Youths urged to get circumcised

PSI Zimbabwe has urged youths to get circumcised so as to reduce HIV infections. Addressing hundreds of youth who were gathered at the National Blood Service offices in Mutare recently, an official with PSI, Mr Michael Makhamanzi, urged youths to understand why it is vital to get circumcised before being sexually active.

"As an organisation lobbying for an HIV free generation, we are encouraging youths to get circumcised before they are sexually active.

"Male circumcision is one of the oldest practices undertaken for religious, cultural and medical reasons by our forefathers here in Zimbabwe hence we need to adapt it," he said.

Mr Makhamanzi reiterated that circumcision was not 100 percent safe to prevent HIV virus, but research shows that it reduces chances of infection by 60 percent.

"All those who are circumcised should continue practising safe sex. Circumcision reduces the chances of virus which causes penal cancer.

"It also reduces the chances of contracting cervical cancer to your partner and even general cleanliness to your partner," he said.

Mr Makhamanzi said they would soon embark on outreach programmes to spread the circumcision campaign in the province.

"We will soon have programmes for every district. Right now the programme is only offered at the Mutare Provincial Hospital in this province," he said.

According to research conducted by the World Health Organization between 2005 and 2007, it was learnt that chances for circumcised men to get HIV were lower by about 60 percent compared to those who remained uncircumcised.

In North and West Africa where male are mostly circumcised, HIV rates are lower compared Southern Africa where fewer men. In Zimbabwe only 10,3 percent of men were reported circumcised according to sources.