03 Mar 2020

The number of students who circumcise far exceeds the number of adult males, according to a senior teacher at Mmashoro Junior Secondary School, Mr Gabriel Newton,

Speaking at the official opening of Mmashoro safe male circumcision site on Friday, Mr Newton said the number of men who go through Safe Male Circumcision (SMC) in Mmashoro was unsatisfactory, saying the trend was worrisome.

Mr Newton stated that consultation with parents through the Parent Teachers Association (PTA) meeting should be strengthened to ensure that the parents were well informed before children were circumcised.

“There must be clear understanding on the issue of signing of the consent form for children before the actual procedure,” he said.

Mr Newton noted that following the circumcision exercise, feedback should be given to the guidance teachers on the outcome of the procedure for individual boys and the campaign in general, adding that this would guide in working on improving where things did not go well.

Concerning the benefits of SMC, he said it helped in the  reduction of the number of HIV infections, hence urged men to take advantage of the initiative.

He said circumcision improved penile hygiene and reduced the risks of urinary tract infection, especially in infants, adding that a circumcised man was less likely to get infected by Human Papiloma Virus (HPV), viral infection that is passed between people through skin-to-skin contact. In most cases HPV is passed through sexual contact.

Mr Newton said men were lagging behind on HIV/AIDS issues, adding that few men knew their HIV status.

He therefore encouraged men to go for testing together with their partners and cut the chain of multiple and concurrent partners.

He said the country was still striving for zero new infections challenge and zero AIDS related deaths.

He encouraged individuals to be faithful and always use condoms correctly and consistently.

Mr Newton further encouraged abstinence from sexual activities, especially those under age and school going.

For his part, Serowe Police Station commander, Superintendent Poloko Oteng implored men to stop domestic violence, rape and killing their partners.

He urged men to seek counselling when they have problems in their relationships rather than taking the law into their own hands.

Superintendent Oteng encouraged men to change their mindsets and play a positive role in the society, particularly in supporting women. ENDS