42 000 men undergo circumcision in Malawi
Over 42 000 men in Malawi have undergone voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) since the campaign began last year.
Spokesperson for the Ministry of Health Henry Chimbali told stakeholders in Mangochi last week that by 2016 the country expects to register 2.1 million men who will have undergone VMMC.
“Malawi has 42 000 males circumcised already and it is expecting to have 2.1 million males voluntarily circumcised at the hospital by 2016 and that is encouraging,” said Chimbali.
But Chimbali said it is surprising that many men between the ages of 30 and 49 are reluctant to go for circumcision.
He said most men in the age bracket said they cannot go for six weeks without having sex.
Chimbali said it is encouraging that many young men between the ages of 15 and 24 also go for VMMC.
According to Chimbali, VMMC helps to reduce HIV vulnerability by 60 percent.
USAID is another misguided organisation. male circumcision does not prevent HIV AIDS if it did then the southern region should not have had the highest prevalence rate 14%. As usual some people just want to pocket money but also promote a patriarchal inclination in the HIV fight by creating a false belief that men can be made to be less vulnerable to AIDS. There is less HIV in the west not because their men are circumcised but because they have institutionalised health systems (and circumcision is not part of that) which have helped prevent HIV but also a culture and awareness – sex norms – which have helped towards putting rates down. Of course, except drugs and gay culture. Africa and Malawi need to change sex attitudes and one of them is no polygamy, empowering women, widespread use of condoms, HIV tests etc.
It is totally wrong to say that circumcision prevent risks of acquiring HIV AIDS but rather reduces risks of acquiring the infection by 60% which means 40% chances are there to acquire HIV.Another challenge with our media is lack of knowledge on what we report or write in newspapers or magazines about HIV.The word “prevent and reduce” are totally different and can not interchangeably used.Wider consultations on what to write and adequate professionalism will reduce cases of acquiring HIV in malawi rather than keeping on misleading on what we ourselves do not understand .Health related issues requires knowlegeable reporters to ensure the society gets the correct information about HIV.