South Africa: Medical Male Circumcision Services Available At Health Facilities

press release

Medical male circumcision (MMC) is one of the successful measures in the prevention of HIV transmission.

Michael Mapongwana, Kraaifontein, Eerste River and Kleinvlei Community Health Centres (CHC) are actively promoting the male medical circumcision programme.

Males from the age of 15 and above may make an appointment at any one of these facilities to have the procedure done.

The 30 minute procedure is performed by trained health care workers and holds many health advantages such as:

Reducing the risk of HIV infection and other sexually transmitted illnesses

Eliminating tearing and bruising during sex which reduces the opportunity of infection

Improved hygiene,

Reducing the risk of developing penile cancer

Reducing the risk of passing the virus that causes cervical cancer to their female partners.

The patient will be discharged from the facility on the day that the procedure is done, but complete healing will take up to six weeks.

During the procedure, a cut is made and stitched up. Medical male circumcision entails the full removal of the foreskin. Facilities provide patients with safe, clean, and hygienic procedures.

The person must come back in 48 hours to check if there are no complications. Parents may also choose to have the procedure done on their male babies/child/ren.

Many cultures and religions only support partial circumcision, but for full health benefits, a medical circumcision is recommended.

Although having the procedure reduces the risk of being infected by HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), it is still advisable to use contraceptives to prevent unwanted pregnancies and the transmission of HIV and STDs.

If a client wants further details or to make an appointment, they can contact:

Michael Mapongwana CHC

Mr Gadu

Tel: 021 361 3353

Kraaifontein CHC

Ms Steyn

Tel: 021 987 0080

Eerste River CHC

Ms James

Tel: 021 444 7144/7141

Kleinvlei CHC

Ms Jonkers

Tel: 021 904 3421

Media enquiries:

Sithembiso Magubane

Communications Officer: District Health Services & Programmes

Cell: 071 315 3581

Tel: 021 483 2904

Email: Sithembiso.Magubane@westerncape.gov.za

Issued by: Western Cape Health

30 Jul 2013

- Western Cape Health

  • Comment (9)

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  • Pure
    Jul 31 2013, 10:46

    Go ahead allafrica, take Gates/Buffet/US money and go on sick circumcision propaganda evryday till there is no intact penis left in Africa. Then also continue propaganda so that no body thinks twice before cutting.

  • ML
    Jul 31 2013, 15:06

    From a USAID report: "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 it is higher." http://www.measuredhs.com/pubs/pdf/CR22/CR22.pdf

    It seems highly unrealistic to expect that there will be no risk compensation. 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". http://www.info.gov.za/issues/hiv/survey_2009.htm

    It is unclear if circumcised men are more likely to infect women. The only ever randomized controlled trial into male-to-female transmission showed a 54% higher rate in the group where the men had been circumcised: http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(09)60998-3/a bstract ABC (Abstinence, Being faithful, and especially Condoms) is the way forward. Promoting genital surgery seems likely to cost African lives rather than save them.

    Europeans don't circumcise, South Americans don't circumcise, Australians and New Zealanders used to circumcise but stopped, and most North Americans don't circumcise. Why should Africans circumcise?

  • Owino Qane
    Jul 31 2013, 15:44

    no one will ever know all of the functions of an intact penis or all of the functions of the intact female genitals; but one thing is certain, when you destroy part of the male genitalia, or the female genitalia, you are going to weaken or destroy many of those functions.

    the answer to this is to LET THE PERSON CHOOSE TO HAVE IT DONE TO THEMSELVES IF THEY WANT TO, AFTER THEY ARE AN ADULT: DO NOT ALLOW IT TO BE DONE TO NONCONSENTING PEOPLE.

    this is what i think.

  • krepta3000
    Jul 31 2013, 18:14

    This is rediculous. There Are NO Benefits for circumcision. Over 80% of the World's male population are Intact, Healthy, and Happy! I've looked at the statistics for Circumcision rates, and the statistics for HIV rates, and there is NO Correlation whatsoever. If it worked so great, why is there such a huge HIV problem in the USA? Hmmm?! And Foreskin does Not cause cancer. If all these problems were Really due to Just having a normal anatomy, the human race would have died out long ago. Morons!

  • Jeff Cowsert
    Jul 31 2013, 17:47

    The claims of benefits of circumcision are false and exaggerated. If circumcision were a cure for HIV then the US, where 80% of adult men have amputated foreskins, would be nearly free of the disease. Yet the US has higher rates of HIV and all STD’s than Europe where the majority of men have complete reproductive systems with their foreskins intact. Additionally the US is the highest consumer of erectile medications in the entire world! There is no doubt that this is due to the fact that US men have been deprived of the natural and complete sexual function that they would have if they didn’t suffer the consequences of circumcision. Do not be fooled by this circumcision agenda, it is a very damaging procedure, it does not offer the claimed benefits and it is a dangerous and horrible violation of human rights to force it onto an infant or child. Multitudes of men in the US have caught on to the lies and are outraged that this was forced onto them. The circumcision rate on US infants and children is dropping every day. The ACTUAL way that circumcision will reduce HIV and disease in your country is by the fact that circumcised men lose penile sensitivity and the desire to have sex. Don’t be the next fooled society.

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