Over 6,000 men circumcised in Mayuge

By Violet Nabatanzi

At least 6,476 boys and men of Mayuge district have so far volunteered to be circumcised in less than a year, the district health officer (DHO) Dr. Paul Isiko has said.

Isiko said this at the Mayuge health center III during a one-day exercise which saw hundreds turn up for circumcision.

The exercise took place on Friday and it was supported by Alliance of Mayors and Municipal Leaders on HIV/AIDS in Africa (AMICAAL).

Isiko said safe male circumcision (SMC) is being carried out at four health centers in the district which include Buloba, Kityerera, Kigandalo and Mayuge health centers.

Research has shown that safe male circumcision reduces the risk of contracting HIV infections in addition to other interventions which include abstinence, faithfulness and condom usage, dubbed the ABC approach.

Isiko said the demand for safe male circumcision has created a need for more surgeons, adding that they have been able to train more surgeons and mobilize funds from their partners for the exercise.

“We counsel these people even after the circumcision so that we help them combine with other methods in prevention of HIV/AIDS.

Kabanda Grace, a surgeon at Mayuge health center says the operation takes about 20 minutes per person.

Recently government revealed its plan to circumcise 4.2 million men aged between 15 and 49 by 2015, because “this group is vulnerable to the HIV/ AIDS pandemic.”