Medical male circumcision is the full removal of the foreskin, fully exposing the head of the penis.
The foreskin of the penis has been found to be suitable for the growth of bacteria and viruses because of its nature of being warm and moist, which makes it susceptible to various infections.
Traditional circumcision is done across the country, especially in rural communities, but with dire consequences.
Life is lost due to various factors which results in communities viewing circumcision as a life-threatening procedure. Circumcisions are meant to be done in an environment that is clean and sterile such as hospitals.
Male circumcision:
– does not prevent pregnancy
– offers partial protection against HIV infection
– does not benefit the partner of an HIV positive man
It must be stressed that although male medical circumcision reduces the rate of new infections, a man can still be infected after having unprotected sex. If you are circumcised you should use a condom for every sexual encounter. You should also test for HIV regularly.
The department of health puts great emphasis on Abstinence, Be faithful and Condomise. You can get circumcised any time of the year. Circumcisions are performed by a trained health provider and its painless and quick.
No circumcisions are done if you are under the influence of alcohol and drugs. Circumcision usually takes about 30 minutes. The health department encourages male circumcision to reduce the HIV infection rate.
Visit your nearest hospital or community health centre for more information
