More than 3 000 men have been circumcised in a national pilot project in preparation for a national rollout, a senior health official has said.
Head of the Aids and Tuberculosis Unit in the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare Dr Owen Mugurungi said the national programme would be followed by launching of a five-year strategy.
The strategy will guide all male circumcision operations between 2010 and 2014.
"We are expecting results of the evaluation phase by the end of the month before we roll out the project nationally.
"It is important to know where we failed and where we got it right during the pilot phase," Dr Mugurungi said.
He said the pilot project saw over 3 000 men between aged between 13 and 29 getting circumcised.
This was higher than the targeted 1 000 when the pilot project started.
Dr Mugurungi said, funds permitting, Government would reach at least 100 000 men by the end of 2010.
Male circumcision and other HIV prevention strategies such as consistent condom use and sticking to one sexual partner have been proven to help reduce infection by 60 percent.
Circumcision does not provide complete protection from infection and is not recommended for HIV positive men as there are no health benefits to them or their partners.
In Zimbabwe, male circumcision is conducted on traditional, religious and of late medical grounds.
Traditionally, it is common among the Tonga and Varemba.
Government’s programme seeks to offer male circumcision in a safe and professional environment to prevent complications such as excessive bleeding and infections.
Trackback(0)
TrackBack URI for this entryComments (12)
Subscribe to this comment's feed- Disclaimer :
- The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. ZimDiaspora is not responsible for what they say. Please keep your comments short and sweet. Obscene, tribalistic, racist, vulgar comments will be deleted.
Re: ABC, not circumcision
written by Mark Lyndon, February 07, 2010
written by Mark Lyndon, February 07, 2010
Sam, those figures are *not* made up. You can check them at measuredhs com I tried to post the links to get to the exact figures, but they don't seem to have gone through.
If circumcision really worked against AIDS, there wouldn't be six African countries where men are more likely to be HIV+ if they've been circumcised.
The emphasis should be on condoms and safe sex. Circumcision is a dangerous distraction, and as I pointed out, lots of people seem to think it makes them immune.
If circumcision really worked against AIDS, there wouldn't be six African countries where men are more likely to be HIV+ if they've been circumcised.
The emphasis should be on condoms and safe sex. Circumcision is a dangerous distraction, and as I pointed out, lots of people seem to think it makes them immune.
report abuse
vote down
vote up
Votes: +1
Mweni
written by mark, February 07, 2010
written by mark, February 07, 2010
I think it is probably more useful to keep your dick in your pants.
report abuse
vote down
vote up
Votes: +1
More circumcised men with HIV is no lie
written by Hugh7, February 06, 2010
written by Hugh7, February 06, 2010
@SAM: the figures come from the National Demographic and Health Surveys for those countries. You can see them at http://www.measuredhs.com/countries/
A study in Uganda was stopped after 18% of the women with circumcised HIV+ partners turned HIV+ while only 12% of the women with non-circumcised HIV+ partners did. The result was not statistically significant, but if circumcision does increase the risk to women (who are already at greater risk) that could more than undo any benefit to men.
@Mweni Tafara: The studies that claim to show a mechanism for transmission are purely theoretical, based on a few dead foreskins taken from the bodies of old men. Other studies have found the same cells supposed to attract HIV are actually protective.
"why dont you try it?" Yeah, sure, and if we don't like it, can we have our foreskins back?
Zimbabwe has a collapsing health system with high infant and maternal mortality. Cutting healthy tissue off men is not where it should be putting its energy.
A study in Uganda was stopped after 18% of the women with circumcised HIV+ partners turned HIV+ while only 12% of the women with non-circumcised HIV+ partners did. The result was not statistically significant, but if circumcision does increase the risk to women (who are already at greater risk) that could more than undo any benefit to men.
@Mweni Tafara: The studies that claim to show a mechanism for transmission are purely theoretical, based on a few dead foreskins taken from the bodies of old men. Other studies have found the same cells supposed to attract HIV are actually protective.
"why dont you try it?" Yeah, sure, and if we don't like it, can we have our foreskins back?
