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Dudzai Matewu Herald Reporter
Fifty artistes from the Chikuru Rudo family were circumcised last week, in a move meant to encourage health seeking behaviour among youths.
The artistes, drawn from various genres including urban grooves and Zim dancehall, came together as a family to undergo voluntary medical male circumcision.
The stable was formed in 2007 as a brainchild of Freddy Mazivanjira aka Trinta and has over 50 registered artistes who are locally and regionally based.
Mr Phineas Mamvura of Chikuru Rudo said the group decided to take up circumcision to be exemplary in the communities they come from.
“We sat down and decided it was a noble move to promote healthy living among our peers and be role models to our fans who look up to us for guidance and inspiration”.
“We want to encourage others especially in our industry, to value their health and well-being” said Mr Mamvura.
The move by Chikuru Rudo comes shortly after the launch of the celebrity campaign which has seen poet Albert Nyati, soccer star Hardlife Zvirekwi and musician Jah Prayzah going under the knife. Other celebrities who have taken the valiant steps include Peter Moyo and
Alishias Musimbe aka Masikiri who got circumcised in April and May respectively.
PSI director for social marketing Kumbirai Chatora applauded the decision the artists took.
“It is good when young men whom society looks up to make such decisions about taking care of their health. It shows they are responsible and are not only concerned about their own welfare, but those of their partners, families and community as a whole,” she explained.
Male circumcision is part of the HIV prevention strategy being used in the country to reduce HIV prevalence.
It is a once–off procedure that lessens one’s chances of contracting HIV by 60 percent.
Furthermore, male circumcision enables a man to reduce the risk of cervical cancer in his partner.
The VMMC programme was launched in Zimbabwe in 2009 and has so far seen over 200 000 males getting circumcised.
Online Reporter