afrol News, 23 January - In their attempts to reduce the rate of HIV/AIDS infection in the country, Rwanda authorities have voluntarily asked all uncircumcised men to be circumcised.

Health experts proved that circumcision reduces the risk of heterosexual infection of the disease.

Most people wonder how the government will succeed in its new campaign, especially in a pre-dominantly Christian society where very few people go through the operation.

Rwanda's measures to lower the prevalence of AIDS have yielded good results, as the country's current prevalence ratio stands at 3%.

The government has planned to train enough medical personnel for the operation and that uniformed men - police, soldiers and students - will be the first to be circumcised.

The UNAIDS Country Programme Coordinator to Rwanda, Dr Kékoura Kourouma, last year advised Rwandans to protect their children from the risk of HIV/AID by circumcising them at a tender age.

Dr. Kourouma said it would be easier and cheaper to circumcise children if the government's mass circumcision plan is implemented.

He described male circumcision as one method to combat the dramatic increase of HIV/AIDS. This was the outcome of two studies in Kenya and Uganda.

However, studies have shown circumcision could not provide full protection against the spread of the virus, although it reduces the risk of HIV/AIDS infection by 60%.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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