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.
