KARONGI- The circumcision campaign has not been fully rolled out in most health facilities in Karongi District due to shortage of equipment. According to Silas Rudasingwa, Karongi district official in charge of health, of the district’s three hospitals, only Kirinda Hospital has circumcision kits. Talking to The New Times, Rudasingwa said despite the inadequacy, the number of people seeking for circumcision has increased from five to between 10 and 20 daily. He cited the Rwf 20, 000 cost of the operation as another major challenge. The decision by government to make circumcision free is still in the pipeline, however, hospitals are overwhelmed by the large number turning up for the operation. He attributed the increase to community health education. Circumcision is a simple surgical procedure that involves the removal of the foreskin from the penis. Evidence shows that this is able to reduce the transmission of HIV up to 60 percent. In the last two weeks, hundreds of youth at Kiziba refugee camp in Karongi District were circumcised by mobile surgeons who visited the camp. “I decided to get circumcised after learning of the risks involved with being uncircumcised,” Eric Mugwaneza, a 15-year old boy, said shortly after undergoing the procedure. sam.nkurunziza@newtimes.co.rw
