Circumcision drive needs more support
Prince Zulu reverses the anti-circumcision policy introduced by King Shaka some 200 years ago.
PRINCE Nhlanganiso Zulu, son of King Goodwill Zwelethini, has made a passionate plea to male Zululanders to undergo medical circumcision (MMC).
Prince Zulu said the King was so dismayed by the high death rate of his people because of Aids, he had reversed the anti-circumcision policy introduced by King Shaka some 200 years ago.
‘Shaka had stopped the practice of circumcision because he wanted his young men at the battle front rather than disappearing into the bush for weeks for manhood rituals,’ said Prince Zulu.
‘But King Zwelethini realised that the new war facing his people was against Aids and circumcision was the most potent weapon against it.’
Addressing the media in Richards Bay, Manager of medical male circumcision at the national Department of Health, Dayanaud Loykissoonlal, said, ‘Widespread medical male circumcision is South Africa’s best chance of beating Aids, but we are falling well short of the numbers necessary to make a real difference.
‘About 4.3 million men between the ages of 15 and 59 needed to be circumcised by the end of 2016 to significantly reduce the rate of infection in the general population.
‘So far, nearly 1.5 million men have been circumcised, which is only 35% of the target. By now, almost five years since the programme was launched, we should have reached at least 50%,’ Loykissoonlal said.
He said KZN has the highest number of infections (28% of the population living with HIV), yet only 23% have been circumcised. He explained that studies have proved that MMC reduces men’s chances of contracting HIV by around 76%.
Men who want to undergo circumcisions can call 060 7010101 for more information.
