Duration: 2011-2013
Budget: 375.000
In the field of sexual and reproductive health, Flanders has been supporting a number of new initiatives in Mozambique since 2011, including this one. This project is aimed at increasing access to male circumcision in Tete Province.
Duration and budget
The Government of Flanders’ contribution towards this two-year project amounts to 375,000 euros. The project will run until the end of 2013.
Problem definition
The two main problems of the Mozambican health sector are the lack of well-trained health personnel and the poor health system. In addition, Mozambique faces problems concerning the health infrastructure and the financing of the sector.
In the sub-sector of sexual and reproductive health and rights, Mozambique is confronted with enormous challenges. In order to realise Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5, additional efforts will have to be made.
Practical implementation
This project of the organisation Population Services International (PSI) is intended to increase access to male circumcision in Tete Province. Currently, PSI is carrying out successful projects around male circumcision in Maputo, Beira and Nampula.
Despite the fact that male circumcision is not inherent in their culture, young men are actively looking for centres where they can get circumcised. According to a recent USAID report, the circumcision of 80% of the adult men and babies by 2015 could reduce the number of HIV infections by half by 2025. This would save Mozambique's Government 1.5 billion dollars annually between 2009 and 2025. In addition, the growing number of circumcised men can also lead to a considerable decrease in the number of infections with sexually transmitted diseases.
PSI proposes to facilitate access to male circumcision by improving access to the services, on the one hand, and by promoting the demand for safe male circumcision among the target group, on the other.
Partner
PSI was established in the United States in 1970 with the purpose of improving reproductive health through commercial marketing strategies. The organisation works around family planning, HIV, malaria and tuberculosis and is active in 67 countries. In 1994, PSI started to support the Mozambican Ministry of Health in the field of HIV prevention. These programmes are currently being implemented in all of Mozambique's provinces.