Ministry clears air on foreskins

THE Health and Child Care ministry has cleared the air about the controversial disposal of foreskins of circumcised men.

Some men had been complaining that health institutions were using their foreskins for unnamed purposes.

However, in a press statement yesterday, the ministry indicated that the disposal of foreskins by the Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision in Zimbabwe (VMMCZ) was done within stipulated rules and regulations called "The Human Tissues Act of 1982".

The disposal of foreskins is guided by the Act, which hospitals and health centres must follow.

The Act stipulates that tissues removed should be disposed through recommended methods.

"All foreskins removed as part of VMMCZ programme are disposed of at each health facility as part of surgical wastes. Disposal of foreskins is done through incineration at recommended temperatures in the same manner that other body tissues such as foetuses and limbs from amputations are destroyed after the surgical procedures," the statement read.

Over the past few months, there had been growing concerns over the issue with men resisting circumcision after the much-publicised programme as they feared that their foreskins were being used for some other things.

In July MDC-T Matabeleland South senator Sithembile Mlotshwa backed her motion calling for a ban on circumcision of children under the age of 18 by claiming that foreskins of circumcised men could be used for witchcraft.

Mlotshwa introduced the motion in the Senate and was supported by MDC-T Masvingo senator Misheck Marava and Zanu-PF Mashonaland Central senator Damian Mumvuri.

She said children's lives were being put at risk and that circumcision could affect their reproductive health.

Mlotshwa demanded that those who carry out circumcision should give back their patients the foreskins.

Health institutions encouraged men to go through the circumcision process, but remained mum about what happened to their foreskins.