10 Feb 2014

Government will soon roll out the Prepex male circumcision devise following completion of a six-month pilot study on the use of the devise. The devise has been effectively used in a number of African countries including Uganda, Rwanda and Zimbabwe.

Ministry of Health (MoH) national coordinator of Safe Male Circumcision, Mr Conrad Ntsuape said in an interview that while at the moment the ministry was analysing data from the pilot study on the efficacy of the Prepex devise, government would soon start using the devise in health facilities. The study ended in October last year.

“Currently data is at analysis stage. As soon as the report is available we shall discuss it with relevant stakeholders and the decision to roll it out to other areas countrywide would be taken afterwards,” he said.

Botswana undertook the study with a view to eventually roll it out countrywide to give men an option of a non-surgical adult male circumcision procedure, he said.  He said the hope was that the Prepex system would help to increase the uptake of SMC.

Mr Ntsuape said active surveillance of Prepex would expand to Ramotswa, Mochudi and other clinics in Gaborone after extensive training of more staff during the 2014/15 financial year.

The Prepex pilot study was done at two clinics, Nkoyaphiri  in Mogoditshane and Block Eight in Gaborone.  The study, which targeted 1 000 men was administered by 18 health care providers. A team of Rwandan specialists trained the local staff. 

In countries where it was already in use, the Prepex devise, had proven to be safe and effective for nonsurgical adult male circumcision. The procedure, which can be done in under 10 minutes,  does not need anesthesia or sterile settings and may be useful in mass circumcision programmes to reduce the risk of HIV infection, particularly in resource-limited settings.

Moreover the procedure is faster, bloodless, and does not require stitches. ENDS