Katema calls for concerted efforts in scaling up MC

Katema calls for concerted efforts in scaling up MC

Lusaka 03 April, ZANIS — Community Development, Mother and Child Health Minister Joseph Katema says Zambia intends to circumcise 80 percent of all HIV negative uncircumcised adult males between the ages 15 to 49 years in Zambia.

Dr Katema said so far over 300 000 males have been circumcised with over 50 per cent of those done were during the Month of April, August and December during school holiday campaigns in 2012.

He said this in a speech read on his behalf by Community Development, Mother and Child Health Deputy Minister  Jean Kapata during official opening of a Male Circumcision workshop in Lusaka today..

The Minister said clinical studies have shown that circumcision could be one of the most powerful HIV prevention tools in the fight against Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI).

He stated that the studies were also effective in convincing the Public Health Community and donors that MC needed to be scaled up.

Dr Katema has since   called on all women to encourage men to get involved and be circumcised for the betterment of their lives.

Dr Katema further urged all countries present at the Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Meeting on Demand Creation for Voluntary Medical Male circumcision (VMMC) to make the most contribution during a three days meeting so that war against HIV and other STIs can be won.

And United Nations (UN) representative Buhle Ncube said UN will continue to support work aimed at scaling up MC.

Mr Ncube said Male Circumcision was cardinal not only in Zambia but world over.

Speaking at the same function, World Bank representative Andrea Low said the World Bank can be a partner in funding and research in MC programmes.

Ms Low stated that such programmes as male circumcision were essential and should be supported.