20 Nov 2013

Young boys aged 20 years and below are coming forward for the safe male circumcision (SMC) than any other age group, according to the principal technical officer in the South East District Health Management Team (DHMT),  Ms Tiso Gabonamong.

Speaking during the district’s Pitso ya Borre at Otse Police College recently, Ms Gabonamong said, “the SMC programme is going well in the district with service uptake being more among young age groups of 20 years and below.” 

Ms Gabonamong said other areas around the country could be going through the same situation as they mostly witnessed a high turnout of students during school holidays.

This, she said, called for the district and other stakeholders to come up with initiatives targeting older men to come forward for circumcision. 
“A total of 2 477 clients have benefitted from the service since its inception in January 2012 in the district," she added.

Furthermore, Ms Gabonamong said the involvement of community-based organisations in mobilisation had been vital to promote SMC service acceptance and added that more interactions were necessary to promote SMC uptake.

On other issues, Ms Gabonamong noted that the district had experienced slight decrease of sexually transmitted infections (STI) cases reported in  2012. She said viginal discharge syndrome still continued to account for highest STI cases at 47 per cent and added that the district had embarked on providing health education on STI at its facilities and workplace among others.

She further said provision of ARV in the district was going well with all public facilities offering services. About 3 456 people in the district were  receiving ARV as of August 2013. The public members raised issues of myths associated with male circumcision and sex, saying the health educators and other service providers were not doing enough to address such misconceptions.

Pitso ya Borre was conveyed to discuss issues affecting men such HIV/AIDS and map the way forward as well as to raise momentum for the World Aids Day commemoration in Ramotswa.

For his part, Mr Joseph Mphafe from Men Sector said Pitso ya Borre was a new strategy in the men sector to bring men together to discuss issues of common concern. After discussions, he said, members come up with resolutions for implementation. ENDS