco ( Mexico )
20 February 2011
Male circumcision is going to do SO MUCH damage in the fight against AIDS.
Seriously Mr. Bill Gates, you need to stop damaging Africa.
Male circumcision is SURE to backfire. How sad and disturbing.
Not only are there countries where circumcised males are MORE likely to be HIV-positive, as ml66uk mentions, but cut men will also be less likely to use condoms... whether because they´re less sensitive and enjoy sex less; or because their supposed "protection" will give them a false sense of security.
Would you support circumcised men NOT using condoms??... no??... you say condoms are still needed??... then it means condoms are ALL what´s needed. Condoms and education yes, circumcision NO!!!
See what the Times of Swaziland tells us:
http://www.times.co.sz/index.php?news=20909
Oryem ( Uganda )
15 March 2011
Can m166uk please share the source of information with some of us who got interested in the studies he/she read?
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29 May 2012