Ringing the changes for circumcision

A Chinese invention may promote the procedure at home, and help in the battle against HIV/AIDS overseas, as Yang Wanli reports.

On April 4, 2012, Bill Gates visited Stanford University for a question and answer session with students. During a brief presentation on the innovations that are helping African countries, the billionaire Microsoft boss showed off an ingenious invention from China. It was small, pink, and consisted of two concentric plastic rings. "It's a fantastic development. It's just plastic, so it's very cheap," he said. "It reduces the pain involved. It reduces the cost involved. It's very straightforward."

Fast-forward almost three years. It's January, and an electrician is installing bulbs to meet lighting standards on the production line at Wuhu Snnda Medical Treatment Appliance Technology Co in East China's Anhui province. If the invention Gates displayed at Stanford passes the World Health Organization's prequalification process in the next few months, Wuhu Snnda will begin full production.