MALAWI: Genital cutting is undermining condom use

The Maravi Post (Malawi)
August 30, 2015

Is voluntary male medical circumcision de-campaigning Condom use?

by da Kazembe
Blantyre, August 29, 2015: Seventeen-year-old Homic Muluwani of Bangwe Township is excited that at last he has had the most taunted voluntary male medical circumcision (VMMC) which to him certifies him to having unprotected sex now that he presumes he will be safe.

He is one of the more than 2000 males circumcised in the recent VMMC campaign which according to the Blantyre district VMMC coordinator, Jean Mhango was a success.

Much as the figures indicate the campaign as being successful, it is the mindset of the VMMC clients which seem to defeat the intended purpose for VMMC which is 60 percent risk reduction of HIV infection in HIV negative males who undergo the procedure.

Homic Muluwani and his friends tell the dangerous story as they wait for their turn to get circumcised at South Lunzu VMMC camp.

“I have had a girlfriend for the past two years and we have been having protected sex for fear of the HIV virus but this time I am going to enjoy unprotected sex since I am sure of my safety following the medical circumcision,” says Muluwani.

The 60 percent HIV risk reduction that follows after VMMC is surely misconceived in most males who are flocking for the procedure for they take it as a guarantee to having unprotected sex.

This leads to the query as to whether condom use is not being de-campaigned by VMMC promotion.

The Ministry of Health spokesperson, Adrian Chirumba says much as the opinion may arise from such sentiments, a study has not been carried out to validate this.

“Our implementing partners in VMMC such as Banja La Mstogolo (BLM), Population Services International (PSI) also have no records to validate the opinion,” says Chikumbe.

According to PSI one of the Ministry of Health’s implementing partners in VMMC, Malawi is working to scale up 605 coverage of male circumcision among negative males ages 10-34.

PSI national communications coordinator for VMMC, Lionel Chipeta points out that Malawi is working to scale up to 60 percent coverage of male circumcision among HIV-negative males aged from 10 to 34.

“VMMC is recognized as a high priority intervention in the Malawi National HIV and Aids Strategic Plan 2015-2020 and the National HIV Prevention Strategy 2015-2020,” explains Chipeta.

Martha Kamela of Mbayani Township finds her husband is better off uncircumcised due to the same misconception of the 60 percent risk reduction for she thinks once he is circumcised he will be at liberty to have unprotected sex with other females.

“Since my husband will know that he is safe from contracting the virus, chances are he will be cheating more as compared to now where he is afraid of contracting the virus,” says Kamela.

Kamela states that most men want to go under the knife as a guarantee to go and have unprotected sex without fear.

According to the VMMC South Lunzu site supervisor, Joseph Mdzinga, males aged between 10 and 19 patronized the services.

Looking at the age group, one can easily conclude that those accessing VMMC are still in the youthful exploring age hence the danger in the misconception.

The World Health Organisation HIV prevention package includes Abstinence Being faithful and Condomise (ABC), Post Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) as well as VMMC and if the later seems to be defeating the condom use as per the perception, one wonders whether VMMC will yield the intended results, come 2020.

MALAWI: HIV rising despite cutting, says Medecins Sans Frontiers

Malawi24
August 4, 2015

Malawi: Circumcision Disaster - Malawi HIV Infection Rate Doubles

Following up the reports that Malawi24 released on 25 July that circumcision does not help in the reduction of HIV but exacerbates it, reports have emerged that have agreed with the facts that we had earlier established. 

Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), one of the world's renowned NGOs working on public health, has released statistics showing that HIV infection rate in Malawi has doubled in recent years despite a range of interventions put in place to tackle the spread of the virus that have included relentless campaign on condomisation and circumcision. 

According to the statistics by MSF, HIV rates have doubled in Malawi moving from 10% to 20% in 1 year. Strangely, this has been the same period that Malawians have been manipulative forced to go through circumcision in masses with the promise that it reduces the contraction of HIV. 

The results which were published on BBC and revealed that of every 5 people, 1 person is HIV positive have pitted Malawi as the country worst hit by the HIV pandemic of all countries in the world. 

Commenting on the development some Malawians trashed the results claiming they were sensationalised and exaggerated for the sake of tarnishing the image of the country to the international world to achieve what they called MSF's own hidden agenda. 

Others faulted the BBC, saying it was one of the broadcasters' crusades against the African continent which they have tirelessly aimed to present in a negative light.

