adminMORE than 50 000 males were circumcised in the first six months of this year, 10 000 more than the number operated on the whole of last year, an official said on Wednesday. The figures raise prospects that the target of circumcising 1,3 million men by 2017 will be reached.When male circumcision was introduced in 2009 few men presented themselves out of fear of the exaggerated pain felt soon after the operation.
Aids and TB Unit advocacy and communications officer, Brian Nachipo said clients have been coming in since the procedure was first introduced.
“From January to July 2013, a total of 50 348 males had been circumcised. The programme has since continued to witness an increase in males circumcised as more doctors, nurses and other team members are trained to provide safe medical services,” he said.
Nachipo encouraged women to support their partners to get circumcised.
“Women play an important role in Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC) as they can either support or dissuade their partners to get circumcised,” he said. — New Ziana
Online Reporter