Zimbabwe assesses new male circumcision method

THE Government is assessing a new male circumcision method that uses a ring clamp as opposed to the traditional method of using a sharp object to cut off the foreskin.

In a telephone interview from Harare yesterday, the Deputy Minister of Health and Child Welfare, Dr Douglas Mombeshora, said his Ministry would announce whether the new method should be adopted after the outcome of the assessment exercise.

"The new method makes use of gadgets that are ring like, which clamp the foreskin and stop blood supply. The person will walk around with this gadget until the foreskin eventually falls off because of the pressure that the clamps exert," said Dr Mombeshora.

"However, the new method has not yet been approved. We are still conducting trial tests and various approaches and designs brought by companies from outside the country. We are examining these gadgets to see if they produce positive results."

Dr Mombeshora could not be drawn to explain how long it takes for the person under operation to heal, saying the assessment was yet to be completed.

"I am not sure how long it takes for one to heal. The trial tests are being done by Spilhaus Clinic in Harare. We will wait for them to present a report to us before we can announce if we are to adopt the method. However, the method does not prevent one from urinating as the clamp rings leave the glans protruding," said Dr Mombeshora.

Spilhaus Clinic is housed at Harare Central Hospital.

Contacted for comment, an official from Bulawayo Eye Clinic who declined to be named said they have not started using the method as it was still under review by authorities.

"We are aware of the existence of the new method but we have not started using it here. The method is still a pilot project and the Government is yet to officially announce its adoption," said the official.

The past few years have seen an upsurge in the number of males who voluntarily undergo circumcision.

While some do it for cultural reasons, male circumcision is regarded as one of the effective ways of reducing the spread of HIV and Aids by 60 percent.

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