06 May 2018

The South East District is still failing to reach the ministry’s target of 300 operations of safe male circumcision per three months.

The District Multi-Sectoral AIDS Committee (DMSAC) meeting learned recently during its quarterly meeting. From October and December last year, 155 males were circumcised while only 19 were circumcised between January and March this year.

The South East District Health Management Team (DHMT) official, Ms Monica Dikupe revealed that the district was failing to lure enough males to undergo the circumcision.

 She stated that the district was falling far beyond its target of 300 circumcisions per quarter, adding that they only came close to the number when they had done mobilisation campaigns.

With regard to infants circumcision, Ms Dikupe said the number was also below their expectation. She stated that out of 244 infants eligible for circumcision between January and March, only eight were circumcised.

Ms Dikupe highlighted that mothers were refusing to give consent, saying they had not consulted the children’s fathers.

 “We only offer the service but the decision rests with an individual,” stated Ms Dikupe.

She said even single parents have the responsibility to consult biological fathers. Ms Dikupe further stated that they would continue to lobby traditional leaders for support and intensify school campaigns to increase the number of males undergoing circumcision.

The DHMT said they would intensify safe male circumcision campaigns during anti-natal care check-ups so as to give mothers time to consult and make decisions whether or not to circumcise the baby before they go for delivery.

She also noted that the district was faced with a decrease in the number of condoms distributed between January and March. She noted that condoms were out of stock at the Central Medical Stores.

Ms Dikupe also decried the low uptake of female condoms, and said they would continue to ensure availability of condoms and continuous monitoring of condom distribution going forward.

With regard to sexually transmitted infections, the South East District recorded an increase in cases, which is mainly attributed to improved reporting facilities.

South East District AIDS coordinator, Ms Tuelo Chibana reported that the district workplace wellness committees were well utilised.

She noted that all departments in the district were taking part in the workplace wellness committees, which gave assurance that workplace wellness was taken into consideration.

However, she regretted that not all activities that they had budgeted to implement for the fight against HIV/AIDS have been funded due to shortage of finances. ENDS