WHO pre-qualifies circumcision device to prevent HIV

WASHINGTON, June 25 (UPI) -- The World Health Organization has pre-qualified the ShangRing, a device expected to make male circumcision faster and easier for patients, offering another way to fight the spread of HIV in Africa.

Previous studies, including three conducted in Africa by the WHO, have shown that circumcision can reduce the spread of HIV by between 50 and 60 percent, which led to four years of research on devices that will help perform more of the procedures in Africa.

The ShangRing is a single-use device made up of two plastic rings that is seen as a faster, safer, easier alternative to surgical circumcision. Operating time with the device takes 2 to 4 minutes, depending on the patient.

"The ShangRing is very simple to use and reduces the time needed to perform male circumcision by about half, compared to conventional procedures," said Jairus Oketch, Kenya Registered Community Health Nurse, Homa Bay District Hospital, in a press release. "Expanded use of the device will enable countries to deliver safe, efficient, high-quality male circumcision to more people and thus reduce the spread of HIV."

The ShangRing is produced by Wuhu Snnda Medical Treatment Appliance Technology Company Limited in China.