Medecins Sans Frontiers denies having had anything to do with this information. However,  these figures do bear the claim out:

Proportion of males  aged 15-54 with HIV	cut	intact
2010	10.3	7.9
2014	13.2	9.5

Source: Demographic and Health Surveys National Statistical Office,
Zomba, Malawi and ICF Macro, Calverton, Maryland, USA

MALAWI: "Voluntary" circumcision to replace force?

New Times Africa
August 25, 2014

Malawi shifting away from forced male circumcision

Forced male circumcision sparks debate in Malawi
by Moses Michael-Phiri
BLANTYRE, Malawi (AA) – It was around sunset on a chilly day in the populous Ndirande Township in Blantyre, Malawi’s commercial hub, where a group of cheering boys had gathered around a dusty pitch to watch some of their peers play football. That’s when they pounced.

Picking one of the smallest boys on the touchline, mysterious men dragged their seven-year-old victim away, undisturbed by his efforts to break loose, only leaving behind a dusty trail as they disappeared with their prey into the bush.

The boy tried to cry for help. But only a muffled sound came out of his mouth as one of the men had gagged him until they had brought him into a grass-thatched hut.

That very moment, the other boys realized that their friend had been taken for circumcision. They all took to their heels – some to alert the boy’s parents.

A traditional initiation ceremony – or “chinamwali,” also popularly known as “jando,” in which circumcision is carried out – was taking place quietly in the nearby hut.

Between May and August, local circumcision ceremonies swing into full gear in most parts of the country.

Trespassers are abducted, circumcised and ordered to pay hefty “fees” to elders, locally known as “ngaliba” (surgeons).

Local elders occasionally send boys to capture other boys suspected of not being circumcised in an effort to increase the number of initiates – and raise money.

Elders demand 7000 kwachas (about $18) in fees for the “initiation” of a seven-year-old boy.

“We tried to settle the matter amicably, but the initiation elders were not moved,” the relative of the boy told Anadolu Agency, asking not to be named.

“They demanded their fees be paid in full before they could release the boy,” he said.

“Village headman Mtambalika, the local chief of the area, paid 1000 kwachas [about $2] for the boy’s release,” added the relative.

The parents declined to talk to AA, but the relative suspected that they were in favor of the boy’s circumcision.

“It’s tradition; boys have to be circumcised, especially in the Muslim communities in this area,” he said. “No wonder the parents are quiet about it.”

-Abducted-
But one of the country’s most prominent lawyers, Zwelithini Chipembere, has decried the practice.

“Those who forced circumcision on the boy have to pay the price,” he told AA.

“This is total abuse of human rights. No one should be forced to be circumcised,” Chipembere insisted.

“This was an innocent seven-year-old boy who went out to have fun.”

He asserted that the initiation hut had been intentionally built near a school playground, where children can often be found playing.

“It is a serious matter; I am still trying to get more information from the parents and police so we can open a court case,” the lawyer said.

“All I want is to find out who abducted the boy to be circumcised,” he added.

So far, he lamented, no one had been arrested over the incident.

-Debate-
The incident has added fuel to an already raging debate across the country about circumcision ceremonies.

Initiation huts have sprung up to target schoolboys on holiday (May to August), which is a cold season in Malawi – a climate said to make circumcision less painful and make wounds heal quickly, according to a local initiation elder.

The Malawian government is already under fire for moving too slowly in providing free male circumcision services at state facilities.

Earlier this month, the government announced it would scale up a voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) program.

Health Ministry spokesman Henry Chimbali told AA that a massive, six-week VMMC campaign – targeting 45,000 people in six districts – had begun.

“The VMMC campaign is running in the districts of Blantyre, Lilongwe and Nkhotakota [in central Malawi] and in Zomba, Phalombe and Mulanje [in the southern region],” he explained.

Malawi launched its VMMC initiative in late 2011 as an HIV prevention strategy after being convinced by results of three random clinical trials that had shown that the service led to HIV prevention rates of 60 percent.

The campaign also aims to curb forced or unsafe male circumcisions carried out during initiation ceremonies.

The World Bank has agreed to fund the program – to the tune of some $15 million – for the next four years.

“VMMC also benefits the recipient in terms of hygiene, prevention of cervical cancer in female partners, and prevention of penile cancer,” Chimbali said, adding that over 140,000 men in the country had undergone VMMC.

Frank Chimbwandira, director of the Health Ministry’s HIV/AIDs department, said that while the government had excluded some districts in the northern region from the campaign, the project was focused on areas known for high HIV prevalence rates.

But, he insisted, people should understand that VMMC is not a 100-percent HIV/AIDS prevention measure.