Zimbabwe has a collapsing health system with high infant and maternal mortality. Cutting healthy tissue off men is not where it should be putting its energy.
report abuse
vote down
vote up
Votes: +1
The Finer details of circumcision
written by Mweni Tafara, February 06, 2010
written by Mweni Tafara, February 06, 2010
Pat:
Observe that while the tissue that make the male gender part gland and the inner part of the foreskin may be the same, as soon as you circumcise a male, the entire gland and the scars of circumcision would evolve in colour and texture to be the same as the outer skin of your elbow.
In fact circumcison reduces sensitivity of male gender part because of the evolution of the texture of the gland and the circumcision scar to the extent that excitation threshold of the male gender part reduces due to the exposure of the gland and its change in texture which also results in longer time the men needs to emit seed during interaction with spouse meaning circumcised men have a different appeal on the bed.
Observe on your son or younger brother who is not circumcised that the inner part of gender organ is light of colour and soft like your armpit but as soon as you circumcise the boy both the gland and scar would turn dark as well as the texture.
Observe that while the tissue that make the male gender part gland and the inner part of the foreskin may be the same, as soon as you circumcise a male, the entire gland and the scars of circumcision would evolve in colour and texture to be the same as the outer skin of your elbow.
In fact circumcison reduces sensitivity of male gender part because of the evolution of the texture of the gland and the circumcision scar to the extent that excitation threshold of the male gender part reduces due to the exposure of the gland and its change in texture which also results in longer time the men needs to emit seed during interaction with spouse meaning circumcised men have a different appeal on the bed.
Observe on your son or younger brother who is not circumcised that the inner part of gender organ is light of colour and soft like your armpit but as soon as you circumcise the boy both the gland and scar would turn dark as well as the texture.
report abuse
vote down
vote up
Votes: +0
This is not a pilot progamme in my book
written by Ron Low, February 05, 2010
written by Ron Low, February 05, 2010
To qualify as a rational approach to fighting HIv, the program would need to be preceeded by a careful measurement to assess as accurately as possible the present HIV incidence in men and in women, and no further action would be taken until follow-up measurements showed that neither group suffered.
This is important since the Ugandan researchers announced in August that the HIV+ men they circumcised were 50% MORE likely to transmit HIV to their partners than the HIV+ men they left intact were. This increasd risk for women offsets any supposed benefit to men, and it certainly negates any justification to mutilate those too young to give informed consent.
This is important since the Ugandan researchers announced in August that the HIV+ men they circumcised were 50% MORE likely to transmit HIV to their partners than the HIV+ men they left intact were. This increasd risk for women offsets any supposed benefit to men, and it certainly negates any justification to mutilate those too young to give informed consent.
report abuse
vote down
vote up
Votes: +2
I agree with you Mweni Tafara
written by Sam, February 05, 2010
written by Sam, February 05, 2010
If you look at my first statement you will realise that I agree with you Mweni Tafara! The reason why I responded to ABC is becoz I felt he was making up things. I am circumcised my brother, and know all about the benefits. This is the reason why I feel we should not have people like ABC lying and making up things and presenting them as facts. I hate liers and ABC is such. Even from my 'O' level biology, I understood this in 1990. My son was circumcised 8 years ago as I feel this is very hygienic.
report abuse
vote down
vote up
Votes: -2
More on biology
written by Pat, February 05, 2010
written by Pat, February 05, 2010
Mweni, it is more complicated than what you imply. The surface of the inner part of the foreskin is made of a thin tissue called mucous membrane. This is the same tissue covering the surface of the glans, or head of the penis, which is also more vulnerable to HIV infection than regular skin. In addition, circumcision creates a scar on the penis, which is not only a potential entry point if it does not heal properly, but can be torn slightly during the friction of sexual intercourse - if the surface is broken, any virus exposed to the skin may come into direct contact with the bloodstream.
The important fact we should learn from these studies on HIV is that it is still possible for circumcised men to acquire the virus. If you are unsure whether a woman has it, wear a condom.
