Male Circumcision for HIV prevention
Except through direct delivery there are always errors in information transmission. Last week a website was launched to respond to questions and misinformations that arose following the World Health Organisation’s recommendation two years ago of adult male circumcision for the prevention of AIDS. After three African studies conducted in Kenya, South Africa and Uganda showed that circumcision among men lowers their risk of infection from the virus by 60 percent, WHO, together with the United Nations AIDS program and other groups on public health set up the Website.
Before now, male circumcision only had cultural and religious endorsements in most countries, required only where medical problems arise. This of course explains why it is not listed under government funded public health services. The denial of the practice under the British health system for example brings one to the stark realization that what is ordinarily taken for granted in Africa does not work the same way in other parts of the world. In most African communities and because of the ties with culture circumcision is necessary if not compulsory. Various reasons are postulated, either for hygiene, attraction, increased sexual feeling or gateway to manhood it is performed for most baby boys at birth or in adolescence.
Undoubtedly the recommendation has generated so much propaganda and myths including the one that circumcision is enough to completely protect men from HIV suggesting the discontinued use of condoms, the fallacy that a circumcised man can also protect his partner in a heterosexual relationship. Some have even gone further calling for the confirmation that the same practice would benefit women. The alternative surgeons/herbalists are already having a field day providing dangerous circumcisions without sterilised instruments. Sorry folks, female circumcision is otherwise known as female genital mutilation and until the scientists come out with a contrary opinion it is harmful, torturing, inhuman and deadly.
The new website is a welcome development as it would clarify most arcane areas the study has not resolved. Now that the WHO has endorsed it and despite the misgivings it is imperative for governments to carefully analyze the studies and develop policies that will benefit its people.
Now I'm just wondering, I realize there are a lot of issues still shrouding this recommendation where they are fully responded to, would you want to be circumcised?
Before now, male circumcision only had cultural and religious endorsements in most countries, required only where medical problems arise. This of course explains why it is not listed under government funded public health services. The denial of the practice under the British health system for example brings one to the stark realization that what is ordinarily taken for granted in Africa does not work the same way in other parts of the world. In most African communities and because of the ties with culture circumcision is necessary if not compulsory. Various reasons are postulated, either for hygiene, attraction, increased sexual feeling or gateway to manhood it is performed for most baby boys at birth or in adolescence.
Undoubtedly the recommendation has generated so much propaganda and myths including the one that circumcision is enough to completely protect men from HIV suggesting the discontinued use of condoms, the fallacy that a circumcised man can also protect his partner in a heterosexual relationship. Some have even gone further calling for the confirmation that the same practice would benefit women. The alternative surgeons/herbalists are already having a field day providing dangerous circumcisions without sterilised instruments. Sorry folks, female circumcision is otherwise known as female genital mutilation and until the scientists come out with a contrary opinion it is harmful, torturing, inhuman and deadly.
The new website is a welcome development as it would clarify most arcane areas the study has not resolved. Now that the WHO has endorsed it and despite the misgivings it is imperative for governments to carefully analyze the studies and develop policies that will benefit its people.
Now I'm just wondering, I realize there are a lot of issues still shrouding this recommendation where they are fully responded to, would you want to be circumcised?
These people are only interested in promoting male circumcision for its own sake (or anything-but-condoms), rather than in fighting AIDS.
ReplyDeleteThere are seven African countries where men are more likely to be HIV+ if they've been circumcised: Rwanda, Cameroon, Ghana, Lesotho, Malawi, Swaziland, and Tanzania. If circumcision really worked against AIDS, this just wouldn't happen. We now have people calling circumcision a "vaccine" or "invisible condom", and viewing circumcision as an alternative to condoms.
ABC (Abstinence, Being faithful, Condoms) is the way forward. Promoting genital surgery will cost African lives, not save them.