Students should embrace circumcision

trueBy Charlotte Ninsiima

The few years I have spent on campus, I noticed many male friends fear the surgical knife! The whole experience seems a nightmare to them.

Safe male circumcision (SMC) also known as voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) is a must-do among university students since the students are involved in sexual affairs.

The students disregard the experience because there are other options to prevent HIV/Aids like condom usage. Maybe because condoms are found in all corners of halls of residence or hostels.

According to the Journal of Global Health in Uganda, a study confirmed that educated men regard circumcision as unnecessary compared to uneducated men. The educated are informed about other preventive methods of HIV for instance Abstinence, Be faithful, Use a condom (ABC), and lack the willingness to undergo SMC.

Health mobilisers from the hospital used to move in lecture rooms, advocating for male circumcision but they disappeared with time.
The national policy on safe circumcision implemented by the Ministry of Health in 2010, targets to circumcise 4.2million men aged between 15-49 years by 2015.

Safe male circumcision, according to medical personnel, decreases HIV by 60%, improves hygiene, reduce chances of prostate cancer, especially among men above 14 years, reduce the chances of spreading sexual transmitted infections (STI) and also reduce chances of women contracting cervical cancer.

Uganda is one of the countries with the youngest population in the world. If we embrace male circumcision as an HIV/AID preventive measure, the youth will be able to contribute productively to the country
Charlotte Ninsiima is a student