The Government is planning to circumcise 4.2 million men aged between 15 and 49 by 2015. The Government says this group is vulnerable to the HIV/ AIDS pandemic.
Speaking during a meeting on safe male circumcision and elimination of mother-to-child transmission (EMTCT) at Hotel Africana yesterday, the acting programme manager of STD/AIDS control project, Dr. Joshua Musinguzi, said if the scale of circumcision is increased, it would reduce HIV infections.
He emphasised that circumcision is not a single intervention in the prevention of HIV/AIDS, but part of a comprehensive package. Other interventions include abstinence, faithfulness and condom usage, dubbed the ABC approach.
"Circumcision is part of a major package that we are promoting in the country," Musinguzi said. The meeting, organised by the Alliance of Mayors and Municipal Leaders on HIV/AIDS in Africa, attracted officials from the Ministry of Health, UNAIDS and World Health Organisation.
The main aim was to empower local government leaders with appropriate knowledge and skills in safe male circumcision and EMTCT, which are the major components of the current national HIV response.
The state minister for local government, Alex Onzima, said although circumcision is proven to be an effective HIV-prevention strategy, there is still a knowledge gap, myths and cultural misconceptions at the local government level.
"Engagement of local leadership in advocacy and community awareness is critical in enhancing the uptake of safe male circumcision and EMTCT services in the local governments," Onzima said.
Comments Post a comment
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".
The one randomized controlled trial into male-to-female transmission showed a 54% higher rate in the group where the men had been circumcised btw.
ABC (Abstinence, Being faithful, and especially Condoms) is the way forward. Promoting genital surgery will cost African lives, not save them.
"Dr. Joshua Musinguzi, said if the scale of circumcision is increased, it would reduce HIV infections."
But in reality he does not know that. In fact, it may be that the cutting off of penis parts of these men will actually increase HIV infections.
It has never been shown in the real world that Circumcision makes HIV less likely to be transmitted during heterosexual sex. Claims have been made for both MALE and FEMALE circumcision reducing HIV risk. However, real world data does NOT show the claimed risk change as to male circumcision. The US sponsored DHS Comparative Reports No. 22 showed that in Africa there appears no clear pattern of association between male circumcision and HIV prevalence. In 8 of 18 countries with data, HIV prevalence is lower among circumcised men, while in the remaining 10 countries HIV prevalence is higher among circumcised men.
In 2010 the same Kisumu team (Bailey) that did one of the flawed Africa studies reported the cut Kenyan men were no less likely to have HIV after all.
The recent CDC Zambia study did find that men with herpes were more likely to be HIV-positive, but also found that lack of circumcision did not increase the risk of HIV infection. In 2009 the same Rakai team (Wawer/Gra-y) reported that the Ugandan men they cut were 50% MORE likely to infect their female partners.
Three studies were conducted as to male circumcision that claim about ~1.4% risk change. In these studies the cut men did not have sex during a large part of the SHORTENED study period. The cut men were told to use condoms and they had a painful reminder to be safe. The small risk change may be linked to condom use or to how much less sex the cut men had. Possibly the risk change results from inflicting trauma to the penis. They also LOST more people than the total number that got HIV -- how unscientific or was it convenient? They also ignore that the natural penis men that dried (and did not wash immediately) had THE LOWEST HIV risk. So providing men with clean towels would do more than amputating innervated parts of their penis. It is irresponsible to throw around "it would reduce HIV infections." It is foolish to spend our money on this and harm these men. Is the Government going to pay for their VIAGRA when they have sexual dysfunction at age 40+?
He emphasised that circumcision is... "part of a major package that we are promoting in the country." Yes, a major package of mutilation and HARM!
This is a tragic mistake. Many professionals have criticized the studies claiming that circumcision reduces HIV transmission. They have various flaws. The absolute rate of HIV transmission reduction is only 1.3%, not the claimed 60%. Authorities that cite the studies have other agendas including political and financial. Research shows that circumcision causes physical, sexual, and psychological harm. This harm is ignored by circumcision advocates. Other methods to prevent HIV transmission (e.g., condoms and sterilizing medical instruments) are much more effective, much cheaper, and much less invasive. Please see http://www.circumcision.org/hiv.htm for more information and links to literature.
You are wasting your precious money. Condoms prevent disease, unlike circumcision. From how many people are you going to remove half the skin of their genitals, before you figure out that it doesn't work? We've buried nearly a million men of AIDS, even though the circumcision rate for adults has been about 85%. Condoms protect both partners.
People of Africa, DO NOT get circumcised! Look at p. 117 and p. 125 of this document from US AID: http://www.measuredhs.com/pubs/pdf/CR22/CR22.pdf In many African countries, HIV is HIGHER among circumcised men. DO NOT listen to people telling you to do this. Protect yourself and your body and DO NOT get circumcised.
See All Comments