The Sunday News
Robin Muchetu, Senior Reporter
LATEST scientific research has revealed that circumcised men lower the risk of transmitting HIV to women by 30 percent.
The research was presented by South African company Careworks at the International Aids Society Conference held recently in Paris, France, where Zimbabwe was also represented.
“Prior to this research there was no proof that circumcision would have an immediate effect on women but this has now been proven,” the company said in a statement.
Prior, male circumcision was only thought to reduce chances of men acquiring HIV by as much as 60 percent. The director Aids and TB Unit in the Ministry of Heath and Child Care, Dr Owen Mugurungi, said the research was authentic.
“This research revealed that women are a benefactor of Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC) as there is a 30 percent reduction in their chances of getting infected with HIV. Which shows that it actually is a good idea for men to get circumcised,” he said.
Dr Mugurungi said as a country when VMMC was introduced it was targeting at reducing HIV infection in men by 60 percent, preventing cancers, sexually transmitted infections and for hygiene purposes. However, he said there was now an added benefit because women are now benefiting.
“This is an added benefit and women who assumed this procedure was only beneficial to men have been proven wrong. This new evidence has reinforced that women can now be protected too which is a positive move,” he said.
Dr Mugurungi said the ministry will save billions of dollars in HIV treatment; care and management if more men get circumcised and protect their women. Zimbabwe is on a drive to circumcise 1,3 million men and boys by the end of this year.
Health officials say if at least 80 percent of the male population between 15 and 49 years are circumcised by 2017, 600 000 new infections will be averted.
In Bulawayo the centres that offer VMMC are overwhelmed with numbers of school going boys that frequent the centre for the procedure. This is particularly common during school holidays.
