ALBERTON – AMCARE in partnership with the Centre for HIV and AIDS Prevention Studies (CHAPS) and PrePex, aim to reduce circumcision fatalities through safe surgical circumcision and by introducing Prepex, a device which is used to perform non-surgical circumcision.
“In the summer months which is traditionally quiet, we do about 20 circumcisions per day but during the winter months we average about 160 procedures per day,” said clinic manager Sister Maria Sardini.
Studies have shown that circumcision has health benefits. According to Sr Sardini, circumcision reduces the risk of HIV infection by 60%. Circumcision has also been proven to reduce the risk of sexually transmitted infections and cervical and penile cancer.
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The Injabulo Clinic recently added a 54 square meter room which is used as a seven bed theatre. This allows the clinic to offer more free services such as cervical cancer screening.
Sr Sardini, explains that the extension became necessary as the demand for the free services increased. The clinic not only focuses on medical male circumcision services but also monitors around 300 ARV Germiston Hospital patients who collect their treatment from the clinic.
“We refer the patients back to the hospital when they have a complication that cannot be dealt with at clinic level. We also screen for TB and part of the circumcision process is having an HIV test and a general wellness check.
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“Problem patients are referred for a variety of conditions from high blood pressure, diabetes and a range of other chronic conditions. Sexually transmitted diseases are treated on-site and HIV positive males are also followed up on-site,” said Sr Sardini
Injabulo Clinic is currently funded by Chaps who only covers staff salaries and the clinic’s running costs. The extension has been partly funded by Air Liquide France but AMCARE has to raise the rest of the funds.
AMCARE appeals to the community and the business sector to help them raise the necessary funds to complete the extension. To donate funds for the extension, click here and follow the easy-to-donate process.
