KIGAL-The Ministry of Health (MOH) has announced that there is no target for voluntary vasectomies as was circulated in the press.

The Permanent Secretary in MOH, Dr. Agnes Binagwaho, made the announcement yesterday.

"Let there be no doubt, there is neither target to carry out 700,000 vasectomies nor will there ever be one. It would be both unethical and a violation of human rights to allocate targets to family planning options of this nature,” she said.

It was reported recently in the media that in a bid to curb the rapid population growth in Rwanda, the government said that 700,000 Rwandan men are expected to, voluntarily, enrol for vasectomy in the next three years.

She added that the 700,000 target which has been mentioned erroneously in press reports is actually in regard to the government’s goal to protect men from HIV infection through voluntary circumcision.

Binagwaho said that that particular initiative is based on extensive scientific studies carried out in both Kenya and South Africa that show circumcision can reduce a man’s chance of contracting HIV/AIDS by around 60%,”   she noted.

"The Government of Rwanda clarified the situation with the World Health Organisation (WHO) as soon as the confusion arose, so that it is fully aware of the goals of the two initiatives and their positive aims for Rwandans,” she underscored.

According to the WHO, vasectomy is one of the safest and most effective methods of contraception.
Its advantages over female sterilization include lower rates of postoperative complications, shorter recovery time, reduced costs and increased involvement of men in reproductive decision-making.

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