AIDS body circumcises males at Jinja show

Jul 26, 2012

The AIDS Information Centre has offered free male circumcision at Jinja Agricultural show.

By CHARLES KAKAMWA

The AIDS Information Centre (AIC) has targeted to offer free Safe Male Circumcision (SMC) services to atleast 300 people during the ongoing Source of the Nile Agricultural and Trade Show in Jinja town.

Since the 20th agricultural show begun on Monday, curious males especially youth throng the AIC stall seeking services including SMC, family planning and voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) of HIV.

The AIC Jinja branch manager Loy Twesigye Kanyoma told New Vision that 31 males were circumcised on Monday when the show opened but the number had risen to over 130 people by Wednesday.

She said the beneficiaries of the service included show goers and exhibitors many of whom she said had been yearning for it but lacked time and therefore decided to use the available opportunity.

"Many people have heard about this programme and are interested but the service providers are far away from them, some go to certain clinics and fail to access the services while others simply lack time. So when they heard of this opportunity they decided to utilize it," she said.

At the stall, clients are counseled and sensitized about benefits of SMC such as a reduction of risks of infection of sexually transmitted diseases like HIV/AIDS and improved hygiene.

Clients are then sent to a mini theatre that is being manned by five surgeons. Luke Abwa a 27 year old student of Uganda Christian University, Mukono who was circumcised on Wednesday said he did not feel pain during the process.

This is part of the ongoing five year programme under which AIC anticipates to circumcise 18,135 people across the country in a bid to promote good health through prevention of the spread of STDS.

It is also being implemented by the other AIC branches that include Kampala, Mbale, Soroti, Lira, Arua, Mbarara and Kabale.

Though it mainly targets males between the 15 to 59 year age group, even those above 60 years are allowed to benefit since some are believed to be still sexually active. All are given the service irrespective of their sero-status but it is optional.

Kanyoma said those found to be HIV positive during the exercise, are advised on the way forward including getting medication such as the antiretroviral drugs after determining their CD4 count.

 

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