The MEC for Health, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, will present a progress report on Medical Male Circumcision to His Majesty, King Goodwill Zwelithini ka BhekuZulu, at a meeting to be attended by MECs, amakhosi, Mayors, parliamentarians, non governmental organisations and partners in the scale up of the programme.
His Majesty, on announcing the need to return the custom of male circumcision in December last year, called on government to scale up its medical male circumcision roll out incorporating traditional values and teachings. In January this year, the Premier convened a meeting of amakhosi where he announced government’s readiness to roll out as called on by the King.
The programme was officially launched by His Majesty in April and has seen more than 10 000 men and boys being circumcised throughout the province. The service was offered in hospitals, clinics and circumcision camps that were held in schools, community halls, Universities and prisons.
“We are very pleased with the uptake and roll out of a safe, voluntary, informed Medical Male Circumcision programme which is part of our comprehensive HIV prevention.” The MEC said on the announcing the presentation of the progress report to His Majesty. “While there is strong evidence that male circumcision reduces the risk of HIV transmission, we have always emphasised that it does not provide complete protection against HIV.”
The MEC added that because the protective effect of male circumcision is only partial, male circumcision is being promoted in combination with other methods to reduce the risk of sexual transmission of HIV, including: correct and consistent condom use, delayed sexual debut, reduced numbers of sexual partners, avoidance of penetrative sex, and HIV Counselling and Testing.
The MEC will be presenting the report to the Premier, as head of government, who will in turn present it (as a government report) to His Majesty. The details are as follows:
Date: Friday, 5 November 2010
Time: 09h45 (for registration)
Venue: Durban City Hall, Main Hall
The media is invited to attend and report on the event. There will be photo and interview opportunities.
For more information, please contact:
Chris Maxon
E-mail: chris.maxon@kznhealth.gov.za
Cell: 083 447 2869
