adminMarvelous Moyo Gwanda Correspondent
THERE is a need to come up with innovative strategies to lure older men to get circumcised so they help in the fight against HIV, an official has said. Speaking at the Gwanda District World Aids Day commemorations at Long John Stadium in Vumbachikwe Mine on Wednesday, the district health promotion officer, Ndumiso Hlabangana, said most males taking part in the male circumcision programme were boys of school-going age.
“To date 5,321 have been circumcised. There is still need to come up with more innovative strategies to convince older males to take up VMMC (Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision),” he said.
In the district, the VMMC programme is being implemented at Manama Mission Hospital in Gwanda South, Mtshabezi Mission Hospital in Gwanda North and Gwanda Provincial Hospital.
The guest of honour, Gwanda Rural District Council chief executive officer Ronnie Sibanda, represented by the RDC executive officer administration and human resources Khulekani Sithole, echoed the same sentiments.
“VMMC is one of the key strategies in the response. Let’s all urge males especially the age group 15 to 49 years to get circumcised,” he said.
VMMC is one of the effective proven strategies that help reduce the risk of getting infected with HIV.
Sibanda also urged communities to fully utilise HIV testing services, get tested regularly and ensure condoms were used correctly and consistently to fight the pandemic.
“I would like to appeal to all the stakeholders in the fight against HIV to continue working hard and as a team so that we remain focused and committed to ending Aids by year 2030,” he said.
“The global push towards ending Aids by 2030 as well as the calls for applying the investment framework in funding the response is a major sign of the impending disaster when the donor nations will downsize their commitments to supporting HIV/Aids. As Africans we therefore need sound political commitments, enabling policy and legal provisions as well as domestic funding mechanisms for tackling HIV and Aids.”
In 1999, the government introduced the Aids levy which has been used in funding some HIV/Aids programmes.
The event was held under the theme “Getting to Zero” and was organised by the National Aids Council.
Online Reporter
Bongani Ndlovu