The MEC for Health, Ms Fezi Ngubentombi cordially invites you to the provincial launch of the male medical circumcision.
Details are as follows:
Date: 14 July 2011
Time: informal programme: 08h00 to 09h30
Formal programme: 10h00
Venue: Zuka Baloyi Stadium; Welkom
Theme: “I am responsible, we are responsible, Free State Men are responsible”
The purpose is to encourage men to circumcise so as to eliminate and prevent sexually transmitted infections including HIV and AIDS, etc.
NB: Premier ES Magashule will deliver the keynote address.
More information on the Medical Male Circumcision (MMC)
Background:
Provincial Medical Male Circumcision (MMC) launch
The Free State Government and the Department of Health will host the provincial medical male circumcision launch campaign on 14 July 2011. The launch will be hosted in Lejweleputswa District in Welkom/Thabong, at Zoka Baloyi Stadium. The campaign aims at raising medical male circumcision awareness and encourages men to undergo medical male circumcision.
The theme for the campaign is: “I am responsible, we are responsible and Free State men are responsible”
Medical Male Circumcision (MMC) reduces the risk to; sexually transmitted infections (STI’s), HIV, cervical cancer and promotes better hygiene. Male circumcision provides only partial protection against HIV. Medical Male Circumcision is performed at all public hospitals within the province as a routine medical procedure. MMC is primarily targeting males between 15 to 49 years of age.
Because of its partial protective effect, medical male circumcision is part of a comprehensive package of HIV prevention interventions. Other known effective preventive interventions against sexual transmission of HIV, such as abstinence, delay of sexual relations, faithfulness, correct and consistent use of male or female condoms, reduction in the number of sexual partners, and effective and prompt treatment of sexually-transmitted infections, remain relevant. Medically circumcised men can still become HIV infected if they don’t use condoms, and men who are HIV-positive can infect their partners if they do not use condoms in addition to being circumcised.
According to research findings from randomised controlled trials, undertaken in Kenya, South Africa and Uganda, medical male circumcision reduces the risk of heterosexual transmission of HIV infection from women to men by approximately 60%. This scientific evidence led to the recommendation of World Health Organisation (WHO) and National Department of Health (NDOH) that MMC should be an additional HIV prevention intervention.
For any further information regarding MMC programme in the Free State province contact the following Department of Health officials:
Pitso Makhetha:
Tel: 051 408 1119
Sam Boleme
Tel:051 408 1675
Enquiries:
Jabu Mbalula
Tel: 051 408 1824
Cell: 082 461 3112
E-mail: mbalulajni@fshealth.gov.za
