Remarks at Male Circumcision Training
Remarks by James D. McGee, U. S. Ambassador after a tour of the Male Circumcision Trainer of Trainers Course
June 4, 2009 at 11:00
Directors and Officials of the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare,
The National Family Planning Council,
UNFPA and PSI,
Ms. Karen Freeman, Director of USAID/Zimbabwe
Dr. Jabu Nyenwa,
and Mr. Samkange,
Distinguished physicians and guests:
I am pleased to be here this morning to observe this important training.
One of the first public events that I attended in Zimbabwe was the Auxillia Chimasora Awards, to celebrate a true pioneer and a courageous woman. We are here again today, to celebrate a pioneering event, in a field that Zimbabwe, despite her many challenges, is leading.
Despite increasing access to antiretroviral therapy, HIV & AIDS continues to kill more than two million people every year and HIV prevalence is rising worldwide. But there is a hopeful prospect on the horizon one that could prove to have an unprecedented impact on the disease.
Over 50 studies have concluded that male circumcision significantly reduces the risk of heterosexual HIV infection. Recent trials confirmed that this simple procedure could reduce the risk of men being infected with HIV by 60%. - this is more effective than any vaccine currently in development.
While this procedure provides benefits for the individual, a potentially significant reduction in HIV could be seen if a large proportion of men become circumcised. If enough men are circumcised we have the potential to avert two million new infections over the next 10 years in Sub-Saharan Africa.
In Zimbabwe, a 50% circumcision rate would mean that HIV incidence could be reduced by 25% to 35%. How many lives, livelihoods and families could be saved!
Unlike other prevention methods, male circumcision is a one-time procedure that provides lifelong protection. I am sold on this simple lifesaving procedure. Given the tremendous acceptance we are observing here in Zimbabwe, I believe we will witness a tremendous reduction in HIV incidence in a relatively short period. This would make a tremendous contribution to the rebuilding of Zimbabwe and set an example for the rest of the region.
Beyond the technical importance of the training being launched today, I am also very encouraged by the model of partnership and collaboration being created. I recently learned that PSI Zimbabwe managed to convince their headquarters in Washington to provide one million U.S. dollars in “seed money” to support the Ministry of Health and the National Family Planning Council with a male circumcision pilot project.
This seed money has been pooled with funding from UNFPA and USAID to support this training of trainers’ workshop. I hope that the pilot project succeeds and that it will attract the additional support necessary to expand to the scale required to realize a meaningful reduction in HIV incidence.
Public private partnerships are key to addressing this and so many other developmental challenges. If we can continue to harness this kind of good will and dedication we can solve many of the problems that are in front of us. I would encourage other organizations to look to the private sector for similar contributions. The government can’t do it all, nor can the donor community, but acting together we can enable the technical community to help the entire community.
I heartily support this important intervention as part of a comprehensive HIV prevention and reproductive health package in Zimbabwe. You are all important pioneers in this emerging activity and I am certain you will succeed in having an impact on HIV prevention and therefore the well being and recovery of Zimbabwe.
This truly is an historic day for all of us assembled and I wish you the best of luck.
Thank you