“We encourage those who have undergone VMMC to still use condoms in order to stay safe from contracting HIV,” Chimbwandira told AA.
[Then what possible difference can having been circumcised make?]

VMMC facilities have been opened in primary schools in order to make the service available to the people, especially the young, he said.

The campaign has received an overwhelmingly positive response, the official asserted, with people flocking to the facilities to receive the service.

As to whether the campaign would bring an end to traditional circumcision ceremonies, Chimbwandira said: “Maybe, because it [traditional means of circumcision] is barbaric; it has to end.”

© 2014, .

MALAWI: Artist slams mass circumcision

Malawi Voice
August 14, 2014

Manganya Slams medical Male Circumcision

by Munthu Wakuda Leo
The incomprehensible messages about medical male circumcision exercise pose great danger of creating a group of innocent victims of the ongoing flying pestilence of HIV and Aids, Malawi's own top notch comedian, Michael "Manganya" Usi has varned.

During a press briefing in Blantyre on Wednesday, Usi said the information package about male circumcision, an exercise which is currently taking place in 6 districts of Malawi and targets 35,000 sexually active males lacks the necessary embodiment as on how long one should take to resume sexual activity after undergoing the surgery.

In his series of arguments, Usi said that the historical background of male circumcision which [d]ates way back to the biblical days portrays the cultural and traditional aspect of practice to have been designed for children and could only take place 8 days after birth.

He said this provided enough space for the wound to heal completely and most importantly the lengthy period for the foreskin of the male member to harden enough before indulging in sexual activity.

He said, more less, the same applied to the ethnic Yao and Lhomwe cultures where boys in their tender ages are circumcised.

Against this background, Usi wondered if at all, the media was aware that a lot of people (who are already sexually active) are opting for medical male circumcision primarily because they are fascinated by the much talked about value that circumcision adds to their sexual enjoyment hence that their chances of contracting Sexually Transmitted Infections (STl's) including HIV and AIDS would be minimlsed. He said it is frightening to learn that many a jack out there are not so clear about the message coming forth with male circumcision.

"In my research I have heard some of those that got circumcised boasting about their unprotected sexual exploits on women because they believe they can not contract any STI vith HIV and AIDS inclusive," said Usi adding "this is enough cause for fear that a new group of innocent victims can be created."

The think tank also argued that medical male circumcision is a misplaced allocation of medical resources at the expense of many serious emergencies like High Blood Pressure and Diabetes.

Why a misplaced allocation? Usi explained: "It is because the resources used would greatly help those suffering from ailments that are killing our people nowadays not only those that report at hospital but by using the same initiative of going to various places of the country to commence health camps to treat those most challenging ailments."

Various commentators have since hailed Manganya for his timely intervention in this national undertaking if not properly handled can negatively impact many innocent lives.

"This Manganya has come out again from his normal busy schedule to make us wake up from our slumber and I know he's doing so because he has the interest of Malawians at heart," said Hastings Chikankheni, a Blantyre based academician.

"We need more of people like Manganya, a modem day patriot who uses brain power to spark a debate for the benefit of all our people not just a a few that are hiding in their selfish minds," said the other, Florence Majamanda, a house wife in the city of Lilongwe.

According to The Ministry of Health Spokesperson, Henry Chimbali, Medical Male Circumcision project was launched in October, 2011 with the aim of reducing risk of contracting srrs including HIV and AIDS among sexually active males The project is expected to roll out to all districts of Malawi.

[It is not clear whether the Michael Manganya Usi of this story is the same as Michael Usi in the next.]

MALAWI: Adventists query circumcision messages

The Nation (Malawi)
August 15, 2014

Circumcision campaign worries Adra

by Frank Namangale

Adventist Development Relief Agency (Adra) has warned of unprecedented new wave of HIV infections in the country if campaign messages on circumcision are not disseminated correctly. Adra, at a news conference in Blantyre on Wednesday, said despite the emphasis by the campaigners that circumcision only reduces the risk of contracting the virus, the information management on the subject is poor. Adra deputy country director Michael Usi told the media that the circumcision campaigners that include government and other health-related non-governmental organisations (NGOs), do not, for example, tell when one may have sex after being circumcised. Usi, whose organisation implements HIV and Aids projects among other programmes, said he was concerned that a lot of men are excited with circumcision and indulge in unprotected sex immediately the wound heals, believing they are safe. “Malawi should not be alarmed if it is to wake up one day and face a new wave of infections. It is time we improved on circumcision campaign messages,” he said. Usi regretted that other men were going for circumcision to enhance sex pleasure and that circumcision campaigners have failed to encourage people to continue abstaining, remain faithful or use a condom. “The other thing is that when you go for circumcision, they don’t bother to ask you if you are HIV positive or not. There should have been direct messages warning women about this and it is regrettable that women have been completely left out of the campaign,” he said.

