Uganda turns to mass circumcision in AIDS fight

By Frank Nyakairu Reuters – Wednesday, August 13 11:34 am

KAMPALA (Reuters) –

Ugandan authorities have launched a mass circumcision drive with the hope it will reduce HIV/AIDS rates in the east African country.

Some studies indicate circumcision could be 70 percent effective in protecting men against infection by the disease during heterosexual intercourse, when used in conjunction with condoms and other safe-sex practices.Government officials in Kampala have decided to take advantage of a month-long traditional ‘circumcision season’ practiced by some tribes to drive the message home.’Socially, it is uniting, and now it has also been proven medically, that is gratifying and it is part and parcel of now the strategy for fighting AIDS,’ Kibale Wambi, chairman of Sironko district in eastern Uganda, told Reuters.The government plans to circumcise more than 3,000 local youths between the ages of 12 and 18. HIV activists say there needs to be more money and efforts like this on a global scale.But some critics of circumcision in Uganda say it is brutal and dangerous. In traditional settings like Sironko, circumcisers have used the same knife for each young man.This time, the government has introduced a strict one knife per operation ruling to ensure no infections are passed on.’If a knife is to be re-used on another person, it first has to be sterilised,’ Wambi said, wearing a traditional hat covered with cowrie shells.’We have also discouraged the traditional practice of forcing the circumcised males into sexual intercourse to prove their manhood after the wound heals, to avoid the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.’Some experts fear that some of the newly circumcised men may believe they are immune following the procedure — translating into even more risky sexual behaviour.’All I know is that when I am circumcised, it will not be as easy for me to get infected with HIV/AIDS,’ said one young man, Kizeja Michael, as he lined up for the operation.’People who are circumcised are not able to get AIDS,’ said his friend, Peter Kibatsi.Uganda has been widely praised for an education campaign about condoms that is credited with cutting HIV prevalence rates from 30 percent two decades ago to about 6 percent today.

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Date: Tue, 19 Aug 2008 19:18:47 +0000
From: william munene
Subject: Finally Uganda Sees the Light – Some communities should copy this – Good Practice!

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We should mimic this in Kenya, we start with Luoland, move to Teso, Suba etc……

till all kids are circumcised, we should also circumcise the older uncircumcised; maybe Raila should lead by example

Ahsante sana
SN

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Date:  Tue, 19 Aug 2008 15:28:45 -0400
From:  “Ndekule, Sam”
Subject:   Re: Finally Uganda Sees the Light – Some communities should copy this – Good Practice!

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I am not sure if it’s true but someone told me that Raila and his brother Oburu are going in – Finally … after all these years, God has touched them. We all need to join together to pray for their quick recovery since at the stage they are in life, the healing might take very long even though they’ll have gone to a hospital instead. Is the parliament in recess? They will definitely need to take some time off. Please pray for Odinga’s sons during this painful times. Let us know if this information is true or was just a propaganda.
 
Thanks

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Date:  Wed, 20 Aug 2008 17:10:52 +0000
From:  william munene
Subject:   RE: Finally Uganda Sees the Light – Some communities should copy this – Good Practice!