26 Mar 2013

The Assistant Minister of Health, Mr Gaotlhaetse Matlhabaphiri says at the inception of the Safe Male Circumcision (SMC) program, ‘go kgaola letlalo la bonna’ was the phrase used in Setswana.

Subsequently, Mr Matlhabaphiri said concerns were raised by some communities on the use of this phrase, hence in 2010 it was replaced with ‘loaro la borre le le babalesegileng.’

Answering a question in Parliament, Mr Matlhabaphiri said no study has been done to indicate whether or not the phrase ‘go kgaola letlalo la bonna’ has affected the SMC project.

Nevertheless, he said, they are aware that many of the elderly population had reservations on the use of this phrase which might explain low SMC numbers in this group.

On the other hand, he said, the youth have never expressed any problem with this phrase.

As a ministry, he said they have observed that some communities prefer to use the word ‘go rupa’ while others find it misrepresenting their cultural practices.

In some communities, he said ‘go rupa’ goes beyond the actual removal of foreskin as there are other cultural activities involved.

Therefore, he said the use of the word ‘loaro la borre le le babalesegileng’, which is a direct translation of SMC, has been acceptable to some communities.          Meanwhile he said male circumcision is a scientifically proven effective public health intervention for HIV prevention.

Currently, he said it is implemented in 14 countries with high HIV prevalence and low male circumcision.

All SADC countries, he noted are currently implementing a national circumcision programme in an effort to reduce the spread of HIV.

MP for Kanye South Mr Abram Kesupile had asked the minister if he is aware that the campaign for male circumcision uses the line ‘go kgaola letlalo la bonna’ which some members of the public consider as in bad taste, preferring the use of ‘go rupa’ and if so; would he explain the extent to which the use of the statement has promoted the male circumcision project.

Mr Kesupile also wanted the minister to explain difficulties he foresees with changing to the use of the phrase ‘go rupa’ and how popular male circumcision is in the SADC region under government campaign. ENDS