13 June 2010
The medical male circumcision camp has been concluded today at eShowe Further Education and Training College where 202 initiates were circumcised without any complaining of post operation complications.
“This weekend we made great strides in circumcising boys using a medical technique outside of a hospital setting and successfully circumcised all boys without any of them complaining of pain, swelling or bleeding.” Whilst these are expected even in a hospital setting, the team of nurses and doctors were available throughout the weekend to attend to those with post operation complaints.
“What was also important and very exciting for the initiates was the educational elements where they were counselled on many aspects such as family values, gender based violence including rape as a taboo, roles and responsibilities of a men in a family and society, respect and caring for one another and patriotism including ownership of community property by renowned cultural experts such as Professor Langa Mathenjwa and Professor Zama Khumalo (University of Zululand). They were very happy,” said Dr Sandile Buthelezi, General Manager: Strategic Health Programmes, Department of Health.
The camp was announced by the Premier during his 365 days speech at the KwaZulu-Natal legislature and is part of the campaign to scale up male circumcision in the province announced by His Majesty, King Goodwill Zwelithini ka Bhekuzulu. The campaign was officially launched on 11 April in Nongoma. Since the launch around 1 000 men and boys have been circumcised in the province.
It was hosted by the Department of Health in collaboration with other government departments including the Office of the Premier, Social Development, Education, Arts and Culture, the non-governmental organisation called Maternal Adolescent and Child Health (MATCH) which is funded by the United States (US) Presidential Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and traditional leaders. A team of 12 doctors from the Orange Farm, KwaZulu-Natal (uThungulu District), Africa centre and the national Department of Health worked throughout the day on Friday circumcising the initiates.
The last day was punctuated by medical check up for potential adverse events and psychosocial counselling of all initiates. Initiates (Izinyosi the regiment names that the king coined) were also counselled on the need to observe a six weeks abstinence period to allow for compete healing. They were also informed to report any abnormality to their respective clinics so that these could be managed.
Enquiries:
Chris Maxon
Cell: 083 285 0567
Issued by: Department of Health, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
13 June 2010
Uganda
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