Chinese ring helps fight HIV in Africa

A simple device made of two concentric plastic rings, the ShangRing device for performing circumcision on adult men could help turn the tide on Africa’s AIDS epidemic, Xinhua news service reports. The article describes the development of the ShangRing by Chinese wholesale trader Shang Jianzhong after he experienced painful complications of a traditional circumcision. The device was prequalified by the World Health Organization after studies in Kenya and other African countries showed that ShangRing-assisted male circumcision was safe and acceptable in those settings. The article also describes plans to expand use of the device in programmes to provide voluntary medical male circumcision for HIV prevention in 14 countries in sub-Saharan Africa (Xinhua, 23 January 2016).