07 Jul 2015

The District Health Management Team (DHMT)  from Monday, July 6 embarked on a Safe Male Circumcision campaign in all villages in the Bobirwa Sub district.

Dr Jackson Kaguamba, head of Bobirwa DHMT, said in an interview with BOPA recently that a mobile clinic equipped like a theatre for operations will be utilised for the operation.

“We have targeted these dates because it is the period schools will be closed and therefore boys will have adequate time to heal by the time schools open,” he said.

Dr Kaguamba stated that the campaign targets males between the ages of 10 and 42 years and those interested in undergoing circumcision can register at their nearest health facilities. 

He said that due to the vastness of the district they aim to have reached 250 people by the end of the campaign. 

Though Dr Kaguamba commended people for responding positively to the campaign he said they usually receive large numbers from school going children. “Out of school youths and the adult population have been very resistant to take the programme. 

Most of them say they fear the pain while others say they cannot abstain for the mandatory six weeks required after the procedure,” he said.

He highlighted the importance of Safe Male Circumcision, saying that it is effective in preventing HIV and that its protective effects are permanent. 

Awareness on campaigns is usually done through Kgotla meetings, workplace mobilization, football tournaments and media campaigns.

Dr Kaguamba thanked the men sector in the Bobirwa Sub- district for working with them to mobilize men and make robust plans for campaigns. 

He pleaded with the society to take heed of this call as it can have a massive impact in combating and eventually eradicating HIV.

“We are fighting an enemy that is silently killing our people in large numbers and therefore it is a patriotic responsibility for everyone to ensure that a sacrifice is made to secure a healthy nation,” he said. ENDS