Circumcision that requires no surgery in pipeline
THE health ministry is still studying the PrePex system before recommending it, the director general of health services, Dr. Nathan Kenya Mugisha, has said. <br>The PrePex system works through a special elastic mechanism that fits closely around an inner ring, trapping the foreskin, which dries up
By Chris Kiwawulo
THE health ministry is still studying the PrePex system before recommending it, the director general of health services, Dr. Nathan Kenya Mugisha, has said.
The PrePex system works through a special elastic mechanism that fits closely around an inner ring, trapping the foreskin, which dries up and is removed after a week.
Research shows that the system is cheaper compared to the surgical method. Mugisha says a female scientist from the US contacted them about the system through Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, Uganda’s High Commissioner in the US. Mugisha, however, said the cost of the new method is not yet known.
“We are still studying the system to ascertain whether there are no side effects since when applied, the person goes back home with the elastic mechanism until the foreskin drops off by itself. So, we want to be very sure it is not harmful before we recommend it for our people,†he says.
Neighbouring Rwandan government is also planning to expand its national voluntary male circumcision programme using the PrePex system, which officials there say saves both time and money.
A study conducted by the Rwandan ministries of defence and health in 2010 found the device to be safe and effective. “You don’t need a sterile environment, you don’t need anaesthetic, you don’t need to use an operating theatre,†Agnes Binagwaho, the permanent secretary in Rwanda’s health ministry said.
“It does not need highly trained medical personnel, and can be conducted in a clean consultation room with a bed. In Africa, where we lack medical infrastructure, we feel it is the best way to go,†she added.
“Three or four hours after circumcision, a man can be back at work,†she said. “This means that the economy does not suffer because men have taken several days off work to heal.â€
The UN World Health Organisation (WHO) is also still studying the PrePex system. “We are still waiting to see the data showing the efficacy, safety and acceptability of the device,†Tim Farley, a scientist with the WHO’s Department of Reproductive Health and Research said.
“If the promise of the device is borne out by the data, we would be very keen to approve it,†he said. However, the European Union approved it.
WHO says male circumcision can reduce the risk of HIV by 60% in high risk areas such as Sub-Saharan Africa. WHO and UNAIDS also recommend the inclusion of voluntary medical male circumcision in HIV prevention programmes, alongside counselling and testing, promotion of safer sex, treatment of sexually transmitted infections and condom use.
While surgical male circumcision remains the preferred method of most national male circumcision programmes in sub-Saharan Africa, a few countries including Kenya and South Africa — have piloted the use of different clamps for adult male circumcision.
According to WHO, the body has approved the use of three different devices like the Mogen clamp, the Gomco clamp and the Plastibell — but only for infant circumcision.
THE health ministry is still studying the PrePex system before recommending it, the director general of health services, Dr. Nathan Kenya Mugisha, has said.
The PrePex system works through a special elastic mechanism that fits closely around an inner ring, trapping the foreskin, which dries up and is removed after a week.
Research shows that the system is cheaper compared to the surgical method. Mugisha says a female scientist from the US contacted them about the system through Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, Uganda’s High Commissioner in the US. Mugisha, however, said the cost of the new method is not yet known.
“We are still studying the system to ascertain whether there are no side effects since when applied, the person goes back home with the elastic mechanism until the foreskin drops off by itself. So, we want to be very sure it is not harmful before we recommend it for our people,†he says.
Neighbouring Rwandan government is also planning to expand its national voluntary male circumcision programme using the PrePex system, which officials there say saves both time and money.
A study conducted by the Rwandan ministries of defence and health in 2010 found the device to be safe and effective. “You don’t need a sterile environment, you don’t need anaesthetic, you don’t need to use an operating theatre,†Agnes Binagwaho, the permanent secretary in Rwanda’s health ministry said.
“It does not need highly trained medical personnel, and can be conducted in a clean consultation room with a bed. In Africa, where we lack medical infrastructure, we feel it is the best way to go,†she added.
“Three or four hours after circumcision, a man can be back at work,†she said. “This means that the economy does not suffer because men have taken several days off work to heal.â€
The UN World Health Organisation (WHO) is also still studying the PrePex system. “We are still waiting to see the data showing the efficacy, safety and acceptability of the device,†Tim Farley, a scientist with the WHO’s Department of Reproductive Health and Research said.
“If the promise of the device is borne out by the data, we would be very keen to approve it,†he said. However, the European Union approved it.
WHO says male circumcision can reduce the risk of HIV by 60% in high risk areas such as Sub-Saharan Africa. WHO and UNAIDS also recommend the inclusion of voluntary medical male circumcision in HIV prevention programmes, alongside counselling and testing, promotion of safer sex, treatment of sexually transmitted infections and condom use.
While surgical male circumcision remains the preferred method of most national male circumcision programmes in sub-Saharan Africa, a few countries including Kenya and South Africa — have piloted the use of different clamps for adult male circumcision.
According to WHO, the body has approved the use of three different devices like the Mogen clamp, the Gomco clamp and the Plastibell — but only for infant circumcision.