ndertaking vocational training and rehabilitation at Iwawa Rehabilitation and Vocational Skills Development Centre. The special medical outreach that lasted two weeks provided Voluntary Counseling and testing (VCT), Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC) and Behavior Change Communication services (BCC) to more than 1900 former street children and drug addicted.

In his opening remarks, the Commandant of Rwanda Military Hospital Col Dr Ben Karenzi urged the youth at Iwawa to remain vigilant for the protection of their life. “Male circumcision does not mean you are fully protected. We wish you good health, protect your life, you are working force of our nation”, he said adding that circumcision can reduce HIV risk in men by up to 60%.

Joseph Jackson who represented the US Embassy advised the youth to use the opportunity for positive behaviour change. He requested them to serve as exemplary among the youth after training and rehabilitation.

The Coordinator of Iwawa Rehabilitation and Vocation Training Centre, Niyongabo Nicolas also thanked Rwanda Military Hospital and Partners for providing medical services to the Youth at Iwawa Rehabilitation and Vocational Training Centre. He said that 815 people will benefit from male circumcision service only; increasing the number of beneficiaries up to 3000 people since May 2013.

One of the medical service beneficiaries, Mugisha David former University Student in United Kingdom testified that he felt as a born again and changed completely after 11 months at Iwawa. “I was addicted in heroin, marijuana, I used to steal,… I was terrible boy at the University. I thank the Government of Rwanda for this support, we are aware that male circumcision reduces HIV risk infection at 60%, it helps us a lot, I miss the words to express it…”

The Special Army week medical outreach is conducted at Iwawa twice a year and is organized by Rwanda Military Hospital in partnership with Society for Family Health, Drew Cares International and JHPIEGO (an international, non-profit health organisation affiliated with the Johns Hopkins University.