New circumcision device needs support: WHO

A new bloodless circumcision device that Rwanda is conducting research on is a promising tool that deserves everyone’s support, says the visiting World Health Organisation (WHO) Africa Chief, Dr. Luis Gomes Sambo.“If it is successful in Rwanda, it will be an advantage for the rest of the region and we are certainly looking forward to the success of this project.”In April 2012, the Ministry of Health announced plans to roll out the circumcision device known as Prepex to more hospitals following its successful trials at Nyamata and Kanombe Military hospitals.In February 2012, after scientifically validating the safety and efficacy of the device, its comparison to surgical circumcision, and simplicity in the hands of low cadre health care, the device gained WHO’s approval.To date about, 1,160 circumcisions using PrePex have been conducted safely in the country, where 888 procedures were performed in the framework of clinical studies.The objective of the circumcision campaign is to reach two million adult men in a period of 24 months to achieve the national goal of reducing HIV incidence rate by 50 per cent.Dr. Sambo also commended Rwanda for adopting an innovative approach in designing and implementing health care programmes that have delivered good results. The WHO Africa chief is here to learn more about the country’s healthcare programmes and assess progress on the ground with a view to sharing some best practices with the rest of the continent.“You are moving in the right direction and you are moving quite fast,” Dr. Sambo said during a meeting with the Minister of Health Dr. Agnes Binagwaho yesterday.“The progress you have made is good and a source of inspiration for other countries on the continent.”He said that due to the consistency in programme implementation, Rwanda was leading in many aspects of health indicators such as being the first country on the continent to significantly reduce child mortality.“You are the fastest country in the region in reducing child mortality and on course of achieving MDG 4. Rwanda is also the number one country on the African continent posting impressive data on reduction of HIV/AIDS mortality rate.,” he noted. On her part, Dr. Binagwaho hailed the partnership that exists between Rwanda and WHO and particularly commended the regional office for supporting numerous projects that the country designs.At the meeting, Binagwaho highlighted some of the achievements within various programmes of the sector mainly captured in the 2010 Demographic Health Survey (DHS) and projections for the future.She emphasised that Rwanda was now rolling out an aggressive policy to boost the health sector.However, Dr. Sambo cited some hurdles especially those related to reducing the number of neonatal mortality and combating chronic malnutrition.The official visited Nyamata district hospital, Mayange health centre as well as the home of a community health worker and witnessed firsthand how they offer health services.The WHO official is on a four-day working visit and is expected to hold meetings with senior Government officials and tour health-related projects across the country.

National

New circumcision device needs support: WHO