11 Aug 2015

The Minister of Health, Ms Dorcas Makgato says the Accelerated Safe Male Circumcision (SMC) campaign themed: Rola Kepese, Circumcise Now, is targeting to circumcise about 35 000 men in six months.

Minister Makgato said the campaign was funded by the United States of America (USA) through the President Emergency Fund for AIDS RELIEF (PEPFAR) at the tune of P49 million, adding that it was an important step towards the fight against HIV and AIDS.

Launching the campaign in Maun on Monday, August 10, Ms Makgato said although it was common knowledge that circumcision reduced HIV infection chances by 60 per cent, it would be achievable in Botswana if only 80 per cent of eligible men circumcised within a given time.

“To reach a prevalence rate of 80 per cent among the 0-49-year-old HIV negative males by 2016, we will have to circumcise 480 000 men,” she said.

Minister Makgato noted that male circumcision was adopted as an additional strategy to the HIV and AIDS prevention strategies.

However, she said the implementation of the Safe Male Circumcision programme for HIV prevention was not a smooth move for Botswana and other countries affected by the scourge.

She said the annual target of 50 000 men to be circumcised was not attained, hence the Accelerated Safe Male Circumcision campaign was a crucial milestone.

She said the national strategy for Safe Male Circumcision aims to contribute to the reduction of HIV infection rates by providing SMC services countrywide.

Furthermore, she said teams of trained health care providers would avail outreach mobile services to the public during the campaign.

The USA Ambassador to Botswana, Mr Earl Miller said his country was proud to support Botswana on the Accelerated Safe Male Circumcision campaign.

Ambassador Miller said there was hope in winning the fight against HIV and AIDS although new infections were a setback.

The Ngami District Management Health Team (DHMT) coordinator, Dr Christopher Chembe said the SMC campaign started on a high note after being launched in 2012, but dwindled over the years with challenges of client mobilisation and shortage of manpower. ENDS