Kigali — Rwanda Defence Forces medical staff are currently undergoing a ten-day training on male circumcision and counseling with the objective of increasing the army's capacity to deliver safe health services and increase demand for the service in the force.
Male circumcision has been singled out as having a protective effect against contracting HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases among men.
The training is being undertaken by Jhpiego an affiliate organisation of the Johns Hopkins University, the Directorate of Medical Services in the army and the United States Department of Defence (DOD).
According to the country representative of Jhpiego Jeremie Zoungrana, the training is aimed at influencing a positive attitude towards circumcision and to equip the medics with knowledge and skills needed to establish preventative practices.
The Director of Medical Services, Dr. Charles Murego, commended all the stakeholders involved in the programme and showed optimism that it was going to yield positive results on the side of the participants and the beneficiaries.
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Circumcised men in Rwanda are *more* likely to have HIV than intact men, so this makes no sense whatsoever.
Circumcision is a dangerous distraction in the fight against AIDS. There are six African countries where men are more likely to be HIV+ if they've been circumcised: Cameroon, Ghana, Lesotho, Malawi, Rwanda, and Swaziland. Eg in Malawi, the HIV rate is 13.2% among circumcised men, but only 9.5% among intact men. In Rwanda, the HIV rate is 3.5% among circumcised men, but only 2.1% among intact men. If circumcision really worked against AIDS, this just wouldn't happen. We now have people calling circumcision a "vaccine" or "invisible condom", and viewing circumcision as an alternative to condoms.
The one study into male-to-female transmission showed a 50% higher rate in the group where the men had been circumcised btw.
ABC (Abstinence, Being faithful, Condoms) is the way forward. Promoting genital surgery will cost African lives, not save them.
ML can you please name the source for your information?