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.

Link to full article in IRIN/Plus News