The important fact we should learn from these studies on HIV is that it is still possible for circumcised men to acquire the virus. If you are unsure whether a woman has it, wear a condom.
report abuse
vote down
vote up
Votes: -1
Biology of Circumcision
written by Mweni Tafara, February 05, 2010
written by Mweni Tafara, February 05, 2010
SAM & Mark:
Sometimes in these discussion forums one has to have an academic aspect to be able to handle certain topics other than politics.
Biologically circumcision is the removal of the foreskin of the male gender part. During gender interation, HIV largely infects a male by bruises on the inner part of the foreskin. And now when you remove this infection entry or weak point, definitely you reduce the risk of inflection in men and of women in general or broad terms, that is few men with HIV then fewer female infections.
I wish you two were circumcised you could discover the health of circumcision, its terrific, why dont you try it? What I would however advise is circumcision is not license to promiscuity among men.
Sometimes in these discussion forums one has to have an academic aspect to be able to handle certain topics other than politics.
Biologically circumcision is the removal of the foreskin of the male gender part. During gender interation, HIV largely infects a male by bruises on the inner part of the foreskin. And now when you remove this infection entry or weak point, definitely you reduce the risk of inflection in men and of women in general or broad terms, that is few men with HIV then fewer female infections.
I wish you two were circumcised you could discover the health of circumcision, its terrific, why dont you try it? What I would however advise is circumcision is not license to promiscuity among men.
report abuse
vote down
vote up
Votes: -2
ABC, not circumcision
written by SAM, February 05, 2010
written by SAM, February 05, 2010
"ABC, not circumcision", are you sure you are not lying? Please provide us with sources of you statistics about Cameron, Rwanda, Malawi, Lesoto, Swaziland: which show there is a higher rate of transmission amongst the cirvumcised vs the uncircumcised. I think you are just waffling. there is high H.I.V rates in these countries yes, but not because circumcision is common in these societies, but because people are having unprotected sex or multiple partners. Its got nothing to do with circumcision.
Circumcision is not an alternative to abstenance and condomising ofcoz, but if used with condoms will enhance protection. Lets us not lie to people, making up numbers out of nowhere to support our opinions that are baseless and lacking in any common sense.
Circumcision is not an alternative to abstenance and condomising ofcoz, but if used with condoms will enhance protection. Lets us not lie to people, making up numbers out of nowhere to support our opinions that are baseless and lacking in any common sense.
report abuse
vote down
vote up
Votes: -1
60% ?
written by P Hoath, February 05, 2010
written by P Hoath, February 05, 2010
Just a quick search of the internet will show you how many flaws there are in the trials that produced the 60% figure. Seven surveys of African countries even showed that HIV infection was higher in circumcised men than in uncircumcised.
Why is money being wasted on this when a virtually 100% effective solution, condoms, is available.
Why is money being wasted on this when a virtually 100% effective solution, condoms, is available.
report abuse
vote down
vote up
Votes: +2
ABC, not circumcision
written by Mark, February 04, 2010
written by Mark, February 04, 2010
Circumcision is a dangerous distraction in the fight against AIDS. There are six African countries where men are *more* likely to be HIV+ if they've been circumcised: Cameroon, Ghana, Lesotho, Malawi, Rwanda, and Swaziland. Eg in Malawi, the HIV rate is 13.2% among circumcised men, but only 9.5% among intact men. In Rwanda, the HIV rate is 3.5% among circumcised men, but only 2.1% among intact men. If circumcision really worked against AIDS, this just wouldn't happen. We now have people calling circumcision a "vaccine" or "invisible condom", and viewing circumcision as an alternative to condoms. The South African National Communication Survey on HIV/AIDS, 2009 found that 15% of adults across age groups "believe that circumcised men do not need to use condoms".
ABC (Abstinence, Being faithful, Condoms) is the way forward. Promoting genital surgery will cost African lives, not save them.
ABC (Abstinence, Being faithful, Condoms) is the way forward. Promoting genital surgery will cost African lives, not save them.
report abuse
vote down
vote up
Votes: +2
Write comment
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
Meanwhile, it is wrong to discourage those who care for themselves and others from getting circumcised. This is the same kind of criticism condoms attracted 25 years ago. Unfortunately the majority of those who never believed in condoms are gone.