More than 100 young men filled the Further Education and Training College's hall lining up to have their chance to be circumcised.
A strong team of twelve doctors and thirty six nurses volunteered their time to reduce the risk of these young men contracting sexually transmitted infections (including HIV). This includes abiding by the lessons on good manly behaviour they received.
The speakers included the uNdlunkulu (Queen) Thandi MaNdlovu Zulu, the MEC for Health in KwaZulu-Natal Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, a renowned radio Presenter Ngizwe Mchunu, and DramAid (a non-governmental organisation (NGO) from the University of Zululand).
When the speakers spoke of rights, respect and responsibility they meant:
- Young people have the right to accurate and complete sexual health information, confidential reproductive and sexual health services and a secure stake in the future.
- Young people deserve respect. Valuing young people means involving them in the design, implementation and evaluation of programmes and policies that affect their health and well being.
- Society has the responsibility to provide young people with the tools they need to safeguard their sexual health and young people have the responsibility to protect themselves from too early childbearing and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV.
The MEC said, while speaking to young men: "Indulging in risky behaviour does not only take away your pride, it also takes away your dignity. Our future is your hands.
"His Majesty is very proud of the decision you have voluntarily taken to be circumcised and we hope this decision was well informed as it has implications for your future well being.
"We are happy that since we scaled up our circumcision campaign no person has been reported to have had dire complications or have died. This gives confidence to our professional doctors and nurses.
"We hope it also assures the many more who may have doubts that we provide safe, hygienic and professional service".
uNdlunkulu emphasised that: "We are seriously concerned with the number of young people that we are losing to HIV. His Majesty and I believe that, through these camps, we need to change society's dysfunctional approach to sexuality and to assist government and communities in the implementation of a comprehensive value based education approach.
"This comprehensive education approach shows that we can help you delay onset of sexual activity, reduce the frequency of sexual activity, reduce number of sexual partners and increase condom use.
"Importantly, you who receive this type of education are NOT more likely to become 'Casanovas', increase sexual activity, or experience negative sexual health outcomes. The effect of this programme exists from a variety of social, value, cultural and health grounding".
Today, the MEC also visited another camp held in Pietermaritzburg, Plessislaer FET College, where another total of 150 initiates were being circumcised.
He will be visiting Amajuba and Ladysmith FET Colleges tomorrow (Friday) and will be joined by the Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, over the weekend who is interested in seeing how these camps are run and will be visiting more camps in Gamalakhe, uMzimkhulu (Saturday) and Eshowe (Sunday).
The minister has dispatched a team of doctors to monitor how the camps are going and to evaluate the roll out in KwaZulu-Natal. A report is expected around August where the MEC will announce how the medical male circumcision campaign is progressing in the province.
Journalists are invited to join the MEC and the minister as they visit the camps.
We urge those interested to contact:
Chris Maxon
Cell: 083 285 0567
E-mail: chris.maxon@kznhealth.gov.za
Desmond Motha
Cell: 083 295 3901.
