Brazzaville, 2 April 2008 -- Fifty experts will meet from 2-4 April in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, to discuss male circumcision in the context of HIV prevention in the African Region.

The three-day meeting, will bring together experts from Governments, the principal investigators from the three randomized controlled trials on male circumcision carried out in Africa, representatives of civil society organizations, research institutions, and development partners working on HIV/AIDS in Africa.

The meeting follows the proposal by the 57th Session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa held in Brazzaville in August 2007, that an African experts’ consultation be organized to review available evidence on male circumcision and HIV prevention and make recommendations on the way forward for the African region.

In March 2007, after reviewing the findings of the three randomized controlled trials that took place in Kenya, South Africa and Uganda - showing that HIV acquisition is reduced by approximately 60% in circumcised males - UNAIDS and WHO recommended that male circumcision be considered as an additional tool to prevent sexual transmission of HIV.

The Brazzaville meeting will critically review the evidence and discuss best ways to translate the research evidence into policies, taking into account the realities in the African region and the fact that male circumcision provides only partial protection against HIV infection.

In this context the consultation will consider issues such as:

• Integration of male circumcision services within a comprehensive HIV prevention package;
• Prioritization for programming and communication strategies;
• Mechanisms to ensure acceptability and accessibility;
• Safety of services;
• Involvement of health cadres;
• The role of traditional practitioners, and
• Monitoring and evaluation mechanisms including additional research needed.

For more information contact:

Dr Rui Vaz, Programme Manager for HIV/AIDS

Tel: + 41 241 39427

E-mail: vazr [at] afro.who.int