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HIPPOLYTE BWIZA MUHIRE [ Profil ] |
| Sujet: |
New Times Article: Massive circumcision drive on the books
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| Envoyé: |
Sep 3rd, 2009 - 09:28:43 |
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Hi GUYCAers!
I would like to share with you this article published in the New Times
of Friday 28 August2009, Rwanda first daily newspaper. Here it is:
A massive sensitization programme on circumcision is expected to kick
off early next year as one key measure to combat HIV/AIDS.
The exercise has for long been delayed because of the lack of capable
personnel to carry out the circumcisions.
Mass male-circumcision, a policy that was adopted by government last
year, as a way of reducing the HIV/AIDS infection rate is at a
snail-pace due to lack of capacity to carry it out countrywide,
according to Dr. Richard Sezibera, the Minister of Health.
Sezibera said that training programmes have been introduced in a
number of hospitals like King Faisal Hospital to ensure safe
circumcision.
We do not want to use local methods of circumcision so we are
training enough personnel to carry out these operations.
It is however very vital for the public to know that although this is
a preventative measure, it is not 100 percent effective, the Minister
said.
Despite the fact that it reduces the circumcised persons risk of
getting HIV, it does not protect his partner. So other preventative
measures like abstinence, faithfulness and use of condoms must apply,
he advised.
Rwanda launched a campaign to encourage all men to be circumcised, to
reduce the risk of catching HIV/AIDS.
Health experts say that men who are circumcised are 60 percent more
likely to be protected against HIV during sexual intercourse than
those who are not.
The ministry said that soldiers, policemen and students would be asked
to come forward first for circumcision.
The National Coordinator of HIV clinical prevention in TRAC plus,
Elévaniè Nyankesha Umunyana said that, once training of health
specialist is done, a mass sensitization campaign of this policy will
begin.
By the end of this year, there will be enough personnel to carry out
these surgeries at all hospitals in the country.
Apparently we are ensuring that all health insurance companies include
circumcision as a priority and so far RAMA has adopted it, Umunyana
explained.
The 2007-2008 Demographic Health Survey revealed that only 15 per cent
of the men in the country are circumcised.
However, citing army personnel who have successfully undergone the
operation, Umunyana expressed optimism that once the public is
informed about the policy, attitudes will change and more men will
come forward.
Ends
BWIZA MUHIRE HIPPOLYTE
Central Africa Regional Focal Point
Global Youth Coalition on HIV/AIDS
P.O 30 Huye- Butare/Rwanda
Cell Phone: +250 788 60 42 94
hippolyte (at) youthaidscoalition.org
www.youthaidscoalition.org
www.iAIDS.org
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