April 16, 2014
Malawi: Young Men Embracing Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision [Older men, not so much]
by Brenda NkosiBlantyre - A visit to centres that are doing Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC) in Blantyre revealed that patronage is mostly by young boys of between 10 to 25 years.
This corresponded with what Population Services International's Team Leader, Martha Kadyasichi at Chilomoni Centre said when a team of journalists visited the centre for observation on Tuesday.
"There are two reasons that could be contributing to the low turn up of older men as the exercise is encouraging men from 10 to 45 years old.
"There is the requirement to abstinence from copulation for 42 days after being circumcised and I think the other reason is because the process of VMMC involves V[oluntary ]C[ounselling and ]T[esting] which most men prefer to shun," said Kadyasichi. [So they are resisting finding out whether/that they are HIV-positive.]
Kadyasichi said men are very difficult to motivate which has been a setback in their turn up for the exercise.
A 40-year-old, Kristen Chazako, who escorted his 12 year-old son at Chilomoni Centre said he was yet to make the decision to be circumcised.
"I have just come to escort my son because he has asked me to come with him. I don't think I will get circumcised myself. The programme is good for young boys," said Chazako.
Government through the Ministry of Health introduced VMMC as one way of strengthening prevention of HIV.
|
Malawi
|
||
|
HIV Rates:
|
Circumcised men
|
13.2%
|
|
Intact men
|
9.5%
|
|
|
Source:
www.measuredhs.com
|
||
However, VMMC is not a national programme ...
No comments:
Post a Comment