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Paidamoyo Chipunza in Shamva
The International Conference of Aids and STIs in Africa (ICASA) starting on Sunday in Harare should come up with solutions to demystify myths and misconceptions of male circumcision to increase its uptake throughout the country. Speaking to journalists during a National Aids Council (NAC) media tour of the district’s voluntary medical male circumcision sites, the district action Aids co-ordinator, Mr Shephard Zanamwe, said uptake of the method was still low due to lack of knowledge among communities.

“We believe there is still need to increase awareness and understanding of VMMC especially among youths and older men,” said Mr Zanamwe. He said according to trends on circumcision in Shamva district, many who were embracing circumcision were boys in their Sixth Grade up to Form Two.

He said men outside this age group were not coming for circumcision.“That trend alone shows us that there is need for creative strategies to encourage older men to come for circumcision,” he said.

Mr Zanamwe said Shamva district has, however, been meeting its monthly targets of circumcising 300 men adding that many were Muslims, who form the majority of the people in the small mining community. Muslim men are generally circumcised.

A nurse at Shamva District Hospital who spoke on condition of anonymity citing protocol reasons said although the programme was going on well, there was need to clear myths and misconceptions surrounding circumcision.

He said at some point, men in the community stopped coming for circumcision after they heard that their foreskins were used for other purposes. Since the beginning of the year, Shamva district has circumcised 2 922 men.