MALAWI: World Bank funds genital cutting

Star Africa
August 8, 2014

World Bank funds Malawi circumcision programme

The World Bank has agreed to fund Malawi's voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) programme to the tune of MK6 billion (about US$15million) for the next four years, the Ministry of Health announced Friday.Ministry spokesperson Henry Chimbali said the funding would enable the Malawian government to roll-out the programme in remaining districts.

"We have been unable to expand the service to other districts due to inadequate resources to train service providers, formulation of communication messages and purchase of supplies therefore the funding will help fill this gap," he said.

He said the ministry would take the VMMC programme to the districts of Nkhotakota and Lilongwe in Central Region and Blantyre, Phalombe and Zomba in Southern Region, targeting 45,000 adult males aged 15 to 49 years.

He said VMMC was one of the HIV and AIDS interventions in the country. It reduces chances of contracting the virus by up to 60 percent.

Malawi
HIV Rates:	Circumcised men	10.3%
	Intact men	7.9%
Source: dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/FR247/FR247.pdf p207

VMMC also has other benefits such as hygiene and helps a man from developing cancer, he said.

[Ah yes, always the bait and switch.]

The World Health Organisation recommended the inclusion of male circumcision for countries with generalised HIV epidemics like Malawi in their national HIV prevention strategy.

MALAWI: Boys being circumcised again

Polysurgery addiction by proxy...

Malawi News Agency
April 23, 2014

Double knifed to fulfill the needful

by Josephine Chinele
Blantyre, April 23: Even though his son had gone through the traditional male circumcision, Geoffrey Linje, a Manase resident was not satisfied.

“During our time, the traditional circumcision was okay but nowadays, it’s fashionable to have both,” he said, whilst waiting for his 11 year old son who was having the second time circumcision procedure inside the make shift theatre at Namasimba primary school in Blantyre.

Linje recalls that during his youthful days, anyone who was not circumcised was regarded as a toddler even if they grew up and raised a family.

World Health Orgsanisation describes Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC) as the surgical removal of the foreskin- the retractable fold of tissue that covers the head of the manhood.

It is believed that traditional male circumcision rite is not fully done hence other people like Linje are taking their children to have VMMC.

The father of six children, two of whom are boys proudly says the first boy also had two circumcisions and this makes him feel better.

“The first circumcision is like a mere transition from a ‘toddler’ to a fully grown adult. Now with the advent of many diseases, it’s very necessary that such children should also have medical male circumcision,” he elaborates.

Linje is however quick to say he did not know of any VMMC campaign until his 11 year old boy told him that he heard from ‘chimkuza mawu’ (Mobile Public Address system) which was going around their area announcing the same.

He points out that VMMC reduces a man’s chance of contracting HIV and helps in hygiene of the individual.

Linje’s child is one of the many youths that expressed interest in VMMC at Namasimba mobile clinic.

Site supervisor, Jofirisi Jofirisi says the centre circumcised an average of 25 youths per day from April 9 to April 15, 2014.

“I believe adults are not forthcoming because of perception. May be they think they are already married and no longer need VMMC. The youth may be coming because they want to fit among their peers,” he says.

Nevertheless, Jofirisi reveals that all youths who present themselves for VMMC are tested for HIV, counseled and clearly told that VMMC is not an HIV vaccine.

“We also advise them to take a lot of fluids so that they should have frequent urination to avoid erection since this could disrupt the healing process and increase bleeding on the stitched area,” he says.

World Health Organisation says there is compelling evidence that male circumcision reduces the risk of heterosexually acquired HIV infection in men by approximately 60 percent.

[Except in the real world:]

Malawi
HIV Rates:	Circumcised men	13.2%
	Intact men	9.5%
Source: www.measuredhs.com

“Male circumcision provides only partial protection, and therefore should be only one element of a comprehensive HIV prevention package which includes: the provision of HIV testing and counseling services; treatment for sexually transmitted infections; the promotion of safer sex practices; the provision of male and female condoms and promotion of their correct and consistent use,” reads the information in part.

