PSH Operations Research Specialist Handrick Chigiji-pic by Daphne Machiri
BY MUNYARADZI BLESSING DOMA
Health authorities are collaborating with traditionally circumcising communities so that they can find common ground on how best they can work together in promoting one of HIV’s prevention methods.
And the results have been good as some of the communities like the VaRemba, have warmed up to the idea of working with the Ministry of Health and Child Care and its supporting partners.
This was revealed by Handrick Chigiji, Operations Research Specialist at Population Solutions for Health, on the sidelines of the recently held National AIDS Council HIV Research Symposium.
Chigiji’s sentiments follow revelations by some members of the traditionally circumcising communities emphasizing on proper collaborations so that they can work with health authorities in their circumcision drive.
National AIDS Council defines male circumcision as the surgical removal of the fold of the skin that covers the head of the penis (foreskin or prepuce).
“There have been efforts to work together with these groups and one of them is the VaRemba Traditional Ceremonies that we are also trying to come in and provide support in terms of ensuring that they can continue with their ceremonies, the male circumcision; where the procedures are being done medically so there are engagements already.
“Last year we provided that support through the Ministry of Health and other partners to ensure that is done.
“And this year again, the ceremony was done in Buhera, the team from Ministry of Health got support from other partners to ensure that service in a safer way.
“And also for them to get all the support they require and that team was ensuring that the service is done in a medical way,” said Chigiji.
Chigiji further revealed that the visit to the VaRemba community had also given them the opportunity to collect necessary data on the Shang ring, which is another male circumcision option.
“Basically we also took that opportunity to capture the data on the Shang ring and we captured their experiences as well, in terms of their acceptability so we are getting the request to support their ceremonies.
“It also shows that the ring has been accepted because it’s now being utilised, so we got a number of clients who were circumcised with the ring but also there are some who also prefer the surgical so it gives them a wider choice because we have these methods being offered.
“So it gives the clients, the option to choose when they have more than one option,” added Chigiji.
A member of the VaRemba community who attended the symposium said health authorities should find ways of collaborating with their communities so as to co-exist in the circumcision drive.
He added that it were better if health authorities train some of their members so that they can in turn pass on the knowledge to their peers.
“It would be better if health authorities train one of us than for them to think we can allow them to come and circumcise our members during our ceremonies.
“Circumcision is something we have been practicing before all these efforts, so there is need for some serious collaborations if we are to work together,” he said.
Fair Planet reports that as part of the VaRemba male rites of passage, boy and men from the age of 12 are taken for initiation rituals during winter. It is during these initiation ceremonies that the boys get to be circumcised.
It is reported that in 2007, the joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS and WHO recommended voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) to reduce the risk of men acquiring HIV infection during heterosexual exposure.
The World Health Organisation further revealed that the recommendation was based on strong evidence from randomized controlled trials showing an approximately 60 percent lower risk.
It is also added since 2007, more than 27 million VMMC procedures have been performed in the 15 priority countries in Eastern and Southern Africa.
