Kenya Launches Voluntary Male Circumcision Program to Combat Aids

The Kenyan government on Monday launched a $12.5 million voluntary male circumcision program in an effort to reduce the spread of new HIV/AIDS infections in the country.

Speaking at the launch in Nairobi, the assistant minister for Public Health, James Gesami said that the voluntary male circumcision that aims to reduce HIV/AIDS infections in the country will be free of charge and assured that nobody will be forced to undergo the exercise.

“Recent research has shown that male circumcision reduces HIV infections by 60%,” he said.

Also speaking at the launch, the World Health Organization (WHO) country representative, David Okello however warned that male circumcision should not be an excuse for promotion of irresponsible sexual behavior and should also be promoted with other preventative strategies.

Kenya’s current HIV/AIDS prevalence rate stands at 7.8 percent.

Source African Press Agency

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