[ A traveller came to a farmhouse and offered to make the occupants Nail Soup in return for a night's shelter. He threw a large iron nail in a pot of boiling water, but said: -
"A Magic Nail provides only partial soup-making power, and therefore should be only one element of a comprehensive soup-making package which includes: vegetables; meat; herbs; stock; the provision of pepper and salt and spices and promotion of their correct and consisten use," he said in part.
The farmer's wife accepted this, and in the morning the traveller went on his way, refreshed after a night in a comfortable bed, minus the Nail, with some gold coins in his pocket and the thanks of the family ringing in his ears for the wonderful Magic Nail that made such delicious Nail Soup.
Thus if a circumcised man doesn't get HIV, circumcision will get the credit, but if he does, he can be blamed for failing to take the other precautions. And if a non-circumcised man gets HIV, his foreskin will be blamed, but if he doesn't, nobody will take any notice.
Circumcision is as good at preventing HIV as a Magic Nail is at making soup.]

PSI Community Counselor responsible for Blantyre Manyowe, Chikondi Magalasi, says many people still do not know the difference between VMMC and traditional circumcision.

“I have at least encountered situations where people decided to take their children for VMMC even after they had the traditional one like the case of Mr. Linje,” he says.

Magalasi says to some extent, ‘Angaliba’ (Traditional circumcision surgeons) are feeling threatened by the coming in of VMMC since they think it may take away their source of income and public respect.

“VMMC is not only cultural but a must-have for today’s man. Women should also take a role by encouraging their spouses to go for it since one benefit of VMMC is that when a man is circumcised, they don’t carry the Human Papaloma Virus (HPV) which causes cervical cancer to their spouses,” he elaborates. [That is completely false]

Another Community Counselor responsible for Nancholi, Jonathan Dinesi says it is pleasing to note that some parents have been taking their children to have VMMC even if they already had the traditional one.

“I have personally met three of such children aged between 10 and 15. It takes an understanding parent to do that,” he says. [Misunderstanding, rather.]

Ministry of Health’s deputy spokesperson, Adrian Chikumbe says the fact that other parents are taking their children for VMMC even after the traditional rite is an indication that people understand the VMMC concept. [Except "Voluntary"]

“The message, however, still stands that VMMC is a supplement to all other HIV prevention measures not a vaccine therefore people should still observe abstinence and condom use,” he emphasizes.

Chikumbe says the ministry is trying to work together with ‘Angaliba’ so that they should be arranging for the initiated boys to have VMMC at a medical facility then take them back to their initiation camps so that their job is not compromised. [Oh dear, heaven forbid that their jobs should be compromised?]

MALAWI: Older men are not buying circumcision...

AllAfrica.com
April 16, 2014

Malawi: Young Men Embracing Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision [Older men, not so much]

by Brenda Nkosi
Blantyre - 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 ...

MALAWI: Men resist being circumcised

AllAfrica.com
July 5, 2013

Malawi: Kasungu Registers Low Turnout for Male Circumcision

by Steven Chirombo

Blantyre — Kasungu Health Authorities have expressed concern that a few men are undergoing voluntary male circumcision in the district despite studies showing that the intervention reduces HIV transmission by about 60 percent.

District Medical Officer for Kasungu, Dr Sosten Lankhulani told the Malawi News Agency (Mana) that within the past two years, only 400 men have been circumcised in the district against the annual target of 21, 000.

"We are not fairing very well in terms of male circumcision because our target has been to have at least 21, 000 population circumcised every year.

"But in our district only 400 men have undergone circumcision for the past two years," said Lankhulani.

According to Lankhulani, there are a lot of factors that contribute to the low turnout in the district some of which could be wrong messages being propagated and also the perception of some other men regarding the circumcision itself.

"There are misconceptions bordering on culture and the health perspective about circumcision. We are dispatching several messages for example at the hospital where we are doing health education to the people who have come for medical consultation.

"Every morning we send health surveillance assistants to dispatch the messages to the community and we have engaged the chiefs as well as some religious leaders to deliver the message to the community," he said.

He said currently, the health officials in the district are advocating for the male circumcision because they are aware that it reduces the risk of HIV transmission by about 60 percent which according to Lankhulani is a fair percentage looking at the prevalence rate of HIV in the country.

