The non-governmental healthcare organisation Right to Care encourages men to circumcise this winter as part of the fight against HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
The organisation said medical circumcision was key for men to protect themselves and their partners from HIV and STIs.
According to Right to Care, it has performed over 1,5 million safe circumcisions since 2012.
Dr Khumbulani Moyo, Head of the Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC) programme at Right to Care, said circumcision helps reduce the sexual transmission of HIV by as much as 60%.
“June is also Men’s Health Month, so it is an opportune time to circumcise. Circumcision is an important part of a man’s overall physical health. Before circumcision, we support men with comprehensive health screenings and refer them to other professionals if necessary. The health screening includes testing for HIV and screening for STIs, TB, blood pressure and diabetes. We also facilitate both individual and group counselling,” said Moyo.
He said as part of the commitment to comprehensive HIV prevention, they refer men who are at a high risk of infection to be initiated onto pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).
“HIV remains a challenge despite gains made in addressing the epidemic. South Africans cannot become complacent,” said Moyo.
He cited the Human Sciences Research Council’s (HSRC) sixth SA National HIV Prevalence, Incidence, and Behaviour Survey, which shows that HIV disproportionately affects young people and women.
“The HSRC survey found that nearly 50% of men aged 15 to 24 years are medically circumcised. You can circumcise at any age and reduce your risk of becoming infected with HIV.
“Circumcision also assists in preventing the transmission of the human papillomavirus virus (HPV), the leading cause of cervical cancer in women,” he said.
Moyo said the survey also revealed that HIV was prevalent across all provinces. KwaZulu-Natal has the highest prevalence, followed by Mpumalanga, the Free State, the Eastern Cape, North West, Gauteng, Limpopo, the Northern Cape and the Western Cape.
Moyo said that a medical circumcision is often a man’s first encounter with the public health system.
“Right to Care’s teams are experienced in offering confidential services in a safe environment. The procedure is simple, and the healing process is fast. Normal activities can be resumed within one to three days after the procedure, and it takes only six weeks for the wound to heal fully,” he said.
To find out more about free medical circumcision or to make an appointment, call or send a “please call me” to the Right to Care circumcision call centre on 082-808-6152 or visit Right to Care on Facebook.
