Medics trained to spread use of ShangRing

Twelve healthcare providers from Africa, mostly from Kenya, Zambia and Uganda, have received training at three Chinese hospitals since 2010 as part of a male circumcision research project.

The providers, who included surgeons, doctors and nurses, took part in programs at Ningbo First Hospital, Wuhu Yijishan Hospital and Kunming Children's Hospital.

The training is part of a ShangRing research project under the urology department at Cornell University's Weill Cornell Medical College in the United States. The ShangRing is a device used to perform male circumcision.

"Most conventional circumcisions in Africa are performed by nurses due to the shortage of doctors," Mark Barone, a senior medical associate at EngenderHealth, explains. "The surgical process of using a ShangRing is simple and doesn't require complex techniques. This is important for African countries short on physicians."

Since receiving training in China, the 12 medical professionals have gone on to coach fellow healthcare providers in Africa.

The research team, in collaboration with physicians at Ningbo First Hospital and Wuhu Yijishan Hospital, has developed a manual, Male Circumcision Using the ShangRing, and is now developing additional training and reference materials, such as a formalized curriculum, DVDs and a surgical manual geared toward African audiences.

"We hope African health service providers trained in and experienced with the ShangRing procedure can use these materials to train others locally, as this would be the most efficient and cost-effective approach to roll out the ShangRing on a widespread basis," says Quentin Awori, a medical expert from EngenderHealth.

(China Daily Africa Weekly 06/19/2015 page25)