Zimbabwe is among the countries most affected by HIV in the world. The Zimbabwean Government has identified voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) as one of its pillars in the HIV response.

Modeling shows that 212,000 HIV infections could be averted by 2025 if VMMC would be scaled up to reach 1.3 million men by 2017. PSI has been supporting the Ministry of Health and Child Care in Zimbabwe since 2009 to reach its ambitious goal. A total of nearly 520,000 male circumcisions have been conducted since the inception of the program through PSI’s support. Although notable advances have been made in scaling up VMMC, there is urgent need to further accelerate the pace towards the national target of 1.3 million VMMCs.

Male circumcision devices have the potential to accelerate VMMC roll-out by making the procedure easier, quicker, and more widely accessible. One promising device for VMMC is PrePex. PSI supported the MOHCC in pioneering PrePex and conducted several pilot implementation studies demonstrating its safety and acceptability. After WHO prequalification of the device, PrePex has been integrated within the national VMMC program.

Since April 2014, a total of over 12,500 PrePex male circumcisions have been conducted in Zimbabwe, contributing currently to about 20% of all VMMCs per month, but PrePex VMMC services are expanding rapidly. PSI expects that by 2017, PrePex will contribute to 40-50% of all VMMCs conducted in the country through roll-out at primary health care facility level.