Media messages can encourage men to get circumcised

Media messages can encourage men to get circumcised

A communication Specialist at the Center for Disease Control Prevention (CDC) Division of Global HIV/AIDS, Center for Global Health, Daniel Rutz says media should keep in the mainstream issues of Medical Male Circumcision (MMC) in order to encourage more men to get circumcised.

In an interview Rutz said a lot of men in Malawi can get circumcised if the media is also on the forefront informing the public with accurate information on the importance of MMC in prevention of HIV/AIDS and other Sexual Transmitted Infections (STIs).

“There are number of things that media can do to help men to be attracted to the idea of being circumcised to prevent them from being exposed of HIV risk. One of which is to keep the issue in the main stream so that people become not only familiar with it but that they are reminded that it’s there and available for them.” He said

He stressed that accuracy in such messages would be vital to prevent some who are opposing medical male circumcision for their own “selfish reasons” from distorting reality of circumcision.

“…more importantly it is really vital that the coverage be accurate that science around medical circumcision be accurately portrayed that those who are opposing medical circumcision for their own selfish reasons not to be allowed to distort reality..."

“And we don’t want critics of MMC to be able to steal the platform and make arguments to the contrary because we are very convinced that the science governing the procedure is solid and good science. We know that medical circumcision is safe, we know that does not harm men in any way and it makes possible avoiding life threatening infection.” Said Rutz

Medical Male Circumcision is a safe Male circumcision which does not prevent HIV/AIDS but help to reduce risk that a man will acquire HIV from an infected female partner, and also lowers the risk of other STDs, penile cancer, and infant urinary tract infection.

For female partners, male circumcision reduces the risk of cervical cancer, genital ulceration, bacterial vaginosis, trichomoniasis, and HPV. Although male circumcision has risks including pain, bleeding, and infection, more serious complications are rare.

Currently in Malawi, 160,000 men have been circumcised for a period of 3 years in 7 districts.

The ministry of health targets 1.8 million adult males aged between 10 to 35 years to undergo MMC by 2020. 

And According to Spokes person for the Ministry Henry Chimbali, the ministry is planning to scale up the MMC campaign in other districts by 2015 when World Bank funds are made available.