‘Covid affects voluntary male circumcision’
Jhpiego says the Covid-19 pandemic has affected voluntary male medical circumcision (VMMC) in Lilongwe District.
A report the organisation presented on Thursday during a District Aids Coordinating Committee meeting at Lilongwe District Council says their 2019/20 annual target has decreased to 27 894 from 52 000 in 2018/19.
Jhpiego community mobilisation and communication officer Davie Nkombezi attributed the decline to Covid-19 guidelines which led to the suspension of the services at Bwaila Hospital.
He said: “Ministry of Health announced the suspension of all non-essential services early April.
“We also suspended VMMC awareness campaigns to abide by Covid-19 guidelines. As a result, few were coming for VMMC.”
Nkombezi said they were implementing VMMC as a preventive measure against HIV.
On his part, Bwaila Hospital health promotion officer Richard Mvula said Jhpiego’s service centre was turned into a Covid-19 treatment centre, thereby affecting their operations.
He, however, said Jhpiego should look for another space to continue offering VMMC services while observing Covid-19 preventive measures.
“We are not yet sure as to when we will free up the space for them to reoccupy,” said Mvula.
Moses Kulupajili, a Lilongwe resident, said he failed to get VMMC services at Jhpiego because they suspended the services.
