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Kigali — A massive male circumcision campaign is set to begin soon, according to information from the National Aids Control Commission (CNLS).
Expert research has shown that circumcised males are 60 percent less likely to contract HIV through sexual intercourse, compared to the uncircumcised.
The HIV/ AIDS pandemic has had far reaching impact on communities. Everyone has been affected by the pandemic in one way or another. Effective strategies to prevent the spread of the virus have helped to reduce the prevalence rates in Rwanda, but the progress made in combating its spread, should not be reason for complacency.
Circumcision should be embraced alongside other preventative measures. CNLS has clearly sought to integrate it as part of concerted efforts against the pandemic.
It is important that CNLS has emphasized the fact that this preventative measure is not 100 percent effective in preventing HIV/AIDS.
This is a message that must be passed on by other organizations that are involved in the fight against HIV. Above all, condom use remains an important measure fight against infection.
For all who choose to get circumcised, counselling and information about its implications is of utmost importance. Its limitations should be made clear.
For example experts note that the intervention does not protect women from being infected by HIV positive men who are circumcised. And resuming sexual intercourse soon after the operation and before healing is counter-productive.
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This makes no sense whatsoever.
3.5% of circumcised men in Rwanda have HIV. 2.1% of intact men in Rwanda have HIV.
So why would circumcising Rwandan men help reduce HIV?
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 randomized controlled trial into male-to-female transmission showed a 54% 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.
I hope you're not a medical doctor; if you are, then you must accept circumcision all over Africa. One thing I will like to say is that: where do bacterias and other dangerous infections have to feed on more ?? Is it above the skin, or under the skin?? Please kindly do your research and let's know.