Mzimba DHO beats male circumcision target
Mzimba North District Health Office (DHO) has beaten its voluntary male medical circumcision (VMMC) target.
Presenting the project’s progress report on Tuesday during a Mzuzu City Aids Coordinating Committee Meeting, Mzimba North VMMC coordinator Lloyd Mgode said their target was 6 245 people but they went as far as 10 970.
He attributed the achievement to good working partnership among health workers at Moyale Clinic and Ekwendeni Hospital, who conducted mobilisation and awareness campaigns in addition to outreach clinics.
“We also owe our success to traditional and religious leaders who assisted the DHO in disseminating VMMC-related messages to the public through different forums,”said Mgode.
He, however, said some religious and cultural beliefs in some areas prevented men from coming for circumcision.
VMMC, which is one of the interventions seeking to reduce the transmission of HIV and cervical cancer, targets males within the age group of 15 to 34 because they are sexually active.
The project, which started in 2015, is funded by the World Bank through National Aids Commission and is expected to finish this year.
