The Ministry of Health has officially launched voluntary male circumcision as part of its comprehensive national HIV prevention strategy.

One billion shillings has been set aside to facilitate acquisition of materials for the programme over the next two years.

Six districts in Nyanza province have been earmarked to kick start the Programme before it is rolled out to other parts of the country.

Years of simultaneous studies carried out in Uganda, South Africa and Kisumu in Kenya proved male circumcision reduces HIV infection in men by 60%.

The findings are endorsed by the World Health Organization.

The ministry of health on Monday took the bull by the horns and officially endorsed voluntary male circumcision to be integrated as part of its existing prevention programmes by giving national guidelines as well as a launching a clinical manual.

However the ministry is quick to caution against the notion that male circumcision is the answer to the rapid spread of HIV.

In addition family health international has received a 1.5 trillion shillings grant from the Bill Gates Foundation to establish a male circumcision consortium over the next 5 years.

The consortium will be charged to conduct further research and training activities on the safest and most effective ways to provide voluntary male circumcision as a preventive measure to HIV. Adoption of male circumcision as a preventive measure will see Kenya make great strides in its war against the epidemic.