Malawi
HIV Rates:	Circumcised men	13.2%
	Intact men	9.5%
Source: www.measuredhs.com

Malawi: Circumcised men & sex workers throw caution to the winds

Malawi Voice
October 31, 2012

Circumcised Men On Sex Spree: "They Think They are Immune To HIV"

By Malawi Voice
Some circumcised men in Mangochi have gone on a sex rampage, whilst claiming that they are immune to HIV.
Apparently the circumcised men have been misinformed on the effectiveness of male circumcision and reduction of HIV transmission.
According [to] Dickens Mahawayo of Given Secrets Consultants he bemoaned misinformation surrounding Iale circumcision in reducing the HIV transmission.
...
He said most circumcised men in the district think they are licensed to chase every skirt they see on the street.
"What is most saddening is that most circumcised men [are] now engaging in unprotected sex claiming they are immune to HIV" he said.
He said 74 percent of circumcised men interviewed no longer practice safe sex.
And only 42 percent of sex workers only demand their partners to use condoms when they are no[t] circumcised.
"In fact circumcised men are now charged peanuts for sex compared with uncircumcised men" he said.
But nevertheless there is compelling evidence that male circumcision reduces the spread of HIV by 60 percent. [This must be a new meaning of "reduces".]
...

Malawi
HIV Rates:	Circumcised men	13.2%
	Intact men	9.5%
Source:www.measuredhs.com

ZAMBIA: Yet More claims for circumcision

Nyasa Times
August 1, 2012

3,000 Malawian men cut off their foreskins: Less cervical cancer, reduces Aids risks

By Malawi News Agency

Malawian cancer expert at the country’s sole certified oncology unit at the Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QUECH) has asked authorities to consider exploring possibilities of using medical male circumcision as a measure of reducing cases of cervical cancer in women.

The country’s lone oncologist, Dr Leo Masamba told the Malawi News Agency (Mana) that though no research has been conducted locally, there are theoretical linkages between the HIV virus and the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) which is one of the major causes of cervical cancer in women.

Dr Masamba’s sentiments come at a time when more men are willingly to go for certified medial male circumcision since its endorsement by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a means of reducing HIV infection in 2007.

“WHO proved out that male circumcision is one of the effective ways of preventing HIV transmission with the foreskin of a manhood being the agent and HPV is also transmitted in the same way. [Not so.]

“Since cervical cancer is largely associated with HIV as sexually active women and men can take the HPV if they have sex with someone else who has this cancer, there is a high probability that if HIV can be reduced by male circumcision then the same applies to cervical cancer,” said Dr Masamba. [Total confusion.]

He said HIV and cervical cancer are similar in that they are sexually transmitted infections.

[That is a gross oversimplification]

...

AFRICA: No money for HIV programmes that work, only circumcision

May 10, 2012

Africa: Less Global Funds, More Problems

By Laura Lopez Gonzalez,
Fund medicines or fund the programmes that support uptake and adherence? That's the choice countries are now facing amid Global Fund shortfalls. With money tight, countries are slashing civil society-led HIV and TB programmes - treatment supporters, community-based volunteers, support for people living with HIV - to safeguard essential services, according to preliminary research being conducted by the Open Society Foundations.

In November 2011, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria faced US$2.2 billion in unpaid donor pledges and cancelled its Round 11 of funding. This was the most dramatic manifestation of years of broken donor promises.

Two years earlier, Global Fund donors reneged on almost 15 percent of pledges - a figure that rose to almost a quarter of donor pledges in 2010, according to former Global Fund Executive Director, Michel Kazatchkine's November 2011 report to the board.

To ascertain the impact on civil society of these Global Fund shortfalls, OSF undertook research in three countries that had planned to apply for Round 11 funding - Swaziland, Malawi and Zimbabwe.

Through interviews with nearly 45 representatives from civil society, Global Fund Country Coordinating Mechanisms (CCMs), HIV and TB programmes, and UN agencies, OSF found that these countries are facing funding gaps for essential services such as HIV and TB testing and treatment, prevention of mother-to-child transmission services (PMTCT), and support for orphaned and vulnerable children (OVC).
The research found that to free up funding for these initiatives, all three countries are cutting the kinds of complementary, civil society-led activities identified as 'critical enablers' in the UNAIDS Strategic Framework.

Swaziland has now halted HIV prevention programmes with the exception of PMTCT and medical male circumcision and may re-programme phase II of its current Global Fund money to shift more money towards buffer ARV stocks, according to Vusi Nxumalo, CCM member and Vice Chairperson of the Swaziland National Network of People Living with HIV and AIDS.

Swaziland's Round 11 application - like that of Namibia - would also have been the first to include HIV prevention programming aimed at criminalised, most-at-risk populations, such as sex workers and men-who-have-sex-with-men. In addition, the country would have addressed the needs of its small population of injecting drug users.
...