Rubaramira Ruranga
Renowned HIV/AIDS activist Maj Rubaramira Ruranga has explained why he has chosen vasectomy when he is 71 years old.
While speaking at the launch of Men plus a Reach A Hand Uganda (RAHU) and Reproductive Health Uganda (RHU) initiative to promote men involvement in family planning yesterday, Maj Ruranga said he has opted for vasectomy in order to stop producing more children who have since proved to be stressful for a person of his age. He added that men and women should produce early and produce children whom they can cater for.
“I decided to go for vasectomy instead of stressing my wife with family planning. She 41 and I am 71 years. I advise you, men and women, to agree on a number of children you want to produce in consideration of your financial abilities. Do not produce and you find yourself looking after babies even when you are aged like me,” Maj Ruranga said.
Maj Ruranga said he did his vasectomy at Bombo hospital and it was one of the greatest decisions he has ever made.
He pledged to support RAHU and RHU in piloting Men plus campaign because he doesn’t want other men to experience similar challenges.
Maj Rubaramira said he regrets having a 2-year-old child. Maj Ruranga said he does not sleep because he has to work hard for his youngest children yet he would have been resting and witnessing grandchildren grow.
“I am 71 years old and I have a two-year-old girl. I need to sleep but I can’t. I have eleven children of which five are still very young and I have to work for them. Had I stopped at the old ones, I would be resting because they have graduated,” Maj Ruranga said.
Mr Humphrey Nabimanya, RAHU Founder and team leader, said the campaign is intended to appeal to men to participate in family planning as opposed to leaving the burden to only women.
“Many women cannot make family planning decisions without their partners’ permission, agreement or financial support. This project aims to optimise the constructive engagement of men to improve health outcome for men, women and their families,” Mr Nabimanya said.
Dr Dinah Nakiganda, an assistant commissioner for health at the Ministry of Health, said her ministry was more than ready to avail all the necessary support to RAHU and RHU since their efforts are intended to make men understand why they need to have been involved in family planning.