 
December 11, 2007
Free Circumcision in Uganda
The Ugandan Ministry of Health is planning to offer free circumcision across the country to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS, reports the New Vision Online, a Ugandan news site (newvision.co.ug, 12/7).
“We are currently conducting a needs assessment and consulting key stakeholders in the area of HIV/AIDS policy and service delivery on how best to do this,” said Dr Sam Zaramba, director general of health services, in the report.
Male circumcision is associated with a 60 percent reduction in risk for HIV infection, according to the dean of Uganda’s Makerere University School of Public Health, Professor David Serwanda.
Dr. Alex Opio, the assistant commissioner national disease control, added that though male circumcision should be recognized as an effective prevention tool in the battle against HIV, it must be combined with other tactics—including abstinence and condoms.
“We are not promoting circumcision alone since it is not 100 percent solution,” he said. “It is going to be an additional strategy, part and parcel of Abstinence, Be faithful and [use a] Condom! [ABC].”
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