Brazzaville, 7 April 2008 -- The 57th Session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa, proposed that a consultation on male circumcision and HIV prevention in the African region be convened. The consultation was convened in Congo, Brazzaville from April 2-4, 2008. The meeting brought together delegates from 17 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, principal investigators of the 3 randomized controlled trials on male circumcision that took place in Kenya, South Africa and Uganda, researchers and technical experts.

The objectives of the meeting were:

• To review the evidence on male circumcision and HIV prevention and WHO-UNAIDS recommendations;
• To share country experiences in implementing male circumcision for HIV prevention;
• To review and agree on the strategic orientations for scaling up male circumcision for HIV prevention in the WHO African region;

Having discussed the available research evidence on male circumcision and HIV prevention, the meeting participants agreed that the evidence that male circumcision performed by well trained medical professionals is safe and reduces the risk of HIV acquisition in men is indeed compelling.

Having reviewed and discussed the WHO/UNAIDS policy and programme recommendations for male circumcision and HIV prevention the meeting participants agreed that the recommendations address many of the critical issues and questions facing countries. The participants endorsed the recommendations, encouraged countries to consider and customize them to suit particular local national contexts.

Participants noted that there remain research gaps and unanswered questions that still need to be addressed such as: the implications to women of male circumcision for HIV prevention, the effectiveness of the protective effect over the long term, models for scale up, among others. Recommendations to address these gaps were formulated.

Traditional male circumcision plays an important role in the African region and meeting participants strongly recommended that regional and country consultations be held to review and assess the role of traditional practitioners, determine the synergies, investigate possible models of collaboration and make specific recommendations on their role to maximize the contribution to HIV prevention.

The meeting reviewed the WHO Male Circumcision for HIV Prevention Strategic Orientations for the African Region draft document, commended WHO for the efforts and endorsed the document with suggested amendments.

For further information, please contact:

Dr Rui Vaz, Programme Manager for HIV/AIDS, WHO Regional Office for Africa, P.O. Box 6, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo

E-mail:: vazr [at] afro.who.int (vazr[at]afro[dot]who[dot]int); Tel: +47 241 39427