By Agwanda Saye

The National AIDS/STI Control Programme and the Male Circumcision Consortium has launched a study of a novel medical device that could transform the way male circumcision is provided for HIV prevention.

The PrePex adult male circumcision device has shown promise in clinical studies conducted in Rwanda and Zimbabwe, but this study is the first to assess the safety and acceptability of PrePex assisted adult male circumcision in routine health care settings in Kenya.

“Our study will provide the information that the Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation needs to decide whether to add PrePex to the national program me on Voluntary Male Circumcision “say Dr.Peter Cherutich, NASCOP Director for HIV Prevention and Co-investigator for the study.

The study will enroll 425 men ages 18 to 49 who seek VMMC services including 200 men at UNIM clinic in Kisumu and 225 men at dispensaries or health centres where VMMC is provided on specific days by mobile teams

Dr.Paul Feldblum Family Health International 360 project leader of the study notes that PrePex offers another potential advantage over clinical surgery, “the procedure requires no injected anesthesia for most me that means with training, community based health workers might be able to use the device to perform male circumcision in settings outside the clinic” he added