08 May 2014

Jwaneng health promotion and education officer, Ms Masego Kololo recently urged Batswana to take responsibility for their health and come forth for safe male circumcision. 

In an interview recently, Ms Kololo said there was low turnout of adult males who came forward for SMC.  He, however, expressed satisfaction with the level of participation among young boys.

“Our July-August 2013 statistics show that we managed to circumcise about 563 males from Jwaneng and surrounding areas, exceeding out set target of 500 by 63. For us this is a huge success,” she said.

She added that they had instituted some mobilisation strategies to sensitise the general public about the importance of safe male circumcision. These included conducting health talks in different areas and lectures at SMC clinics. 

In addition, Ms Kololo said they also took part in community forums and used the opportunity to educate people about health issues such as HIV/AIDS, teenage pregnancy, Sexually Transmitted Infections, Safe Male Circumcision and many others. 

However, Ms kololo said despite these interventions they are faced with many challenges, one them being that of men who refuse to come forth for circumcision. She said as a way of tackling this issue they have engaged community mobilisers to conduct house to house SMC campaigns in a bid to reach a larger number of people.

She explained that even though circumcision helps to reduce the risks of new HIV infections by about 60 percent, that on its own is not a guarantee that a circumcised man is 100 percent protected.

“Therefore correct and consistent condom is important. Some people forget that there is still a 40 per cent chance of contracting STIs and they engage in unprotected sexual intercourse,” said Ms Kololo.

She further encouraged men to come forward for circumcision and prove that they are responsible citizens who care for their own health. 

She also applauded those who have circumcised and appealed to those who haven’t to come forth and circumcise. Ends