South to circumcise 150 000 men by 2017
At least 150 000 men are expected to undergo the voluntary male medical circumcision (VMMC) in the next four years in the Southern Region.
Jhpiego Corporation will lead the exercise in conjunction with the Ministry of Health.
The corporation’s programme manager Asantesana Kamuyango disclosed this in Zomba recently during a meeting with faith, community, political leaders, government and the district’s civil society organisations.
The meeting was aimed at sensitising the stakeholders to the importance of men going under the knife without compromising cultural and faith beliefs.
Said Kamuyango: “This project will scale up VMMC services targeting males aged 15 and 49 in five districts by providing 150 000 circumcisions by 2017. The VMMC initiative reduces chances of men contracting HIV through sexual intercourse by 60 percent. But that does not mean they have the licence to womanise because the other 40 percent needs to be complemented with safe and protective ways such as the use of condoms and others.
“Chances of women getting cervical cancer are also reduced because the sheath or foreskin which provides fertile ground for the virus has been removed from men.”
Zomba district health officer Medson Semba warned those conducting the VMMC in public hospitals against demanding kickbacks from clients, saying doing so will attract disciplinary action since the exercise is free and voluntary.
