Men encouraged to take up medical male circumcision
Medical Male Circumcision reduces the risk of acquiring HIV by 60%.
This circumcision season New Start is embarking on a campaign that seeks to save young boys from going to illegal initiation schools in the province.
The campaign encourages young men to do what is called medical male circumcision (MMC).
MMC has a variety of health benefits including its scientifically proven ability to reduce the risk of HIV infection.
New Start invites young boys and men to visit their clinics in Soweto for MMC which is offered free of charge.
“During the winter school holidays we find a lot of young men consider getting circumcised. We would like them to know that there is a medical option available to them as an alternative to the traditional route,” said Jane Luvuno who is the manager at New Start Clinic.
Medical checkups are done to those who want to do MMC beforehand to make sure that they are fit to do so.
Those medical tests includes an HIV test.
New Start offers MMC as part of a broader HIV prevention programme as circumcision has been shown in several studies to reduce the risk of acquiring HIV by about 60% among men who undergo the procedure.
Usually people who have done MMC are able to go back to school or work the next day.
It is important not to have sex for six weeks after the operation and come back to the clinic for scheduled check-ups.
Even though many people believe that winter is the best time for circumcision, the procedure can be done at any time.
An average of 500 circumcisions are done at New Start Clinics every month throughout the year.
