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(TIMES ZM) HIV-free Zambia possible, says Storella

COMMENT - 'A HIV free Zambia' is not possible through circumcision. See my comment at the original link. There is no evidence whatsoever that circumcision prevents HIV infection. For all the links and details, read here and here.

HIV-free Zambia possible, says Storella
September 13, 2012 | Filed underLocal News | Posted by mitia
By NORMA SIAME -

UNITED States (US) Ambassador to Zambia Mark Storella has said an HIV free generation in Zambia is a possible, especially if interventions like male circumcision are taken seriously. The ambassador was speaking during panel discussion on male circumcision which was preceded by a tour of Kasama General Hospital.

The ambassad or said the US had tripled its budget for male circumcision and was happy to see that Health Minister Joseph Kasonde and the Zambian Government considered it of high importance.

Mr Storella said he was happy to see that hospitals where no longer places people went to die and had now become places of hope.

“It’s also good to see that chiefs are now in the forefront of encouraging their subjects to under this procedure,” he said.

He said he had learnt a lot from the discussion on male circumcision and was happy it had been well received as an intervention to reduce the spread of HIV.

The discussion which was attended by Northern Province Minister Freedom Sikazwe, Permanent Secretary Emmanuel Mwamba and medical personnel drawn from different organisations also tabulated the challenges encountered in performing male circumcision such as stigma.

Mr Mwamba said it was gratifying that the US Government had continued to render aid to Zambia by supporting and providing much needed funds in areas relating to health.

ZPCT II provincial technical officer Michael Shamututu in his contribution said while male circumcision was mostly directed at HIV negative men and boys HIV positive men could also undergo the procedure if certain parameter where met.

“Even though there was stigma from the men in defence forces most officers are now coming round and voluntarily undergoing circumcision,” Lieutenant Colonel Shamututu said.

Other benefits of male circumcision include the prevention of cervical cancer in women which is associated with genital Human papilloma virus in their male partners.

Many African countries are now championing male circumcision to stop the spread of HIVs because research shows that circumcision can protect both men and their female partners from AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases.

The World Health Organisation concluded that universal male circumcision in sub-Saharan Africa could prevent close to six million new cases of HIV infection and three million deaths over a 20 year period.

Labels: AMBASSADOR, CIRCUMCISION, HIV/AIDS, MARK STORELLA

posted by MrK @ 1:56 PM