Challenge to increase medical circumcisions in KZN

HEALTH MEC Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo says the big challenge for the province is to accelerate efforts to encourage more men to be circumcised.

Celebrating the success of the medical male circumcision programme, which began in 2010, Dhlomo personally circumcised the one millionth man on Friday.

‘We are very excited to have reached this milestone of one million circumcisions and no deaths.

‘We wish to express our heartfelt thanks to our King, Isilo SamaBandla, for reviving this practice. If it were not for his call, we would not be where we are today,’ said Dhlomo.

Actor Melusi Yeni, who was the one millionth man to be circumcised, said: ‘I want to make a vow that I will continue working hard to encourage other men to be circumcised because the benefits are immense, and can go a long way in helping us curb the spread of HIV in our country.

‘Before the circumcision, I was a little nervous about the procedure itself, but it went well. I was in good hands. Dr Dhlomo is a consummate professional,’ said Yeni.

MEC Dhlomo said the challenge for Melusi is to help recruit more men.

‘We have to circumcise another one million men soon. Once we do that, we will have significantly lowered the numbers of new HIV infections,’ he said.

He however issued a strong warning that medical male circumcision ‘should not be used as a licence for sexually irresponsible behaviour’.

He further emphasised that being circumcised reduces the risk of HIV infection only by 60%.

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