Ugandan Medical Male Circumcision Program Launched to Prevent HIV Tr... ( KAYUNGA Uganda July 10 -- Uganda was...)

Ugandan Medical Male Circumcision Program Launched to Prevent HIV Transmission

Date:7/10/2009

KAYUNGA, Uganda, July 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Uganda was the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to register a drop in adult national prevalence in HIV. The epidemic, however, remains serious as approximately one million Ugandans are HIV positive. Experts in the field have begun promoting a low cost and powerful weapon against new HIV infections: voluntary medical male circumcision.

Three trials in Kenya, Uganda and South Africa have demonstrated that male circumcision reduces the rate of HIV infection in heterosexual relationships by 50 to 60 percent. Male circumcision has received endorsements by the World Health Organization and the Uganda Ministry of Health as a proven safe way to prevent the spread of HIV.

Yesterday, the Kayunga District Hospital and Makerere University Walter Reed Project (MUWRP) opened the Kayunga District Medical Male Circumcision Program, the first free, non-research male circumcision program in Uganda. They marked the grand opening on July 9th at a ribbon-cutting ceremony at a renovated clinic.

Dr. Ahmed Matovu, Kayunga District Hospital Superintendent added, "Circumcision must be utilized in combination with Uganda's existing HIV sexual prevention messages, which include condom use, faithfulness, or abstinence."

"The Kayunga District Medical Male Circumcision Program, which has already circumcised more than 220 men, represents hope and progress in the fight against HIV," said MUWRP's Mark Breda.

Representatives from the Kayunga District Health Authority, Kayunga District Hospital, Uganda AIDS Control Program, Uganda AIDS Commission, and the U.S. government commemorated the day along with musical performances and a tree planting ceremony. The entire Kayunga community was invited. Participation included the males that have already been circumcised, ranging in age from 13-60, with the average age being 19.

The program is fu
'/>"/>

0

GOOD

Page: 1 2
Related medicine news :

1. Ugandan Children Receive Life-Saving Treatment For Heart Defects At Children's National Medical Center
2. Ugandan Children Are Among the First to Receive Abbotts Lower-Strength Aluvia (lopinavir/ritonavir) Tablet
3. World AIDS Day Teleconference for Media, Including Helen Epstein, Author of the Invisible Cure, and Beatrice Were, Ugandan Womens Rights Advocate
4. Chief Medical Officer Joins Aon Consultings Health & Benefits Practice
5. Specialty Hospitals of Washington Adds Additional Skilled Nursing Facility Beds at United Medical Center in South East DC
6. ICU Medical, Inc. to Acquire Hospiras Critical Care Product Line
7. Perceptive Informatics Enhances CNS and Oncology Medical Image Processing and Analysis Capabilities Through Alliance With Biospective
8. Nursing Scrubs and Medical Scrubs Company blue sky scrubs Launches Enhanced Website
9. British Medical Journal Report Supports SCHS White Paper on Statins
10. Changes Reduced Infections From Medical Abortion
11. Harvard Medical School Continues Education About Benefits of Probiotics

Post Your Comments:

Ugandan Medical Male Circumcision Program Launched to Prevent HIV Tr...( KAYUNGA Uganda July 10 -- Uganda was...),Health